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:
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 C from Oklahoma
Our first time for everything! Got it on and it works well. Used purple on our Royal Whites. Shows up well. Rain didn't wash it off.
Norman R from Washington
Works great. I have no trouble knowing when the ewes are bred. The color is bright enough for all my ewes. Dark ones or light colored ones.
Alaina M from Ohio
Used these for the first time and the crayon was very clear on my Boers. I used green on all white rumped gals. Out of 25 does, 23 were marked and of those 23, we had 21 confirmed bred via ultrasound so I was very happy. I only used one crayon and checked each day for new marks or "darker" marks on previously marked does. Next month will tell how accurate my dates are.
Jonathon J from KS/Southeastern
These marking crayons work great. Our only problem is trying to decide which colors at what temp and how to layer them through the breeding season. We start with yellow and change to darker milder colors as the breeding season progresses. I think they are very reasonably priced as well.
Michelle C from WA
Using marking crayons makes my life so much easier, I can't imagine not using them anymore, even for one ewe! :-)
I did have a question though- do you recommend buying "fresh" crayons each year? I noticed that some that I saved from last year didn't seem to work as well, I wondered if they tend to dry out in storage? Also, how "low" can the crayon get before it doesn't work anymore? Should they last all the way down to empty, or should they be replaced once the crayon material gets lower than the plastic sides?