Marking chicks to tell them apart

[Arejaygee]

I have a mixed bantam flock, 13 chicks all together right now, they‘ll be 6 weeks old Monday. I have 5 Buff Brahmas and I cannot tell them apart. What’s the best way to mark them? I had thought about zip ties, but thinking about cutting the tie to change it makes me really nervous. None of the farm stores near me have leg bands.

 

[potatoesgonnapotate]

I'd order leg bands online; many retailers have them. You could use a zip tie but you'd have to monitor their legs to ensure the ties didn't get too tight. Some farmers use paint to mark their livestock animals' backs, maybe that's an option as well until you can get your hands on some bands? At 6 weeks their legs may be a bit small yet anyways.

 

[Arejaygee]

Yea—their legs are still pretty tiny. I could do the paint dab for now.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Dont use red.
Blue is a good color. Wont be as tempting to be picked at.

 

[Arejaygee]

Dont use red.
Blue is a good color. Wont be as tempting to be picked at.

thank you! I hadn’t even considered avoiding red.