Is this an import leg band?

Lifewith3birds

New member
Sep 19, 2019
2
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2
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Missouri
Parrots
Frankie the goffins cockatoo,
Bijou the quaker
Boo the pigeon... not a parrot
I recently bought a goffins cockatoo, Frankie, from the gateway parrot club bird fair. The woman selling him owns Midwest Bird Toys in Indiana and is also a breeder. She told me he is 7 years old and that his previous owner had breast cancer and couldnt keep him. She said he had him now for 9 months. He has no papers or vet records to prove his age, but she told me his story and I believed her.
Well... yesterday I was doing some research about his leg band which is a rounded open band that reads FEO followed by 3 numbers. Is this an import band?
 

Tami2

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2017
5,088
2,454
New Jersey
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Levi - 6 yr old CAG

DOH-4/2/2016
Hello Lifewith3birds and Welcome to ParrotForums!

Glad you joined us. Thank you for adopting this baby when it may very well be sick.

What I understand about 'opened' leg bans in the US, is that the bird is either wild caught and/or an import. Which could indicate it is an older bird as well.

In the US they should have a closed banned applied when the bird is very young and can be slipped on by the breeder.

Hopefully, you'll get more input from members that know more on this topic.
 
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Lifewith3birds

Lifewith3birds

New member
Sep 19, 2019
2
Media
2
0
Missouri
Parrots
Frankie the goffins cockatoo,
Bijou the quaker
Boo the pigeon... not a parrot
  • Thread Starter
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Thank you! �� That's what I have read online as well about the closed leg bands and the code on them. On the USDA website it says an open band with this format means it is highly likely an imported bird.. but that would mean Frankie is nearly 30 years old at least.

He is a very happy bird and I will be taking him to see my avian vet within the next month for a checkup and maybe bloodwork as well. I'm hoping my vet will be able to give me some input on if he is a young or older bird.
 

Smerft85

New member
Jun 10, 2019
178
10
Colorful Colorado with colorful birds
Parrots
6 budgies, 3 cockatiels, 1 amazon and two Indian ringnecks
I have one bird with no band at all, I'm sure he is from overseas, three with open bands but I know for sure they were bred right here in Colorado as I got them as they were weaning, and the breeders are known and documented, two with open bands from petco so surely they are from somewhere farther away, and four with closed breeder bands that I got from a local breeder straight out of his weaning cage. Our Amazon is the only one I have no idea weather he even has one or not, but he was with the previous family from the day he was weaned or close to it, and they had him 23 years before he came here. At least in my experience the bands don't have a 100% purpose or any guarantee of anything. The closed bands on mine all at least have a legit breeder number, and CO on them noting the state they were born in. Only thing I can say for sure is if it's a closed band it was put there by the breeder at a very young age. Open bands or no bands at all is pretty well anyone's guess unless you know the breeder, or the retailer has them documented. Please keep in mind this is my own observations and it doesn't mean I'm completely correct!
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
Definitely do blood-work if you can. It is of great importance. I adopted mine (a re-home) and insisted on blood tests (only to find out she has a hidden liver issue---now corrected). The vet was like, "meh, you don't have to have it done...seems okay." SO glad I did.
 

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