FINCHforum

Used an EZ band for the first time on the nearly ready to fledge chicks from a male Florida Silver, Black Face, Black Cheek, Orange Breast with English in it and Pied female. At least one chick is Pied grey/white. Three are with FF markings, one of those showing some orange in the cheek and chest. One is grey, so will see what it's markings are like. All need to color in more, of coarse. Their first clutch had one FF female with orange markings and two grey females, one nearly dark charcoal grey. Will post pictures soon of both clutches.

Have only used split bands in the past, and it's been a while since I've banded. The Zebras are in a mixed Zebra/Society flight and I allow them to self-select mates. I have a female also FF, BC, BF, OB, a male Pied with beautiful markings, a grey cheeked male and two large half English females that I think are FF, but will post soon to get opinions. These multiple multiples are new for me to try and get a handle on. I was used to just FF, Penguins, Pieds, etc. when I pair bred and then just kept what I liked for the past 15 or so yrs when I had flights, then an aviary and flock-bred.......

Congrats on the babies! How do you like the EZ bands?

Sally, so far I like them. The banding tool is easier to use, IMHO, because the entire leg can fit into it. And I think that the bands will be much less likely to be able to get off by the birds than the split band. The only concern is with the possibility that I have some splits for English, which would be slightly larger than American. I have the next size up, but can't tell on the babies, so hope that putting the A size on them doesn't become too tight if they are larger. They can always be removed, though.

I had to chime in on the EZbands. I love them! I banded my tiny Red Cheek CB baby and two Gold Breast Waxbills and a Fire Finch baby. So much easier to use and so far, all are still on. My little Fire is still trying to figure out how to get it off....so cute....it just totally annoys him that he can't be "free" of it. It's been two weeks now and he's still tugging at it like it's a huge snake wrapped around his foot!

I use the EZ bands as well and like them.