Banding

[salderm1]

Is there an age you can band a bird?

[Emery]

Birds are usually closed banded at the second week of age...about 5-10 days..this can vary a bit depending on species. Open bands are open, so they can be put on at any time, but I think open bands are dangerous for a bird that is not used to the and shouldn't be put on.

[Lindades264]

Hello,

My vet does not support bands. Now it may be that my birds do not require them, I am not sure. It would be beneficial to research this before you put them on.

[Wheeliegirl]

What is the purpose of banding?

[butterfly1061]

The band usually tells the aviary & hatch date of the bird. If you can see it, there should be initials of the aviary and then numbers showing month and year of the hatch date - I believe. My Olivia had a band, but I had it removed. None of my other birds had one.

[Ducky]

Keep in mind, some states require banding, and that all birds be registered to the state by band number. Just like tagging dogs in many ways. From what I know, most breeders will band the babies, and let people have theire avian vet take them off later if they don't want them. Mine has one, and while he chews on it a bit when it bugs him, it doesn't really pose a threat.

Course thats just what I've heard. I've never bred lovies, so I'll let somebody who has give they're opinion! :)

[mjm8321]

I've banded many of my chicks; however I have done it to keep track of who is who, hatch date, genetics, etc... I do let people know that they can have an avian vet remove the band if they do not want it afterwards. I have heard stories of birds that get the band caught in toys or the band really bothers them (whether it's the band or an illness) and constantly pick at it. I've never had an issue with any of my flock, nor have i had to remove a "real" legband. I did take in three birds a year and a half go that had homemade legbands, which looked like someone took wire and wrapped it around their legs. They went directly to the vet to have them removed. With hookbills, if they don't have a leg band that was put on when they were a chick, I would not suggest trying to put a split or open ban on them. Their beaks are so strong, they can open the band right up. If you are concerned with identification, you might look into microchipping, though my vet won't do it on smaller birds.

[butterfly1061]

If you are concerned with identification, you might look into microchipping, though my vet won't do it on smaller birds.Like MJ's vet, my vet won't do many procedures on smaller birds either. My brother's Blue & Gold macaw is microchipped. It's good to know in case anything were to happen to Bosco and it wasn't expensive either.

[salderm1]

Thanks everyone!!!!! I thought banding was like dog tags!!! Actually, I am getting another lovie from the breeder that I am getting his brother from and wouldn't be able to tell apart from....Since, I have another lovie, and am getting a GCC from, I thought, they needed to be banded so I could tell the difference! I guess, I can do that in the course of time right???