Zip ties

[Ridgerunner]

I've used red zip ties along with pink, yellow, blue, purple, orange, and green on chickens and had no problems with the colors. I've never had a problem with red, it stands out pretty well and is easy to see. You might not want to use yellow on yellow legged chickens and the blue or purple can be a bit hard to see on black legged chicken. Use your own method but I use a color on the left leg to show which year they were hatched and different colors or combinations of colors on the right leg to show individuals. A red on the right leg might be one chicken, yellow a second chicken, and both red and yellow a third. Many, many possible combinations. And you can duplicate with different breeds or colors as long as you can tell the breeds apart.

Chicken legs will continue to grow thicker even after they are grown so you do need to regularly monitor how tight the bands are and replace as necessary. I trim off the excess length and have never had a problem with the chickens pecking at the bands, let alone tighten them. But anything is possible.

 

[Ahavati]

We use all colors and never had a problem with picking. No issues with picking at all regardless of color or the ties being on. We cut off the excess on them and they are good. I do a visual check every couple weeks and if one isn't loose when they run, I grab that one and check further. We've only had to replace a few.

 

[Life is Good!]

I've used the assorted color zip ties from Menards for literally YEARS now. As I have all black hens - the only way to tell them apart is with some sort of ID system with different colored 'bracelets'.

The hens ignored them (once they got used to their 'jewelry) and were fine with two bands on a bird - but last year I had to go to 3 bands in order to create the continued system of parentage/lineage/year. Well, someone didn't like it and ONLY pecked off the red bands - from EVERYONE. So there goes the system out the window. I've not figured out how to determine who is who with the 'revised' bands...and likely should before this year's hens begin becoming broody.

Oddly enough - the three bands with orange, black, white, blue or yellow - remain fine. As do the two bands with the above colors also. It was only the red bands which were removed - always on the roost bars - always early morning, as I'd come in and find broken bands on the ground under the roost bars.

Chickens...enough to make a body go mad...

 

[MelissaRose]

We use all colors and never had a problem with picking. No issues with picking at all regardless of color or the ties being on. We cut off the excess on them and they are good. I do a visual check every couple weeks and if one isn't loose when they run, I grab that one and check further. We've only had to replace a few.

I do the same and I've never had a problem!

 

[lazy gardener]

I use all colors and have not had problems with the bands tightening or with them picking on the red ones. Like all aspects of animal husbandry, you must spend time monitoring all aspects of the animal's care. Typically, my flock is less than 30 birds. So it's fairly easy to do a quick visual check. Last year's chicks were banded on left legs. Any chicks born this year will be banded on right.

 

[aart]

Last year's chicks were banded on left legs. Any chicks born this year will be banded on right.

Same here....right, left, right...I keep forgetting which year is which tho so had to write it on the wall in the coop Do have a list on computer for more details.