Bird Leg Band

[Alecia138]

I'm new to the website so I'm not entirely sure where I am supposed to post this. I have a lesser Senegal and have recently changed my number and address. Is there some way to can update her information on her band so that If by any chance she were to get loose, she could be tracked back to me?

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

No, the leg band on your Senegal was put on when (s)he was a wee baby. The numbers/letters on her band most likely show where she is from and perhaps the breeder's initials. All leg bands are different.

Sure, you can have the band removed, and have an open band put on her, but I highly recommend against it, as many accidents happen due to leg bands to begin with, and open bands are worse than the closed ones.

Have you looked into micro chipping?

 

[Alecia138]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

No, the leg band on your Senegal was put on when (s)he was a wee baby. The numbers/letters on her band most likely show where she is from and perhaps the breeder's initials. All leg bands are different.

Sure, you can have the band removed, and have an open band put on her, but I highly recommend against it, as many accidents happen due to leg bands to begin with, and open bands are worse than the closed ones.

Have you looked into micro chipping?

I haven't. I alwaya just assumed that it would be a traumatic experience for her unless it was done when she was a small baby. Wouldn't you think? I just thought there was a way to update the info for the band. When my dad first got her, he was told to fill out paper work thatllinked him to her by the serial number, but most of the information besides his name has changed.

 

[GaryBV]

Oh no I don't think micro chipping is a 'traumatic' experience at all, not like it would be to lose your parrot or your parrot lose you without any way or reconnecting.

 

[Kalidasa]

Unfortunately there is no national database for legbands. I agree with Wendy about microchiping if you think your bird has a chance of getting lost, as there is a database for microchips. I've never agreed with legbands, and found them to be less than useless and a potential injury. But that's a personal issue. If its a closed band and you want it removed definately have the vet do it as its a lot trickier than it looks and so easy for their legs to break. I noticed on my bird (he was banded for his first 4 years) that his leg joint on the banded side was slightly larger on the banded leg. After having it removed and looking again recently it looks normal now (been a few months). The feathers on that leg were also a bit raggedy from the band. And the vet said it was put on properly and fitted well, so it wasn't the result of improper (whatever that means) banding. Phone numbers change, addresses change, owners change and a band can't update anything. A mircrochip can however.

 

[Megapixel]

When my dad first got her, he was told to fill out paper work thatllinked him to her by the serial number, but most of the information besides his name has changed.

That would have only been for the breeders records.