EZ-Mark® Marking Crayons
EZ-Mark® harness crayons are a great way to identify if a ewe or doe has been bred.
Crayons are available in red, blue, green, orange, yellow and black. For best results, use in outside temperatures from 40–80°F.
For outside temperatures lower than 40°F or higher than 80°F, look to Nettex Marking Crayons which are available in HOT/FIRM and COLD/SOFT options.
Crayons are compatible with Premier’s Deluxe Marking Harness, Nylon Breeding Harness or Cross Your Heart Leather Breeding Harness. (Harnesses sold separately.)
Instructions/Diagrams:
Crayon Insertion Instructions 
Specs
- Outside temperature range: 40–80°F
- Size: 4" length x (Front: 2" width, Back: 2 1/4" width) x 1" height
- Contains wax, colorants and inert excipients; no toxic components
- Metal cotter pin (hidden under the label) comes with each crayon
- Plastic case protects crayons during transport
- Compatible with Premier’s Deluxe Marking Harness, Nylon Breeding Harness or Cross Your Heart Leather Breeding Harness. (Harnesses sold separately.)
Marking Crayons Compared
| Premier EZ-Mark® Crayons |
Nettex Cold/Soft |
Nettex All-weather |
Nettex Hot/Firm |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp. Range: | 40–80°F | 25–65°F | 40–85°F | 85°F+ |
| Colors: | Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Black | Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Black | Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Black | Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Black |
| Price (ea): | $4.70 | $6.25 | $6.25 | $6.25 |
How to Use
- Hold in one hand so crayon itself is facing you
- Push the crayon (hole in the center) with finger or thumb
- Crayon should pop out
- Remove cotter pin out of back of crayon by making a slit down middle of sticker
- Place narrow end of crayon (plastic side down) in wide part of holder
- Gently slide up until it can go no further
- Slide cotter pin through holes on side of holder and crayon
- With needle nose pliers, bend end of cotter pin to lock in place
Precautions
- The shade of the marks on wool may not exactly match the crayon color.
- Store in a dry, cool place to prevent crayons from melting.
- Always check the ram every day to see if the crayon needs changing or the harness needs adjusting!
Troubleshooting
Listed below are recommended optional components or related items. Your particular situation may require alternative recommendations. Please call and talk to our consultants if there are any questions at 800-282-6631.
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Breeding Supplies
Nylon Breeding Harness
Item #501000 -Ram crayon marking harness. Ideal for larger framed animals. Quick and easy to adjust.
$18.50 -
Breeding Supplies
Deluxe Marking Harness
Item #501020 -Many flocks use marking harnesses on their breeding rams to identify when ewes are bred.
$28.00 -
Breeding Supplies
Cross Your Heart Breeding Harness
Item #502600 -Harness fits to rams and bucks to hold marking crayons, letting shepherds know when ewes or does have been bred to anticipate lambing kidding dates.
$26.00 -
Breeding Supplies
Sheep Management Wheel
Item #986000 -Provides a detailed schedule based on your preferred lambing date. Very helpful in planning out your shepherding year.
$14.00 -
Lambing and Kidding Aids
Lambing Barn Sheets, 10 per packet
Item #780045 -Keep records with these easy-to-use lambing barn sheets. An easy reference for all of your lambing details. Packet of 10.
$10.00 -
Books
Hobby Farm Series - Goat Book
Item #981023 -This book is an in-depth guide to small-scale goat keeping--for pleasure and profit!
$17.00 -
Books
Storey's Guide to Raising Sheep
Item #981004 -Comprehensive and current information on raising sheep. By Paula Simmons and Carol Ekarius.
$27.00
Write a Review
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We have been using EZ-Mark® Crayons for several years on our own farms in southeast Iowa with good success. (Weather in Iowa can change quickly between very cold and very hot.) It has puzzled us that some have indicated the same good results while others have expressed disappointment.
Regardless, enough folks have expressed frustration—especially in hot or cold climates—that we felt an alternative must be offered. So we brought in marking crayons from a reputable UK manufacturer. COLD/SOFT and HOT/FIRM crayons are available from Nettex for folks who want to try a different brand.
Stephanie G from Virginia
We have had to change out the crayon within a week - with only one doe in season at the end of that week (so certainly not due to use). The crayons are too soft, they smear all over everything. The second crayon might make it a week - but now my does in season are completely blue from head to toe - as well as the buck. It is all over our feeders, fences, faces, and all the goats have blue on them from just brushing into one of the bred does. I was recommended by many to use this product - but it seems the new all-temp formula is not at good as the prior version. Bring the old crayons back!
Nelson K from Illinois
I was very excited about these new crayons as I hate debating which temperature to use. I put these on in high temperatures of 75-85. The crayon only lasted 1-2 ewes and the crayon was gone and the ram had crayon smeared all over between his legs and chest. I think these will work good for cooler temperatures, but for warmer temperatures, they wear way too fast. I buy lots of great products from Premier and love the way they do business, so I hate to write a bad review, but it is an honest review. Also, I spoke with Premier on this and as always, they took care of the customer. So Product review as an "all-temperature" crayon, 1-star, Premier customer service, 5- star. Average of them both, 3-stars.
Natalie C from Pennsylvania
I was disappointed with this product. I have had to change crayons twice on our rams and the rams have only been out for 10 days. Our temperatures have stayed in between 50 degrees at night to 75 during the day. The crayons are very soft. I will be purchasing different crayons next year.
Tyler S from Texas
I am not pleased with this product at all. For years we used the old hot crayons and they would last about 12-15 days. I put one of these new "all temperature" crayons on 5 days ago and every single bit of the crayon is already gone. It is way too soft. Our temperatures have been between 70 and 90 degrees. I hope they go back to the old crayons.
Terry M from Texas
I purchased the mild crayons this time because the hot weather crayons didn't mark during our December breeding time and the cold weather had just crumbled off the previous December. I assumed because it was too hot in Texas during the winter. The mild crayons marked initially on two bucks but quit very quickly. The mild crayon didnt mark at all on another buck from the moment I turned him out. Don't know if it is the slick hair of a goat or these crayons. My parents live several counties away from me but breed goats at the same time and purchase their crayons locally and they work fine.
