Marking hens to tell age

[Cindlady2]

Can't you just look at their teeth, or count the rings in their legs?

But to count the rings in their legs you have to cut one off... then they walk funny.

 

[Denim Deb]

Can't you just look at their teeth, or count the rings in their legs?

But to count the rings in their legs you have to cut one off... then they walk funny.

You got a point, there. But then again, they do have a tool for boring into trees so you can take just a core for counting the rings. Maybe we could find a mini one for chicken legs.

 

[so lucky]

If you use a red plastic band or zip tie on their leg, would the other chickens peck at it?

 

[savingdogs]

I wish I had thought about this! I can't tell my newest buff orpingtons apart from the older ones now....it seems amazing to me now because last fall they stood out so well!

It is good to know ways to identify them in the future.....

 

[ranchhand]

Some of ya'll are too funny! Diamond studs...... I lost a diamond stud years ago to a friendly BO on my shoulder! Never did get it back, lol. Could lead to the claim "My hen poops diamonds".

I use the zip ties on chicks and I got adult "bandettes" in 3 different colors at www.cutlersupply.com , they had the best price at the time. A word of caution, don't get the blue or green ones- they are so dark you can't read the numbers on them without grabbing the hen.

I've never tried the "spiral" ones, but I've heard they're a real PITA.