Banding

[steve]

Hi All

When is the correct time after birth to band/ring the babies?, I am actually petrified of banding the little ones, daunting task in my mind anyway.

Regards
Steve

[cindy]

Closed banding is done right around 10 days or when the pin feathers are coming in. Split banding is usually done upon fledging or soon after weaning.

Here is a guide from the finch info center on banding using both methods

http://www.finchinfo.com/breeding/leg_b ... eeping.php

"Closed Banding Chicks
Chicks should be closed banded when they are still in the nest. Their size at the time of banding dictates the best time to apply the band; they should be small enough for the band to slip over the foot onto the leg without too much difficulty, but they should also be large enough so that the band does not slip off on its own. Usually chicks are at the right size around 9-12 days of age. The chick being banded in this series of pictures is a 9 day old gouldian chick. Always wash your hands before handling chicks, and always handle chicks with care!"

[Smurf]

It also depends on the species, i band parrot finches and gouldians at about 6-7 days old whereas bengies at about 10-12 days old. If you band them too early the rings simple slip off but can easily be refitted a few days later, if you leave it until too late you won't be able to fit the closed ring on the chicks so too early is the better option if unsure.

Also if you notice the photo's from cindy's link the gouldian chick is being fitted with a size D ring, here most the ring manufacturers recommend size C so it will also depend on the ring size your using.

[isobea]

Steve - when I raised Europ. goldfinches, Europ. siskins and linnets in Germany they needed to be closed banded with numbered and registered metal bands. Some of the parents objected to the shiny metal and tried to remove the 'foreign object'. One time they actually ended up pulling the baby out of the nest in the process. Thereafter I always smeared a little dirt onto the bands and had no more problems. I don't know if the Australian and African finches would react similarly. Nowadays I just band mine with open plastic bands the day they fledge.
Iso

[cindy]

It also depends on the species, i band parrot finches and gouldians at about 6-7 days old whereas bengies at about 10-12 days old. If you band them too early the rings simple slip off but can easily be refitted a few days later, if you leave it until too late you won't be able to fit the closed ring on the chicks so too early is the better option if unsure.

Also if you notice the photo's from cindy's link the gouldian chick is being fitted with a size D ring, here most the ring manufacturers recommend size C so it will also depend on the ring size your using.

Yes good point since band manufactures can change and different sites have different types/sizes of bands.... I was told by one company the more embossing on an aluminum band you do the more it stretches the band out so work with who ever you are ordering bands with.

All my hookbills/grass keets get banded with split aluminum dates and initialed bands. I use split colored bands on smaller finches slit aluminum dated bands on java.