The Poultry Keeper

traditionalbritishfowlco · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 243 Location: lancashire

Hi all, I need some advice with ringing.

I'm about to hatch a load of chicks all at similar times and it's absolutely imperitive that I keep track of who's who and who came from where etc so I need some means of identification as I dont have enough equipment to house each group seperately whilst so young!

I'm thinking it's not as simple as putting a ring on when it hatches and that'll be it - do I need to get new rings every so often as the chicks grow? When does this needs to be done? what about wing rings/clip things aswell? I just need everything you can tell me basically!!!

Thanks!

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3455 Location: Monmouthshire

You'll need lots of rings and the best place to get all the different sizes is the Domestic Fowl Trust. Use quail rings on day olds and work up as they grow. Try to stick to one colour for each set of birds, but write down who's wearing what every time they need changing.
I toe punch. Small thing like a leather punch that makes a hole in the toe web. As each foot has two toe webs, the combinations can be quite informative. This year I start Left foot, left web - 2006 hatch and punch other webs for additional information. This doesn't replace ringing, but does mean that you need fewer really small rings as you don't need to ring until they leave the broody house and you need to be able to check from a distance.
Toe punches can also be bought from the Domestic Fowl trust

mojo · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:31 am Post subject:

its possible to buy numbered rings in several sizes

traditionalbritishfowlco · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 243 Location: lancashire

toe punching sounds brutal but may be the answer. i cant risk two rings falling off at the same time and getting the birds mixed up! Is it bloody? Does it hurt them!?

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3455 Location: Monmouthshire

Toe punching is rarely bloody and the chicks really don't seem to notice. I have a dish with some cotton wool soaked in surgical spirit and a pair of forceps to hand, as well as the toe punch. Pick chick out of hatcher, dip punch in surgical spirit, stretch leg so that toes spread out, punch web or webs, making sure that the hole is clear by pushing punch through a very little way, dab hole with soaked cotton wool (easier to hold in forceps) and pop chick into brooder. I dip their beaks into water as I put them under the brooder, which gives them something else to think about. Run a fine wire through the punch to clear before final cleaning in surgical spirit. Probable less traumatic than having your ears pierced!

traditionalbritishfowlco · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 243 Location: lancashire

Thanks - it sounds like the answer - never even heard of it before....