Ameraucana Leg Bands

[John W Blehm]

For easy identification of chickens I generally use colored spiral leg bands on adult birds.  Sometimes I use the numbered bandettes and E-Z Ring Numbered Lock Bands. 
The leg band sizes that seem to fit my Ameraucana chickens best are...
Bantam hens size 6 or 7.
Bantam cocks size 8 or 9.
Large fowl hens size 10 or 11
Large fowl cocks size 12.

[Cory Eckert]

Great info thanks John.

Have you ever used the zip tie bands like these?

https://www.strombergschickens.com/product/numbered-zip-tie-poultry-bands

[Michael Muenks]

I have used them on mature birds . . . especially peafowl. I do not like to use them on growing birds.

[Janet Tipton]

Great info thanks John.

Have you ever used the zip tie bands like these?

https://www.strombergschickens.com/product/numbered-zip-tie-poultry-bands

Cory I have used the numbered zip tie ones for birds when I put them in show cages and have found that the numbers run off fairly quickly.

[Cory Eckert]

Cory I have used the numbered zip tie ones for birds when I put them in show cages and have found that the numbers run off fairly quickly.

Ugh, that would stink. I'll try a few of these on already marked birds and see how they fair over the summer this year.

[Megan Knowlan]

How do you determine what leg band size to use? John you mentioned #10-12 for your LF but I've read somewhere else someone uses #9-10 for their LF. Should I just buy multiple sizes or is there a way to actually measure what size I need for mine? I'm currently using the numbered zip ties but want to switch to bandettes.

[John W Blehm]

From my experience the #10 or #11 size works for large fowl hens and if other fanciers say #9 or #10 fits their hens, maybe buy a small quantity of #10s to try.  Shank sizes may vary a little between varieties and different strains.  We don't want the bandettes too big and sloppy, but a little too big is better than a bit too tight.

[Justin Snyder]

I was using the spiral until this year. I have had a few twist off but no real issues. When I saw this picture and learned it was from a spiral band I decided to start looking at other options.

[John W Blehm]

I was using the spiral until this year. I have had a few twist off but no real issues. When I saw this picture and learned it was from a spiral band I decided to start looking at other options.

By what I can see in the photo I would put the blame on the person that put a band that was too small on a bird that that was still growing.