Name tags, aka leg bands, let you know which hen is which, for several good reasons.

Article & photos by Bruce Ingram

Putting leg bands on your chickens helps you identify which ones are laying eggs or have been ill for several days.

The author’s wife, Elaine, poses with Daisy, she of the single, red leg band.

Of course, no one pins name tags on the breasts of chickens — at least I hope no one would. Yet plenty of good reasons exist for us chicken-keepers to position the equivalent of name tags (actually called leg bands) on our birds. Here are some of the best ones.

1. Value the Best Hens

In our two chicken runs, all our birds are heritage Rhode Island Reds, and we typically have one rooster per run. The hens basically look alike. My wife, Elaine, and I believe a hen should possess a penchant for broodiness, the qualities for being a capable mother, consistency in laying and an even temperament. That’s the type of hen we should grant exalted status, and one that should never mistakenly end up in a pot.