Banding

[Lauravdm]

Hey all...
Quick question when do I band my babies??

[lovemyfinch]

Are you closed banding or split banding?

For closed banding it is usually between 7 and 9 days old, and split banding can be done either right before or right after the babies fedge.

[ac12]

I use plastic split bands, and I band zebras about 14 days after hatching. This is late enough that they are big enough that I'm not afraid to band them, but young enough that they can't fly out of the nest as I am handling them. I remove the nest from the cage and take it to a small half bath where I do the banding.

I did band them after they fledged; this is fine for gouldians which are easy to simply grab off the perch, but many of the zebra fledglings are just as fast as the adults and hard to catch. So then I switched to 14 days.

For new parents, I will wait till they fledge. I don't want the parents to abandon the nest.

[Lauravdm]

Thanks.... I am am split banding.... So I will band them next week at 14 weeks, I am so scared about touching them, as I have always been taught birds abandon their young is you touch them.... But these parents are so diligent I have no idea what they will decide

[debbie276]

If you are split banding them it can be done at anytime. If you would be more comfortable banding when they are older that isn't going to be a problem, the choice is yours.
good luck

[ac12]

What kind of birds?
Some are more tolerant of nest disruptions than others.
Also is the nest an outside box, or will you have to reach in and remove the nest from inside the cage?
If it is an inside nest, I would wait till they fledge.

I use outside nest boxes.
I will slide a SOLID divider into the cage so the parents cannot see what I am doing on the other side of the divider. Then I remove the nest to band the chicks.

[Lauravdm]

I just can't bring my self to do it, I am so scared the parents will abandon the chicks, so I am leaving it till next week when I they should start trying to leave the nest...
I don't know maybe if I take a baby out a day and try that...
I am not going to fiddle

[debbie276]

Like I said before, split bands can be done anytime during the life of the bird. Sounds like you should wait. Maybe when your more comfortable banding you will have more confidence to try sooner but if not it's not going to make a difference.
Enjoy your birds

[Sally]

I agree with Debbie, if you are not comfortable, just wait and use split plastic bands. The closed bands have a time table, because you have to band them before their feet and ankles get too big to allow the band to be slipped on. Any time after fledging up to and including adulthood is fine for the split bands. They are also easier to apply.

[ac12]

Laura
When I started banding I did it after they fledged for the same reason. I was too scared of taking out the nest and doing it to nestlings. It was only after I did all the adults and a few of the fledglings and got more comfortable with banding, then I started doing the nestlings at 14 days old.

The only caution I have is, if you have zebras, you really should band the birds before they finish their molt. Once they finish their molt you may not be able to figure out which ones are the chicks, as they will look just like the parents. Unless of course you already banded the parents. This is the problem that I had, I got mom and one of her daughters mixed up. I figured out my mistake when I saw who was snuggling up to dad.

[BillD]

I tried my hand at closed banding and I failed on the first attempt with my Societies. I learned a lot and I would try again.
I think a closed banded bird has a way to identify it's age.