How do i tell my new chicks apart?

[poultry1showman]

I have four three day old chicks and I am wondering how I can tell them apart. I habe heard that toe nail polish will work, but I am worried about the fumes. I have also thought about ordering bands but they are too small for most sizes. What should I do to mark my new chicks?

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I think some people put colored marks on them. I do know there are some bands that fit day old chicks.

 

[nuthatched]

Nail Polish or acrylic paint on their feet. Not red.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Is there a reason to tell them apart this young?

 

[poultry1showman]

Is there a reason to tell them apart this young?

Well, I am raising them for show and need to know them apart pretty early.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Fair enough, I guess. Perhaps highlighter on the headm

 

[Sussex19]

I have tried tying a bit of wool around their legs. It didn't bother them at all, but half of them fell off.
At that point I went to the very smallest size of zipties, which worked very well. Do make sure to check the very often though, as they grow so fast, and change them as need be.

 

[vall]

Chicken hill makes leg bands that fit day old quail, so they'll definitely have a size that fits your chicks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Depending on color of the chicks, a dot of food dye on the head is commonly used by hatcheries.

 

[drangle]

zip ties worked for me, you will need to cut them off and put bigger ones on as they grow.

make them small enough you can slip them over their feet but big enough they have room to grow.

cut them off when their legs start filling out the band, don't wait too long.

I use wire cutters and cut through the block of the zip tie, sometimes there is not enough room to get them between their leg and the band.