Zip ties as leg bands

[ChcknLady]

I've seen a few people mention that they use colored zip ties as leg bands. Doesn't the cut off excess of the zip tie get very sharp? I don't want to do anything detrimental to the babies but would greatly appreciate any ideas on how to tell 5 Buff Orps apart?

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Well, Im curious, so bear with me - why does it matter that you do?

As for the ties, just rub the closely cut end with a hot iron, or melt it back with a cigarette lighter.

 

[Renegade]

I've used them for years and not had any problems. I just cut them off.

Donna

 

[Thomas423]

I bought colored (red, orange, green, blue and yellow) velcro strips from the hardware store and cut them to width and length. I found them in the electrical wire section, they're sold as wraps for cords and such. They work great. We check and adjust them every few days since they are growing so fast.

 

[IN-farmgirl]

I used them for my orps. I just cut them with scissors...no sharp edges. At first all I could find was the whitish colored and I made patterns in sharpie marker on the plastic to tell them apart. I found colored ones later and switched to the colors. Just make sure to switch them out as the chicks grow. You can cut them off their legs with scissors or wire cutters.

They worked GREAT for us. Now that I can tell the girls apart, I can cut them all off. (I like knowing who is who too!!)

 

[melissastraka]

I have used them to tell ages of my birds to see how many should be laying and who is next to lay. My birds are very smart though. They try to pick eachothers off and i have found some around the coop so make sure that they are tight enough they wont come off but gives them some room to grow

 

[sangel4you]

IN farmgirl- where did you end up finding the colored ones? I have found the white ones at our walmart, but no colored ones...

 

[IN-farmgirl]

Quote:
I found them at Tractor Supply!!

 

[sangel4you]

thanks!

 

[Buckhorn Farm]

Quote:
I found them at Tractor Supply!!

You can also find them at Lowes and Home Depot