Removing Wing Bands from Pullets

The pullets I got at the feed store all had bands on their wings. I have no idea when or how to remove them! They are like clips folded over the top of the wing with one end sticking into the hole on the other end. It looks like I'd need a pair of pliers to bend the end sticking into the hole to pull it apart. I don't want to hurt the chicks, obviously, so do I wait until they're bigger? Will it affect their wing development if I wait? Any help in figuring this out will be much appreciated!

Eileen

I've never seen chicks with wing bands. It looks as if all you need to do is straighten the metal tab and push it back through the hole. You could ask the feed store.

Needle nosed pliers and don't wait. As quickly as they feather out and grow. It does look like a 3-4 handed job though...

Have you tried to bend the tab with your thumb or finger? They look like they where put on by being wrapped around the wing and the tab bent. It would have to be something that the nursery could do with one person quickly.

Why would they use them? Did you get them off?

They use them instead of leg bands.

Sorry Catscan, I guess I am dense, for marking the chicks?

Yes...you can buy them and even have them engraved. I guess the hatchery has some system for what wing they put them on or whatever. Probably just to tell the pullets from the roos.

Thank you Catscan... ok one more question, does it hurt them? I know dumb question, but I have to ask.

No. It is a common way of marking birds.

Here are some examples:

http://www.lakecumberlandgamebirds.com/index1.html

And here is a link with a link on how to apply them:

http://www.nationalband.com/nbtpoult.htm

I've tried to bend them with my finger and they seem much stronger than that. We're going to remove them today since my MIL is off work. It's definitely not a one-woman job. Thanks for the links - I'll let you know how it goes.

Eileen

We did it last night. I was able to do them myself, but it did go quicker/easier with my mom holding the birds. The notch pries up with a fingernail and then slides through the hole. I don't know about it not hurting the chicken though. It was almost like a healed piercing. The wing flesh was pierced by the band. Since it's a healed wound, I don't know that it will fuse back together. Seems like a weird way to mark them when leg bands don't do any damage to them. Anyway - everyone is clip free now!