Zip ties

[TherealZiggy]

I have read that I shouldn't use red zip ties and I get the reason why. Has anyone had problems with using pink zip ties or bands with the chickens pecking at them?

 

[lomine]

I used pink on ducks and didn't have a problem.

 

[RWise]

I will never use a zip ties on a birds leg ever again. They pick at them and tighten them onto their leg, cutting off circulation.

 

[TherealZiggy]

I will never use a zip ties on a birds leg ever again. They pick at them and tighten them onto their leg, cutting off circulation.

I have heard of some people having problems but from what I read, the majority doesn't have a problem. I am going to try them on my most active chicken and my least active for 2 weeks. I am able to check on them all day, so we will see.

 

[TherealZiggy]

I used pink on ducks and didn't have a problem.

I never used leg bands when I first started keeping chickens because it was just egg production and I was 13 years old. However this time around I am breeding pure breeds and want to keep track of a lot of things. I also have rubber bands as back ups. It seems that most people don't have a problem with zip ties but I would like to hear about any one that had a problem with them or the red ones in particular.

 

[lomine]

You do have to keep an eye on them as the birds grow, to make sure they aren't getting too tight. I had mine on my ducks for about a year when the zip ties started to fall off. Some lasted longer than others. I don't know if it's because ducks spend time in the water or if that's just something zip ties do. I didn't replace them because by then I could tell my ducks apart. I used pink, yellow, orange, and blue colored ties.

I am starting to mark my EE and OE chicks so I can tell which egg color they came from. I tried the painting the toe nails method. I don't know if it's because I used cheap dollar store polish but at only three days old half the toes have no color on them. So I would not recommend that method. I wanted to use polish to give me more color options but I think I'll try to find some more colored zip ties.

 

[TherealZiggy]

You do have to keep an eye on them as the birds grow, to make sure they aren't getting too tight. I had mine on my ducks for about a year when the zip ties started to fall off. Some lasted longer than others. I don't know if it's because ducks spend time in the water or if that's just something zip ties do. I didn't replace them because by then I could tell my ducks apart. I used pink, yellow, orange, and blue colored ties.

I am starting to mark my EE and OE chicks so I can tell which egg color they came from. I tried the painting the toe nails method. I don't know if it's because I used cheap dollar store polish but at only three days old half the toes have no color on them. So I would not recommend that method. I wanted to use polish to give me more color options but I think I'll try to find some more colored zip ties.

Thanks for the information. Chicken hill poultry has rubber bands and zip ties and you can get the zip ties numbered or with charms.

 

[paneubert]

I use red on my quail and they are fine with it. If there was one color to worry about, it would be red. So use my experience as one vote for "don't worry about it".

 

[TherealZiggy]

I use red on my quail and they are fine with it. If there was one color to worry about, it would be red. So use my experience as one vote for "don't worry about it".

Thanks, without the red ties I would have to come up with another plan.

 

[aart]

I've used red ties, it's fine.
It's not like waving a red cape at a fighting bull.

Yes, zipties, any bands really, need to be monitored and adjusted/replaced if necessary.
End cutters are a great essential tool,
you can cut thru the lock instead of trying to get between tie and leg.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/