Banding?

Hoping to learn how true bird lovers feel about the subject.

I notice most parrots I see have bands on their leg. I know this is for easier identification should they become lost. However, my Gandalf came from a small breeder, who I suppose may or may not have been unregistered. Gandalf didn't have a leg band, and I guess I sort of look at them like a torment for parrots. With no experience with them, I could be wrong, but I know I wouldn't like having a metal ring around my ankle.

I also know there is a chip implant you can do. Does this work as well as the band for identification? I see pros and cons to it.

If someone finds, but wants to keep/sell your lost bird, they can just remove the band. The chip would be tougher to get rid of without the veterinarian doing the right thing.

However, if someone with no parrot knowledge finds the bird, they might make the connection with a band, whereas with the chip, they might not even know it exists, and the birdie is lost forever.

To summarize...

1. Are the bands unpleasant for the birds?
2. Does either method work really well (success stories?)
3. If so, which method do you prefer, if any (include neither as an option too)?

Thanks.

Hi, first understand that banding is done when the bird is first removed from the nest and the foot is smaller and pliable. As the bird grows the actual foot thickens and closed bands cannot be put on the foot. There are clip on bands that some use after this and I recommend that they never be used, especially on parrots. They will easily bite and bend it and can damage the foot and their mouth. Many birds leave their band alone as it becomes a part of them and they never notice it anymore. Bands sometimes can get caught on toys and the bird can become injured. That being said, 3 of my birds are banded and one is not.
The information on the band is usually the breeders initials, state and the number that chick was given. You would need to write this down and keep it in a safe place so in case of loss you can refer to it to identify your bird.
Microchips work well, the bird must be anesthesized to have the chip in planted, which can sometimes be alittle scary. Many people do not even realize the bird could be chipped, even dogs and cats that are found are never checked. But, it is better safe then sorry.

The CAG I just started a relationship with cae unbanded from a very large breeder simply because of the bite and crush factor The Too my girlfriend has she removed the band when he was young for that reason as well. Both birds are getting chipped net month.

some states have banding laws, and all bids sold legaly in these states must have bands. The legalties or removing bands after the bird is sold are often vauge... My alexandrine has a band, it is a very thck gold-anodized aluminum (possibly titanium) band, that I don't think even she could crush if she tried. She ignores it compleyely most of the time, just like we humans ignore watches and rings. When she is cleanng her feet she moves it up and down her leg to get underneath it. Her band fits very well, and has smooth, rounded edges both inside and out. I think it would be pretty difficult to get it caught on anything. It gives me her breeder history as well as an easy itentification method if she gets lost.

I feel much better with a band than a chip for locationg, as anyone can see a band. Chips are still new technology and not all vets, shelters and animal control agencies even have the appropriate equipment to read them.

I'm quite ok with Ms. Prissy Beak having a band, and it's no more, probbably less, intrusive than making your cat or dog wear a collar.

My Rosie received her open type band when she was with the handfeeder as they give the buyer a choice of yes or no on the band. I chose yes but her foot grew as GC talked about and the band had to be removed. There is slim to none chance she will get lost as my door opens to a hallway. Windows always secured. Like wing trimming it is a personal decision.

Bryce ...did you see newcomer message from Beth?

bogo1 said:

Bryce ...did you see newcomer message from Beth?

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Yes, I did. However, I've always been a bit weird with Amazons and larger. I got chomped pretty badly by a Scarlet Macaw in a pet shop before I got Gandalf. It basically tried to take my finger off. On that day I was "knowfearengineer". That is why you may have noticed my leaning toward a baby Grey.

He looks like a handsome guy though. I had the same feelings about a 49 year old Orange wing locally that they're basically giving away.

I appreciate the tap though!

That reasonable. I'd call you a wimp but it would be hard to do it in believable fashion given I have conures, keets and ducks. Hard to make a case for fearing a duck bite.

Banding can actually be a good sign of a responsible breeder, bands weren't placed on birds as a form of ID for lost or stolen bird's, though in some cases that can be helpful, they where intended to be used to track bloodlines and to determine age and other info, many breeders trade or hold back birds as breeding stock, without being able to to identify individual birds there would probably be quite a bit of inbreeding going on, making for poor quality pet birds, its also a good way to track back to the source birds that may have severe genetic defects or infectious diseases or any number of other maladies, with all that being said, I did say this CAN be the sign of a good breeder, there are many breeders today that band birds who keep shotty records or even no records at all and band them just because many people, pet stores or other breeders will not purchase birds without them, anyway that was the original purpose for banding, for the average pet bird owner its something they expect to see, and when they do it gives them a sense of security even if they have no idea what the info on it means, as for micro chipping its a technology thats been around just over 20 years now, the chips are about the size of a grain of rice and require the use of a large bore needle or surgical procedure to implant it, in birds it injected deep into the breast muscle, usually under light general anasthesia so it is very seldom recomended for smaller birds, I don't think birds really give closed bands much thought after they get used to them shortly after having them put on(usually at about 3 weeks of age or less) I personaly don't like open bands, those that were commanly used on imported birds in the 80's as I myself have had birds get hung up on things while wearing them, just my observations and 2 cents worth

In Australia it is law to have your dogs and cats microchipped! (At least that's what the vet told me when I went to get Sugar desexed and vaccinated. Maybe she was trying to make an extra $80).

Is it possible to attach a tracking device to a bird's band? I would love to one day (in the far distant future) train Scarlett to free-fly, but I would of course be very slightly less scared if she had a tracking device and we could find her if something happened.