Everyone's set up is a little different, so what works here may not be the best for you, but here is a run-down of my experience since I started this thread several years ago:
I have tried just about everything at this point (even resorted to tattooing one year, but couldn't read them after a few months), and my best luck by far has been with zip end wing bands (item 890 from
National Band )
I have had very little luck with plastic bands. I had more break than I had stay on and the ones that didn't break the numbers rubbed off of.
The adjustable aluminum bands the NPIP guys use start coming off in a matter of days.
The aluminum butt end bands are pretty good on adults, although I've had a couple come off after several years, but you need multiple applicators to apply different size bands.
I haven't tried the steel butt end bands.
I have found that rubber bands come off more often than not.
Zip ties stay on better but even if you can write a number on them it will rub off and it is
imperative that they be removed and replaced on a regular basis because they will not break or stretch as the bird grows and will grow right into their leg.
With any leg band you have to continuously change them as the chick grows and try to match up the numbers or keep track in your records where #27 change to #53 etc. (and chances are you're going to drop and lose at least one #27 band before the bird is grown), so I don't like them for chicks, although they are easier to read than wing bands on adult birds.
I've given up on using leg bands for growing birds. You can put the wing band on as soon as the chick comes out of the incubator and, applied correctly, it will stay on for years. (I had a few come off the first year because I didn't get them sealed right). They rarely come off. I've only used the zip bands, so I don't know how they compare to the jiffy or tab end bands.
A final thought, if you are pedigreeing your birds and tracking is essential, what ever type of band you decide to go with you may want to buy 2 sets of each number and put one band on each leg/wing because nothing is fail proof, and it is beyond frustrating when you have a great bird (or worse, a really terrible one) and can't identify where it came from because the band came off.
Edited to add: I think Patty was referring to wing badges instead of bands, but I'm not sure. Sure do wish she was here to ask...