Latest Gouldian babies closed-banded tonight

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue May 06, 2008 6:43 pm

Well I have to be honest and say WHEW! I am relieved that the closed-banding is over (went pretty good) and the five newest babies are back in their nest, and mom and dad have gone back in to feed and take care of them again. I was really worried that the parents might abandon the babies after my 'messing' around with them. After all these are wild birds - and to them each of their baby has a big strange hard thing on their left leg now that wasn't there before. It must seem very strange to the parents to be suddenly "locked out" of their nestbox for about 10 minutes. Luckily the babies did not squawk or peep at all while I had them; but they (the parents) were very hesitant about going back in once I had placed the babies back in and opened it up to them again.

The parents are RH/WB/sfYB and OH/WB/YB

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue May 06, 2008 7:33 pm

Wow Liz, they are so tiny. I have never close banded and doubt that I will. I have also never done any banding when they were so small. You are very brave! They are adorable.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Tue May 06, 2008 9:59 pm

Great job Liz! So 5 chicks in 10 minutes...I think you hold the record so far. What size bands are you using. The NFSS bands I use are size "D". I can't remember the measurement. Does it matter what side you place the bands in Canada? Maybe people down here use the right leg because most people are right handed? If that's the only reason, I'm kickin' myself for following this right-handed world.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:04 pm

Ohhh...they are so tiny!

Well you are the talented one for sure. If I ever have babies to band....I will have you come down to MN and do it for me....I will pay you in Seeds and Worms!

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:23 pm

Congratualtions! The first ones are the toughest! It's gets easier with each clutch. It looks like you banded them fairly young so you'll want to check them periodicaly to make sure they don't loose the band. We have had a few loose bands over the years.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed May 07, 2008 5:58 pm

fairestfinches wrote:Congratualtions! The first ones are the toughest! It's gets easier with each clutch. It looks like you banded them fairly young so you'll want to check them periodicaly to make sure they don't loose the band. We have had a few loose bands over the years.

I've close-banded my previous LG's at 8 days of age and it was tough going. These babies were 7 days old and I think I'll keep banding at this age for future babies. The bands were still very snug going over the lubricated ankles but easier than at 8 days of age. I think if they were only 6 days old then there'd be a chance the bands might slip off. These bands are 08AACC size C (as recommended by the AACC) with my GGA initials and numbered individually.

I will check them to make sure the bands and the babies are still safe and sound.

Thanks all

Post by **Sally** » Thu May 08, 2008 1:04 am

Wow, Liz, those babies are sooo tiny! The ones I've been banding are all fledglings, so fully feathered and pretty good size. And ten minutes--what a speed demon! I do feel really good about closed banding, though, because now they are 'official'. There will be no question about their age, and they can actually be traced--pretty neat.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Thu May 08, 2008 6:01 am

well done Liz.
wish I could use closed bands on my young but alas it is not possible with my birds breeding in an open mixed aviary I cant afford to be at the nest for long enough, so I wait until the young have fledged and use split bands

birdgranna · Post by **birdgranna** » Thu May 08, 2008 7:45 am

I am a novice so would like to ask...is it really necessary to band the babies?

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu May 08, 2008 10:39 am

atarasi wrote:Great job Liz! So 5 chicks in 10 minutes...I think you hold the record so far. What size bands are you using. The NFSS bands I use are size "D". I can't remember the measurement. Does it matter what side you place the bands in Canada? Maybe people down here use the right leg because most people are right handed? If that's the only reason, I'm kickin' myself for following this right-handed world.

Thanks atarasi. I've heard of a 'seasoned' breeder being able to band his babies in 20 second each! I have a ways to go and lots of practising before I'm that quick.

I checked with the executive of the AACC (Avicultural Advancement Council of Canada) asking which leg should be banded and they told me it does not matter which leg is banded and there are no Canadian rules about this.

Post by **Sally** » Thu May 08, 2008 11:10 am

It is not necessary to band the babies, but if you have a lot of birds, it is a way to keep track of families and sexes (if you have a species that is monomorphic, both sexes look alike). Also, once juvies have gone thru their first molt, they will look just like their parents. I once split up a proven pair by mistakenly selling the hen, thinking it was a juvie. Open split bands work fine for these purposes.

Up till now, I only used split bands. I had read on another website of broken legs and toes while applying the closed bands, so that scared me off. Now that I have used closed bands, I really like them. The big advantage to closed bands is that there is a permanent marking of the bird's hatching year--old birds can't be passed off as young ones. I never knew till now that you can closed-band a fledgling (has to be done the very day of fledging), as most of my birds will not tolerate nest checks.

birdgranna · Post by **birdgranna** » Thu May 08, 2008 4:17 pm

Good information. Thank you.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu May 08, 2008 8:30 pm

I bought the silver male gouldian (in my avatar) from a guy who had bought it from a petshop. With the bands on it - I was able to trace the breeder who had sold it to the petshop. The breeder was able to tell me the parentage of this bird which helps me decide whom to pair it up with and as Sally said I was also able to determine it's age as well (from the breeder).

To me, bands are a wealth of information.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Thu May 08, 2008 8:43 pm

Liz,
I didn't think it matters which legs the band goes on. I just think there are an aweful lot of right handed breeders so it's just easier for them. I think from now on, I'll do the left leg as a signature so people will know it was a crazy left handed person!

Does AACC just allow you to research the band number online, or did you need to call them? I wonder if the NFSS offers the same. Would be interesting to call the person that bred the blue back male I have.

I'm planning on doing both closed and split bands. For instance, if I have any split to white breast or any split to blue back, I can pop a white or blue split band so I'll know which birds genetically have what at a quick glance. Those closed band numbers aren't exactly easy to read when the birds are flying around.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Thu May 08, 2008 8:46 pm

Liz,
I didn't think it matters which legs the band goes on. I just think there are an awful lot of right handed breeders so it's just easier for them. I think from now on, I'll do the left leg as a signature so people will know it was a left handed person!

Does AACC just allow you to research the band number online, or did you need to call them? I wonder if the NFSS offers the same. Would be interesting to call the person that bred the blue back male I have to find out a little more about him.

I'm planning on doing both closed and split bands. For instance, if I have any split to white breast or any split to blue back chicks, I can pop a white or blue split band so I'll know which birds genetically have what at a quick glance. Those closed band numbers aren't exactly easy to read when the birds are flying around.

FINCHforum

Latest Gouldian babies closed-banded tonight

Latest Gouldian babies closed-banded tonight

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