How do you guys tag your chicks to keep track of them?

[CBee]

I've heard of people using the small hair ties (that people use for babies/dogs) and the plastic ties, but wouldn't they be hazardous to the chicks?

Wouldn't they try to eat the rubber-band ties? Or what about the plastic ones? Wouldn't they outgrow them and they get tight on the chick's leg? Or do you remove them before it gets to that point?

Any tips are appreciated!

 

[Teach97]

Typically a chick does not close it's foot all the way so you can leave them fairly loose...with pigeons we use bands that go one when they are like a week old and they are good to go through adulthood as long as you buy the correct size...now chickens don't grow as fast so you would probably want to wait longer to put a permanent band...but I am betting zip ties would work for short time...just member to cut them off and replace before they get too big...then you could go to a more permenant or adult band...check out Foy's they have a big selection...mine should be here this week! those stupid colored coturnix are hard to sex so I got pink for girls and blue for boys!

 

[cmom]

I used zip tied on my birds when they were little, but changed over to leg bands. I bought the proper size for my birds and at first they were a little loose but now they fit fine. I tell my girls it's their bracelets. You can find zip ties in auto parts stores, Wal-Mart in the auto dept and some have said they bought them at Home Depot.

 

[Nathan]

Does anyone paint their toenails, and is it effective?

 

[MandyH]

If it's not a black chick I use my 3 year olds washable crayola markers. I run a stripe down their back with whatever color I need too and then write on my clipboard what the color stands for.

 

[apukanski]

The hatchery where I bought my chicks also sold spiral leg bands in ten different colors.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

I only painted one chicks toe nails.

Audrey was always in the Tiffany Blue polish "For Audrey"
Not that I couldnt tell her apart from the other BO's. She was ALWAYS jumping on my hand and then onto the waterer, then onto the top of the brooder and from there my back. She hasnt changed one bit

 

[Chickie Mamma]

I actually wish I would have bought the bands... I had 4 white silkies and 2 I wanted to keep so I made one pink and one blue with food coloring. (Not a good idea)! Kids thought it was great. But they were hard to tell apart and there was someone who bought the other 2. I didn't want DH to give the wrong ones as I was not home. Everyone asks me what type of silkie are those. When I explain, they laugh. I have given them baths in white vinegar etc and you can still see the color. Its funny!

 

[jnjross]

i paint nails, i had to do it every other day and i don't suggest it, legs band sound much better

 

[farmerbrown]

We use the tinny zip ties until they are about full grown. Once full grown we switch them out to bands.

With 11 colored bands my wife made a chart so 2 bands will tell you there birth date. We do not hatch in December. Hens get banded on the left and roosters on the right.

I have seen 2 different types of wing bands. The one pierces the wing when there 1 day. The other is a wing band. We have never tried them.