Some could use it like that. However, as a breeder myself I can tell you that 100% of MY records on babies are sorted by band number. If I have 4 blue babies in a nest the only way to tell them apart is by band number. So I band them very early, a few days after eyes open. I don't DNA sex them for WEEKS after that, and in most cases bands need to go on long before color is clear anyway so even in sexually dimorphic species bands would need to go on long before sex could be determined. Unless the breeder is doing eggshell sexing (and never has babies hatching the same day in the same nest) then closed banding couldn't work like this.
It COULD be done with open bands, but I'm categorically OPPOSED to the use of open bands unless absolutely necessary to avoid abandonment of a pet. They are far too risky. Also, if this method is used it will still vary between breeders and breeders' societies so there is still very little for a pet owner to go by.
Though I think we all wish band codes were more uniform. That's why I put as much info as possible on my bands.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
