Should i micro chip ?

I'm thinking of getting my guys chipped and I want to know if anybody has had any problems with their birds afterwards.
I microchip my own dogs and litters , so I have do e experience with microchips and their pros and cons for dogs but not any for birds.

I would never even attempt to chip my birds so don't worry , lol.

But I'm worried about complications since birds are so so delicate...
Do you think it's worth chipping them ?
Do you know of any vets or rescues that even think of scanning birds for
chips if they are found and turned in ?

Just another thing to worry about.....

Thanks guys

I would assume a vet would scan, (if equipment is available to do so), a lost and found bird.

I remember reading something someone posted, awhile ago, saying that there wasn't a data base for birds ankle rings, to identify who the owner was. I guess a chip would offer more info?

It's a good idea, something I should think about for Amigo.

I'd like to hear answers on this too. One of my three cats was chipped when I got him (all 3 are rescues) and I think I'd like to chip the other two. Jasper likes to sit in the window by my desk and whistle at the birds that hang around. Today I caught him trying to nibble at the screen. I'd never leave him unattended in the window due to the damage he could do in a heartbeat to the wood..but a heartbeat is all it takes for an accident to happen. With the growing stories of people losing birds I do think it's something to consider. I would like to have Jasper chipped but I know they have to be put under and that itself is risky. How many people have their birds chipped, how many got them already chipped and how many had it done after. I could see rescues scanning birds but vets maybe not unless someone said they found the bird. I think my vet did ask where I got Jasper when I took him in for his wellness check.

i have been thinking of doing microchipping for my guys, too. i dont know anyone that has done it. it would be a great way, if someone stole your pet, and you need to prove ownership, etc.

Conuregirl said:

i have been thinking of doing microchipping for my guys, too. i dont know anyone that has done it. it would be a great way, if someone stole your pet, and you need to prove ownership, etc.

Click to expand...

If someone stole your pet, they're not going to take it to a vet...

I do not think I will chip Rosie. Is it painful to them? With the extensive preening bird do would they pick at the chip and cause damage to the skin and feathers?

Spiritbird said:

I do not think I will chip Rosie. Is it painful to them? With the extensive preening bird do would they pick at the chip and cause damage to the skin and feathers?

Click to expand...

No , it's not anymore painful then a needle.
The chip is implanted just beneath the skin and is movable
They normally don't migrate out of the area it's implanted in , but there are
the few that do , but most don't cause any problems.
I'm told the chip is implanted in the birds meaty part of the breast.
Whether or not it will hinder a birds preening , I don't know.
If its in the meaty part of the breast , I doubt it can move , so I would think it could bother the bird at some point.....idk .

I personally never had any problems with the dogs being chipped.
And BTW , for those who do not know , the chip is the size of a grain of rice.

I have Merlin microchipped, it was one of the first things we did when we got him. If Merlin ever got out, lost or if someone did steal him and the police managed to find the person responsible, we can prove it's my bird because of the microchip.

Most birds are sedated for around 2 minutes whilst the chip is implanted so that they do not wriggle and cause damage. The sedation is safe, but of course a bad reaction can happen. With larger birds such as hy's (luvmytoo, this is for you ) they might not sedate as the bird is big enough for them to need... less precision I suppose. There's more space, whereas if Merlin had wriggled around they could have done some SERIOUS damage. Imagine if you asked though sedation could be used. Probably a vets preference.

It doesn't hurt as they are sedated. I imagine it would possibly feel like a small bruise to them for a few days though as just like we are when we have blood taken/injections, it will damage the skin for a short while. Merlin has never shown any 'pain' or preening issues. and even when I preen him, I can't tell it's there.

I recommend microchipping for all... birds have wings and they can travel an awful long way, microchipping is the most reliable way of getting them back if the worst does happen.

Thank you Mayden for shedding some light on the process of micro chipping birds.
I didn't know they actually put them under slightly to do this !
Hmmm....
I know it's a overall good idea , just like for other animals , but because birds are soooooo
fragile , I have my hesitations...

