Leg Bands?

[JosephN79]

I bought 2 green cheek conures a few months ago. They were bought from a woman who toook care of birds but had to downsize. They dont have leg bands like i see on some other birds. What is the purpose of these? Just identification? Should i get them for my conures?

Thank you

 

[BoomBoom]

Could be wrong on this, but I think the bands are to identify that a bird came from a licensed US breeder (again I could be misinformed here). It does not identify the bird individually. I got my sun conure from a 'hobbyist' breeder and also did not come with a band. If yours did not come with a band, better leave it be. Bands could be a safety hazard anyway (could get caught in threads, toys, etc) and some people opt to have it removed.

Congratulations on your two feathered companions!

 

[Mekaisto]

I don't know about the system in America, but here it's just for identification. I don't really like them though, I prefer not to have them if possible.

 

[Megapixel]

It's not even possible to get them for your birds.
A closed band can only be put on very very young birds when there feet are small enough to slip it on. After the bird grows just a little, the band won't come off. You can't put a closed band on an adult bird unless the band is larger than would be normally used. Some states require bands as proof that the birds were bred domestically and not imported.
In the U.S. anyone can buy bands, no license required. You can have what ever you want printed onto the bands. Most breeders use them to identify the individual birds for their own records. They is no record of it anywhere else.
Open bands were put on birds that were imported to show that they were imported legally. Legal importation of birds ended in the 90s. Many owners of these birds had them removed because they were potentially hazardous. Some people even have closed bands removed for safety reasons.

 

[ParkersMom]

I make it a point to remove leg bands. They can get caught on things and hurt the bird.

 

[hacatta]

I wouldn't get the open bands,they are really sharp where you push them close.
I had them a while to cure paddle leg and that is really all they are good for.

 

[Freespin]

My barraband has one. He got it caught on a stick (i have no freaking idea how he managed it!) While I was out so who knows how long he was hanging for. Very lucky that he was ok, just a little sore and quiet for a few days. I suppose it's good if I ever lose him that I can say he is this bird with this leg band.

 

[MikeyTN]

Some of the smaller breeders don't use leg bands! Even when I used to raise a lot, I don't use leg bands as I am not a fan of them after having to have a bird's foot amputated because of it. I personally get them removed!

 

[Frumpydumple]

My green cheek conure has a closed ring and it used to slip further up her leg and get stuck, so I had to push the ring back down again. She has gained weight now so it doesn't happen anymore, but they still aren't very safe. They don't really need them.

 

[kiwiS]

Thanks for posting about this topic. It's something I haven't really thought about and now after reading all these comments I am going to get Kiwi's leg band removed. Not worth the risk, and it doesn't do anything for her but give her an itchy leg. Bye bye leg band!

 

[JosephN79]

Thank you for all the responses!

The lady wasnt really a breeder she just had 2 birds that had a few babies. She took care of them at her job (whatever it was), and lost the job so had to take them home and sell some. I saw some birds with bands so was just wondering if i legally had to have one. Im not concerned with their pedigree or anything... i think i know theyre both girls by their "mating" behavior (putting their butt against things and flicking their wings?). Theyd probably mess with a ring and hurt themselves... since theyre not used to one. I wont worry about it then. Thanks again.

 

[MonicaMc]

Parrots don't have pedigrees, and in fact, when it comes to green cheek conures, I would be amazed if there are any pure green cheeks out there that have not been hybridized within their own subspecies. Well, there's hybrids floating around that are mixed with black caps or maroon bellieds and some people think the hybrids are pure.


When it comes to conures, males and females can display some of the same behaviors! So what you are seeing is no guarantee you have a male or female either way!


My first conure didn't have a leg band but I wish he did... so maybe I could have known a little bit more about him.

My second conure does have a leg band and by that info I was able to find out that he came from wild caught imports.

My third conure doesn't have a leg band, but I have her breeder's information, even though I've never personally spoken with the breeder.

 

[Kiwibird]

If you want for your birds to be identifiable as belonging to you in case of emergency, you can have them microchipped by a vet. That is a lot less dangerous than the bands.

 

[MonicaMc]

Some avian vets wont microchip birds weighing under 100 grams.... Green cheeks, on average, weigh 60-80 grams... so this could pose a slight issue.