Why Close Band my birds?

[L in Ontario]

As strange as it sounds, I have bought a bird or two that were closed-banded and contacted the AACC for the breeder contact info which they gave me. I then contacted the breeder and they had NO information on the bird other than the year (which is on the band). I've no idea why they even bother to band birds if they don't keep any information whatsoever.

If anyone on this forum is going to close-band birds - PLEASE keep hatching information and if possible geneology (parent) information too. Thanks!!

[debbie276]

If you think that the birds are better and that the breeder cared more for them because it's close banded why wouldn't someone close band just to sell more??

Close banding does NOT mean they are healthier, better cared for or genetically better. You can also close band with other bands then the NFSS which keep no records at all. Not against close banding but lets not kid ourselves into thinking they are better birds because of it.

I personally have seen quite a few breeders that had terrible conditions with close banded birds. I don't think the companies that sell bands have any requirements in order to buy them so how would that weed out the bad.

JMO

[CandoAviary]

I don't think the companies that sell bands have any requirements in order to buy them so how would that weed out the bad.

You just need to pay the member's yearly fee and then order your bands so there is no guarantee that banded birds are any better quality than non banded birds.
It does prove their age as long as it is the correct size for the species when nest banding. And it does aid in tracking the breeder down for more information on the bird if they recorded it.
The buyer should always educate themselves on what to look for to insure you are buying a healthy, good conformation birds and not to buy based on bands. I had someone at the fair want to buy the gouldian with the purple band because they liked the way it matched the breast color. They thought it was jewelry Of course they got a long lesson in what colored family bands and closed NFSS bands stood for......
I have also had buyers ask for me to remove bands due to a bad past experience of a bird becoming caught in a cage. The closed bands must be cut off, which I have never done. So the closed banding can be a turn off for some buyers as well as a plus for other buyers.

[L in Ontario]

If you think that the birds are better and that the breeder cared more for them because it's close banded why wouldn't someone close band just to sell more??

Close banding does NOT mean they are healthier, better cared for or genetically better. You can also close band with other bands then the NFSS which keep no records at all. Not against close banding but lets not kid ourselves into thinking they are better birds because of it.

I personally have seen quite a few breeders that had terrible conditions with close banded birds. I don't think the companies that sell bands have any requirements in order to buy them so how would that weed out the bad.

JMO

I don't think I said closed-banded birds are healthier - I certainly didn't mean to imply that. I only said that IMO the breeders cared enough to take the time to band the babies in the nest (and the inherent risk of the parents abandoning by so doing). And no companies don't care what you do with the bands - they only sell them (and some keep record of those that purchase the bands) - that's all. It's always up to the buyer to beware of what they are purchasing.

[nixity]

There are always going to be exceptions to every rule. But I do think the cases of banding with oversized bands, etc., are just that - rare exceptions.

I have seen individuals on this forum that do not close band that are producing very nice birds and choose not to close band for personal reasons.

I have also seen close banded birds that leave a lot to be desired, and I will happily admit that not every bird I produce is spectacular top bench quality, and I close band all of mine.

So I don't think anyone here is saying or presuming that because a bird is banded it is a higher quality specimen. I think what Liz and others are trying to emphasize is that generally speaking the breeders out there that most of us try to avoid (who are in the business of mass producing/breeding/brokering birds to make money) are not going to waste their money, time or energy on an annual membership plus the cost of bands plus the practice of close banding nestlings just to offer birds that are close banded.

Unfortunately, these people will probably always have buyers, regardless of the quality of product they're putting out there, so the value of close banding for us would likely not be enough to validate the practice for them.

[L in Ontario]

Thanks for helping to clarify, Tiffany.

[MLaRue]

I like the option you have Liz - the NFSS bands don't allow us to personalize them. :\

I personally don't like close banding but I do - I actually hate it. The babies are so small and to me it is nerve wracking... I would prefer to use a metal split band but the NFSS does not use such bands.

[L in Ontario]

I like the option you have Liz - the NFSS bands don't allow us to personalize them. :\

I personally don't like close banding but I do - I actually hate it. The babies are so small and to me it is nerve wracking... I would prefer to use a metal split band but the NFSS does not use such bands.

Really!? I didn't know that. That is a pity! Makes me appreciate the AACC a lot more.