Having read the article I wouldn't bother unless your parrot is having an anaesthetic for some other reason. The disadvantages seem to totally outweigh the only advantage - which is a sense of false security.

SpringCottageParrot said:

Having read the article I wouldn't bother unless your parrot is having an anaesthetic for some other reason. The disadvantages seem to totally outweigh the only advantage - which is a sense of false security.

Click to expand...

Yes , I feel the same way about doing dentals on dogs.
If they are going under for another reason ,sure , why not.
But to put a dog or cat under to do a routine dental is crazy.
I'm not saying if the animal really needs it , then thats different.
But to put animal under for something that really does "need" to be done
ASAP , is just risky and un ethical. IMO.

My vet never mentioned my guys being out under . I'm curious if he does the little birds. I'm going to call tomorrow and see .....

lene1949 said:

Conuregirl said:

i have been thinking of doing microchipping for my guys, too. i dont know anyone that has done it. it would be a great way, if someone stole your pet, and you need to prove ownership, etc.

Click to expand...

If someone stole your pet, they're not going to take it to a vet...

Click to expand...

Yes and no. If they stole the bird , they aren't too bright to begin with so I would think they just might one day . I'm sure they might not even know what a microchip is either.....sometimes they think if they can take it to a couple of towns over and no one will be the wiser....ive seen it happen to stolen dogs.

I micro chipped Bogart the same day they removed his ankle band he never gave it a notice and the scanner is free to any vet who wants one from the company it reads a number that is maintained in a computer registery where the number is linked to your information you just have to keep it current .

Yes , it's quite a quick procedure. Most of the pups I chip don't even know what
happened , lolol.
I had to pay almost a grand for my scanner back then. We have to get the ISO chips , so it wasnt free for us .

luvmytooo said:

Most of the pups I chip don't even know what
happened , lolol.(.

Click to expand...

There is a world of difference between a puppy which has a lot of loose skin behind its neck which is how its mother picks it up and a parrot.

SpringCottageParrot said:

luvmytooo said:

Most of the pups I chip don't even know what
happened , lolol.(.

Click to expand...

There is a world of difference between a puppy which has a lot of loose skin behind its neck which is how its mother picks it up and a parrot.

Click to expand...

Yes , you are right . I was thinking of maybe waiting on the microchip.
Idk. Maybe they will come out with a micro chip especially for birds.
Because , have you ever seen the size of the needle ? It's huge !!!!
And putting that into a bird , I just don't know....

I have seen the size of the needle and it's something I wonder about too. I'll have to ask my old avian vet in LA if it's worth it. Our birds only go outside in their home cages or the acrylic travel cages we bought them (quite spacious actually). One of mine knows how to fly and the other is learning quickly. I still worry though about the chip.

BarkleyLoves said:

I have seen the size of the needle and it's something I wonder about too. I'll have to ask my old avian vet in LA if it's worth it. Our birds only go outside in their home cages or the acrylic travel cages we bought them (quite spacious actually). One of mine knows how to fly and the other is learning quickly. I still worry though about the chip.

Click to expand...

Yep , it's a hard call. I just wish they would come out with a system specially made for birds , that would make me feel better . I think ....
But how much smaller can they actually make the chip ?
It's tiny to begin with ! They would have to make the chip smaller somehow to be able to use a smaller needle .
Hopefully someone ( meaning the chip companies ) come up with a bird chip.
REALLY SOON !!

In the meantime, one good thing you can do is take some pictures of your bird, and of you WITH you bird, so if it comes down to it, you not only have a picture to identify him or her with, you have "proof" that this is, indeed, your bird. Put a calendar or something with the date on it in the picture, just so it's easy for them to see "Okay, here's this exact bird, posing with this person, on such and such a date."

And of course, good clear pictures are good to have anyway! And you can also use them to nominate your fid for Pet of the Day!