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IttyParrots
Egg
Joined: 19 Mar 2007
Posts: 4
Location: BC, Canada |
| Bird Bands - The good and bad |
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Good: Bird bands help keep track of the bird, and can state it's species, origin, date of birth, and from which breeder it comes from, or other information.
Bad: Can cut into your bird's leg, can get caught on things, some birds constantly pull at them and try to rip them off, even if they were put on at an early age.
I hate bird bands, the fact is because they are unnatural and I have never met a parrot that truly enjoyed having it on. It's a parrot's instinct to pick off the things on their body that don't belong. My male parrotlet was raised without a band, nor had he ever seen one. When I got my female parrotlet Zaye, she had a leg band. Now, my male Zaye tried to rip off her leg to get the band off. In his mind, instinct told him the band didn't belong. So, if I ever wanted them to be together, I had to remove the band. Which I did safely and without any harm to her leg, and now they are happy together without any problems. And her leg is fine now 
My female blue parrotlet named Sapphire, hated her band. She would sit, and pick on it, and still pick on it, and chew on her leg and foot. I had to remove it too. She was miserable with it on. And now she is so much happier, allthough whenever she sees rings on me she tries to rip them off...
Sure, bird bands are a great way of identifying or keeping track, but if your bird is truly miserable with it or there is danger of it being ripped off, I'd have it removed...
What are your thoughts on bird bands? |
Tuesday March 20, 2007 4:45 pm |
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Yupra
Flying tumbler
Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 2206
Location: CA |
I never had a problem with bird bands.. my previous budgie had one put on at an early age and, apart from preening, didn't really touch it. My current little guy was bought without one ( I didn't notice until I'd actually got him home, I was too excited at the store  ) but I think putting one on now would be a bad idea, he's been without one for so long it would probably make him feel uncomfortable. |
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Tuesday March 20, 2007 6:07 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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I never had any problems with bird bands. *knock on wood*
I'm sorry to hear that you have.
I have heard that DNA can also identify you as the owner. I'm not sure if that is accepted? |
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Tuesday March 20, 2007 8:00 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
I think leg bands are a very good thing in the conservation field for wild birds. For pet parrots however, I don't really see the necessity of them if they do tend to cause so many problems like you say. None of my birds have ever had bands, so I have no personal experience wih them. |
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Tuesday March 20, 2007 9:24 pm |
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jletaz
Experienced flier
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 1286
Location: CA, USA |
Most of the captive raised parrots and finches I've had did not come with bands. Gryffin is the only one here now with a band. Robin didn't come with one. The one I really regret getting cut off is Terry's band. She is a Cuban Amazon and interstate movement of these rare birds is regulated by US fish and game with a permit and I'm sure ID of the bird. Not that I'm planning on leaving the state anyway, oh well. Gryffin's band looks like it fits well enough that it shouldn't be a hazard.
Julie |
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Thursday March 22, 2007 5:13 am |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7972
Location: Australia |
I think it really does depend on the birds themselves... none of my birds have bands, and i'm happy with that. I've seen many birds that don't have any problem with them at all.. so it is all about the bird's preferences. |
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Thursday March 22, 2007 6:33 am |
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NakedDogMom
Fledgeling
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Posts: 312
Location: Ohio |
Sera and Uri don't mess with theirs at all. Sera came banded from the breeder. And Uri came with one when we adopted him.
They don't interact, so no problems there with them trying to pick at each other's bands. And I think even if they did interact.....I'm sure the band would be the LAST thing they went for......bloodshed would be more likely! lol |
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Thursday March 22, 2007 10:57 am |
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luke1
Fledgeling
Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Posts: 313
Location: UK |
Fred had a split ring but it was rubbish and kept getting caught on toys |
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Thursday March 22, 2007 4:12 pm |
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Peanuts
Bappie
Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 52
Location: Sweden |
I think itīs very important with bands/rings. Itīs the only way you can tell if the parrot is wild caught or not and I would never by a parrot without this identification.
Both of my birds used to have a band. Puppe had a split one but we had to remove it because it was squeezing his little leg. |
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Thursday March 22, 2007 5:08 pm |
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Ag_86
Bappie
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 77
Location: Mississauga, ON |
I have heard of birds getting bands that weren't the right size and then catching them on something. Sometimes babies will not grow as big as expected and the bands are too big for them or they will grow larger than expected and the band will be too small. My lovebird Io had a leg band that was too big because he is smaller than most lovebirds. He was always picking at it and eventually he pulled it off. He didn't get hurt or anything. My female lovebird Celeste has a leg band that is the right size for her and she is fine. The male doesn't pick at hers either. My TAG didn't have a leg band put on, but my breeder offered to have her micrchipped if I paid for half of it. |
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Friday March 30, 2007 7:28 pm |
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jletaz
Experienced flier
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 1286
Location: CA, USA |
Most of the hand fed babies I've ever had did not come with a band. However, Gryffin my Eclectus does have one. It fits properly, so I don't see it as a hazard, but now and then, she does pick at it... I am considering having it removed the next time she goes to the vet for a check up. I can't see leaving it on for the next several decades if she really doesn't like it!
Julie |
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Friday April 13, 2007 8:39 pm |
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