To those that use wing bands: Questions!

[chickenmomma16]

I’ve got my wing bands. Phew! Now, obviously I’m going to be banding the adult birds that I’m keeping from last years hatches but now that I have them, what’s the general consensus for the optimum age for wing banding? As brand new chicks hot out of the incubator or a few weeks old? Or when they move into the coop? Or? Or does it matter? Or as soon as you have a chick/bird that you decide want to grow out and keep track of, band then? And do people normally band everything they hatch? I plan on selling excess chicks that I won’t be keeping myself. I *should* have more than enough eggs next year to incubate.

My victims...

 

[pennyJo1960]

Keep a close eye as birds grow took care of birds when member was moving did not know almost had to remove a foot

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

You can band the chicks when they are a few days old, but you may want to wait until they start feathering in so you can choose your keepers.

Also your Ameraucanas are stunning!

 

[Acre4Me]

It is my understanding that wing bands are meant to go on at a certain age. Applied properly, they will not interfere with growth. Wonder if a site like Poultry DVM has information on this topic.

 

[chickenmomma16]

Keep a close eye as birds grow took care of birds when member was moving did not know almost had to remove a foot

These are wing bands not leg bands

 

[chickenmomma16]

You can band the chicks when they are a few days old, but you may want to wait until they start feathering in so you can choose your keepers.

Also your Ameraucanas are stunning!

Thank you!
I just noticed... is this you too?!?!? Did I just watch a video you did?

 

[chickenmomma16]

It is my understanding that wing bands are meant to go on at a certain age. Applied properly, they will not interfere with growth. Wonder if a site like Poultry DVM has information on this topic.

I’ve seen videos of all ages getting wing bands on, on YouTube. Some as new chicks and older chicks and some as adults.

 

[Acre4Me]

I’ve seen videos of all ages getting wing bands on, on YouTube. Some as new chicks and older chicks and some as adults.

Ok. Then there must be specific sizes/types for the different ages.

 

[chickenmomma16]

Ok. Then there must be specific sizes/types for the different ages.

There are different sizes but my understanding is it’s more for the adult size of what your banding I got size 3, which should be the correct size for an adult LF Chicken. And there are larger sizes for a Turkey for example. But you *should* be able to wing band at any age. I’m just wondering what do people generally do, wing band everything, just keeper chicks for your own records, or wait until they grow out. I can toe punch as they come out of the incubator too.

 

[Fairview01]

I wing band between 2-3 weeks. Chicks are a little more durable. Everything get banded. They are easily removed with a pair of nippers.

I will wing band the left for one cockerel and right for a different one. If i have 3 then I have to do more paperwork when i band.

Once banded i never look at them until after the final cull. Im interested in the best during culling not the parentage. Only after the final cull do I check that in case i have a match that just produces an overwhelming number of great birds.