importance of leg band

[Mare Miller]

We, my husband and I, use to travel to Mexico and back, regularly. Then...Amigo came into our lives, not a bad thing,,just a complication thing. Amigo didn't come with a band either. I did find out, after talking to the USDA, (crossing international borders), that umbrella cockatoos are an endangered species and therefore have to have a USDA agent meet us at the border, with all paper work and 200 something dollars to get us out of Mexico! I've actually thought about wrapping him up in a blanket, which he loves, at the moment of crossing and breezing on through. Just my thoughts.

 

[KatherineI]

And couldn't it be possible that the bird has never even been to a vet? You'd be surprised at how many people don't take their animals in for regular check ups, if the bird has never appeared sick in any way the previous owners may have never felt the need to take her to the vet.

Hence why the very last thing I said was "IF she ever had one" because it's fully possible that she's never been. Supposedly she was DNA sexed by her previous owners and I was under the assumption that only vets could do that.

Sorry, I must have missed that. You can do DNA testing from home, I do it as do many people since it's only about $20 to do yourself compared to what a vet would charge.

I thought DNA testing for birds was only done by blood? At least, that's how I've always seen it done. How does a home kit work if you're not drawing blood?

 

[MikeyTN]

If I remember right the home kit you put a smear of blood on a card? Its been long ago....

 

[Mayden]

Drop of blood on a card, or you can send fresh chest feathers off to them. most places prefer blood though

 

[KatherineI]

So then how do you GET the blood? Cutting a toenail extra short? Isn't that dangerous?

 

[Sulphiria]

You usually dont have to cut it very short at all, our birds bleed a little each time we file them down.

My question is where can I get these kits?

 

[Mayden]

Avian Services Center: DNA sexing and disease testing for all species of birds.

Here you go, most people seem to use these guys.

If you look through the website+the faq especially, questions should be answered.

Clipping the toenail a TINY bit on the quik usually provides more than enough blood, it's just a case of like... nicking it ever so slightly. Or just yoink some chest feathers

 

[IcyWolf]

I get mine from avian biotech, they send you the cards for free and then you pay for the tests when you mail them back in. All you do is cut a toe nail just a teeny bit short and put a few drops of blood on the card, then put some flour or cornstarch on the nail and give your birdie some treats and cuddles. As some have mentioned, you can also do the feather method, personally, I find it much less traumatic to do the nail than pluck feathers. If you are doing testing for babies you can also send in their egg shells to have them tested, I've never done this method before but I know others that do with great success. The only thing that worries me about the egg method would be if you somehow got the egg shells mixed up. :54:

Avian Services Center: DNA sexing and disease testing for all species of birds.

 

[Molcan2]

The band could have been cut off (there are a lot of reasons people do this). This happens a lot if they get it caught on something and are hanging by it (sometimes requiring a foot amputation). Also a band could have never been put on in the first place. The thing with bands is this: If coming into the US (endangered/threatened species) the bird must have a closed band (a closed band has to be placed on a foot very early in life) A bird with an open band will not be allowed entry into the US same with a bird without a band (this ensures that they are not wild caught). If you wanted to take your bird overseas then you will have to jump through hoops to do it. It will not matter if you are just crossing state lines, that wont be an issue. You can continue to have the bird in any state without a band.

On the issue of the feet, the bird needs to go to a vet asap.