Question about breeder's banding system

[RavensGryf]

Looking at my current birds, as well as the birds I've had in the past, I've noticed that MOST of them were never banded. I would just get it cut off at the vet if they were, however, thinking about it let me to this question...

HOW do breeders keep track of who is who without a band number for ID purposes? Especially when they reach an age where they all look alike, and some species markings never vary.

I know bands are used to keep records of breeding stock when you need to know who's who, but how about babies being sold to pet homes? If a breeder has many birds, how do they possibly know which baby is yours or someone else's? How do you keep track? I know there must be some sort of system that I'm not thinking of.

Interestingly... My Ruppell's parrot Griffin wasn't banded, BUT Jaime's (parrotlover1176) Ruppell's girl Nova was FROM THE SAME PLACE as Griffin, IS banded. I can email or call just to satisfy my curiosity (not that it really matters now) but anyone know what a reason might be? I'm just curious. Mine was local pickup, Jaime's was shipped.

 

[Anansi]

I can solve one part of the riddle for you, Julie. At least insofar as it was explained to me. Bixby also came without the band on his ankle, though they gave it to me separately. The breeder explained that, at that age, their feet are small enough that a determined parrot might manage to slide it off.

If this is true, it might explain why Griffin didn't have a band and Nova did.

 

[henpecked]

A couple of things,, many breeders sell their young unweaned to a bird broker. It doesn't matter which bird is which. Many breeders have no need for bands. I know with my babies they each have such individual personalities that you know which one is which. Of course i only have a few babies at the time. If they're parent hatched, they hatch on different days. Usually a day or two apart. The difference in size is oblivious up until weaning. Breeder birds and more "high end" birds are more likely to be banded and have a "history".

 

[RavensGryf]

Thanks Capt'n Richard...
Raven came from a small reputable breeder. I just remembered too, I'm pretty sure he was banded now that I think about it more. The breeder only has one pair of Bronze Winged. The BW babies usually do have some variations in color and markings anyway. I know she doesn't sell to a broker, in fact hear this, I WILL NEVER BUY a bird with origins from a broker again. These people care more about the money involved rather than things such as disease transmission and prevention... My beautiful Bronze Winged Pionus that I had before Raven, 8 years ago, had come from a bird store who I found out after the fact purchased from a broker, who the broker purchased from God knows who's brothers uncle :52:. She was gorgeous and in perfect feather, acted normal at first, but she had PDD. Anyway, not to get off track with my reply...

The place I got Griffin from was very reputable, and since they really keep track of bloodlines of Ruppell's parrots since they're very rare, I'm surprised. Rare but still not "high end" I guess. They're just small gray parrots LOL.

But if right about at weaning, when they all become the same size visually, what if the breeder (who sells only to private parties) has all these bird of same species that all look alike with no bands? The breeders who send pics to their customers of "their" baby.... How do they know who is who when they "assign" a certain one that was picked out?

Stephen, yeah maybe? I've never heard of that though. I'm actually glad he doesn't have one. I don't have to pay to get it cut off! Looks like Bixby doesn't like bracelets either

 

[Kiwibird]

Perhaps because Jamie's bird was shipped, there had to be some kind of "proof" it was a domestically raised bird and not an illegal import? Just guesswork, I know absolutely nothing about how or why breeders do what they do (in regards to banding). You can always get Griffin microchipped

 

[witchbaby]

Perhaps because Jamie's bird was shipped, there had to be some kind of "proof" it was a domestically raised bird and not an illegal import? Just guesswork, I know absolutely nothing about how or why breeders do what they do (in regards to banding). You can always get Griffin microchipped

That's what I was thinking too. It might be required for shipping. Maybe airlines use the band number to keep track of and/or identify the bird?

What exactly is a bird broker?

 

[RavensGryf]

That's what I was thinking too. It might be required for shipping. Maybe airlines use the band number to keep track of and/or identify the bird?

What exactly is a bird broker?

I think they have to put the closed bands on while they're still in the nest, like really young (before they become a certain size). At that point, if they're not bought and spoken for yet, they don't know which ones will be shipped or not.
Broker: a 'flipper' a middleman... :16:. Buys unweaned babies for cheap, from wherever and whoever they can and sells them for profit to a store either weaned or unweaned, or sometimes large scale breeder who will finish out the hand feeding and sell the bird to the customer.

 

[henpecked]

Brokers buy birds from many breeders, usually unweaned. This is how most all chain pet stores (and some independent stores) get their babies. Brokers have contracts with their stores to supply x amount of certain species, or they can do "special order" birds. Say you as a customer ordered a Blue Mutation Yellow nape Zon from your local pet store , the store would contact their broker who has the connection with breeders to find one for you.
I don't want to use the name of a national chain of pet stores. Normally they would have all of their babies delivered to a central location where they grow the babies out or put together "orders". This is where diseases are spread, yes they make an effort to control it but that also cost lots more money and testing is expensive. A lot of babies in one place that come from many different locations,,, sickness is common.

About closed, ring type bands. they have to be placed on the leg at about 10 days of age. Within a couple of days the foot becomes too large to slip the ring over.