Banding Safety

[Rispa]

I just got two new finches that are missing limbs due to banding. The canary had a band that was too small and cutting off circulation, but when people tried to cut if off it broke the leg causing the foot to need to be amputated. The cordon bleu got it's band caught in a cage and broke it's leg which it had to have surgery on twice; once for the initial amputation and the second to amputate more. I was going to band all of my Indian silverbills, but now I'm really nervous about them getting hurt due to the banding. What do you guys think and what has your experience been? Are certain bands safer than others? I'd really like to weigh the risk before banding anyone now.

[debbie276]

Accidents do happen and there is no guarantee a band will never get caught, that's why a few don't band. You have to go with what your comfortable doing.
Good luck in whichever you choose

[wellingtoncdm]

More often than not there isn't a problem. I am a huge fan of nfss close banded birds. With that said I have lost two parrot finches due to bands getting stuck and legs breaking. I also lost two parrot finches from split perler bands riding up and getting stuck higher up on the leg and then cutting off circulation. All of my birds wear either a perler band, a closed band or both. Especially the blue faced parrot finches in aviaries which move at lightning speed and look identical. To me it is still worth the risk to have as much info on the birds as possible. The nfss closed bands also determine the age of the birds. As sad is it was to loose those 4 birds I have had and bred many more with no problems.

[dan78]

I like banding my birds. I use 3 different bands, plastic split ring, metal split ring and closed banded. With the closed banded its only for my canaries as these are club rings to give me identification on what bird belonged to who. My metal split rings are for my finches, they have my initials and are numbered, these are for my pairs and any young that are of value so I fan always keep track of my rarer birds and its always funny to find young I sold at a bird dealer. Plastic are used on pairs to identify couples and young will have the same colour plastic split ring. With this combination of rings used I can give detailed parentage going back a few generations on most young. I personally have never had an issue with my rings, the trick is use proper rings and the right size to match the bird. There can be as little as 0.3mm difference between ring sizes and that fan make a difference to the birds health. A ring to small can stop blood circulation while a ring to big has issues of toes getting caught in it and even tree branches. The best quality rings I have found are Hughes from the UK and they have many sizes and a chart to tell you what ring belongs to what bird. They make rings from as small as a Cuban through to large parrots. It is up to you if you wish to ring your birds and only do it if you feel that its safe but please use a quality ring as cheap rings can be dangerous. There are some ring cutters out there that does cut rings off legs and leaves the bird unharmed, I will remove any ring I believe that doesn't fit right.

[Martie]

I also am a huge proponent of closed-banding birds with NFSS bands (which I believe are Hughes Bands). For my Gouldians, Societies and Zebras, I also use Perlers to indicate sex in monomorphic birds, to mark bloodlines, and to differentiate birds in a flight. For smaller species, like Green Singers, Owls, Indian Silverbills, I use the regular celluloid-type open colored bands in addition to the closed bands as those are more appropriately sized for them.

In many years of raising lots and lots of birds, I have only lost a few to caught bands - and this hasn't happened in quite some time. To me, these very few losses really pale in comparison to the benefits of properly closed-banded birds with additional color-band markings.

Not everyone shares this view, and each of us must weigh the risks for themselves - so just one person's opinion...

[ac12]

I do both closed and split bands.
I do closed where I can, and split where I cannot do closed bands.

I had problems when the foot of some zebras got SWOLLEN, and the swelling went up the leg. The band prevented the swelling from going up further, but in the process I think it was cutting off circulation to the leg and foot. I broke the leg of one zebra trying to get the band off its swollen leg. Because of the swelling, there was no space between the leg and the band to get the banding tool under the band. The next time I had to remove a band from a swollen leg I pried the band apart, but that required 2 people and 4 hands to hold the bird and pry the band open.

I also had a couple situations where dirt/grime/gunk got between the band and the leg, causing the band to scrape the leg. Cleaning inside the band while still on the bird was VERY hard.

But, I need to band to keep track of birds, so I still band them.

[L in Ontario]

I also am a fan of close banding. Everyone should have a close band removal tool in their first aid kit - extremely useful to remove a closed band even when the leg is swollen up around the band - trust me, I have experienced that. Close bands are the only reliable way to tell the age of a bird - you can't band a bird younger than the year it is hatched in. And owners are traceable to ask a bout possible splits or parentage if they buy their bands throught a avian registery such as the NFSS (in the USA) or the AACC (in Canada).

[Rispa]

I think I still like the idea of banding. What is the banding removal tool and where can I get one? Does it also work on metal bands?

[dan78]

Rispa the band removing tool looks like a pair of wire cutters but are small when I find my pair I will post a pic. It has a thin front like a tooth the curls in towards the handel when pressed so it won't cut the leg. Mine is made to cut metal rings as well as plastic. To cut a ring off make a cut one side of ring and then on the opposite side and the ring will fall off in two pieces. My tool was made by a gentleman here not far from me but where can you buy one I will leave that to people alot closer to you.

[Martie]

Red Bird offers a band removal tool for sale:



Here's their webpage: Red Bird Products

They offer two kinds. I have the one pictured above.