Toe Punch For Ducks

[Oregon Swedes]

I've received some contradictory information about toe punches.

Apparently, with chickens, they are used to remove the web between the toes. I would like to use one to put a round hole in the web of the ducks and geese.

I've seen one source that says a hole punched entirely inside the boundaries of the web will fill in and that it should be used to cut off the edge of the web.

Other sources say that the holes in the web are permanent.

Are any of you using hole punch on ducks and what has been your experience?

[3dogs]

My first goslings came with hole punches inside the web. They filled in. Just my limited experience.

[Evy]

Some will heal over. Just keep watch & re-punch if necessary. I never had a problem with the Calls. A goose might require a larger punch.

[Chung]

The bad news is the webbing does not automatically heal as in fill in. The holes may be permanent and get larger over time or worse.

I had rescued some wild ducklings because the UC Davis had a program of tagging the wild mallards via toe-tags. For these ducklings, the tags left permanent holes and these holes got bigger over time. For some unfortunate ducklings, the tags ripped their webbing, thus permanently destroying the webbing thus prompting the rescue since their ability to swim or generate lift in the water was compromised. As a result of this information, UC Davis stopped their barbaric practice.

In summary, the holes may fill in, but the truth is many of the holes will not fill in; the holes may get larger over time, it may end up ripping the webbing, etc.

[VSPNY]

I Toe Punch, Tattoo and band My Runners, With plastic and a metal band.... My heavy Ducks and geese I Toe Punch and Band With metal, sometimes different Colors But after awile i know who's Who... I Use to Wing band... it got to be an issue With the wing web and the band Growing to small and cut into the birds wing, lost a Very Nice Toulouse gand last Spring and by the time i seen his wing he was a Dead Goose Walking!!! So I Guess its all About How much time and Energy u Put into your Waterfowl...

[Evy]

The bad news is the webbing does not automatically heal as in fill in. The holes may be permanent and get larger over time or worse.

I had rescued some wild ducklings because the UC Davis had a program of tagging the wild mallards via toe-tags. For these ducklings, the tags left permanent holes and these holes got bigger over time. For some unfortunate ducklings, the tags ripped their webbing, thus permanently destroying the webbing thus prompting the rescue since their ability to swim or generate lift in the water was compromised. As a result of this information, UC Davis stopped their barbaric practice.

In summary, the holes may fill in, but the truth is many of the holes will not fill in; the holes may get larger over time, it may end up ripping the webbing, etc.

This is pure BS ! I've toe punched for 20 years, both wild & domestic waterfowl & yes, some holes enlarge or even rip , but the only thing that compromises a bird's ability to swim or fly is feather condition or injury. It's not ''barbaric'' at all...compared to dubbing of poultry or pinioning. THAT'S mutilation!

[Angela]

Oh come on Evy! Admit it. You secretly spend hours plotting methods of torturing those poor little innocent call ducks :) I'm sure that you put a box over their bills to stunt the growth and square the ends....now, that's barbaric :)
Kidding!

I personally don't like toe punching on any of the birds...If I actually hatch enough that I can't identify them, I use plastic spring bands of different colors. It's just easier for me.

[Evy]

I band, too. The punch does help until they get big enough to band or when those bands get brittle & fall off.

[Evy]

I got this from a buddy , Ian Gereg, last evening...
Hi Evy,
I was reading posts on TPC this evening and saw a discussion relating to toe punching, tattoos, etc. for ducks and geese. I know marking and keeping track of young ducklings is a pain, but for 2-3 week old ducklings through adulthood I've been very happy with the seamless metal leg rings from L&M Leg Bands in California. They are custom stamped (I get LRWC CT 12 and a number), come in lots of different sizes (I even use them on big geese and cranes) and cost 90 cents each.


I put them on at 2-3 weeks depending on the species and once they're on, they're on for good. It's nice for me here to grab a bird and know exactly when it was hatched, and nice when I sell birds as people know exactly what they're getting and where they came from.


Here's a link to the L & M website. They're really nice folks and the bands come quick.
http://www.lmbirdlegbands.com/

This is what Ian does for a living....lucky guy! http://www.lrwc.net/ It's an amazing place to visit.

[3dogs]

Wasn't Ian a participating member here some time ago? Name seems so familiar.

[Evy]

Wasn't Ian a participating member here some time ago? Name seems so familiar.

Yes, he was.