Leg band colour

[vwbug2010]

Hi folks this is a strage question. I have two senegals with the same leg band colour on - I want to be easily able to tell the difference between them but am not keen to remove the leg band on one and replace it. Is there an easy way to colour the band - I know a permanent marker would be a no no with the fumes but any other ideas?

[Wolf]

Other than sanding the band very carefully where there are no numbers or letters, I don't know of any safe way.

[Pajarita]

They sell open plastic bands in all colors for canaries (to differentiate blood lines and males from females) so they might sell them in a bigger size, too (I don't know, I've never used them for anything but canaries). You need a little device that opens up the band and, after you put it around their 'ankle', it releases it (they sell it to you where they sell the colored plastic bands).

Painting it with nail enamel would work too as long as the bird doesn't chew on it... But, if you have a male and a female, it's easy to tell which is which.

[vwbug2010]

I have a gold permanent marker would this be a bad idea? Fumes I guess I my main worry?

[Pajarita]

No, Sharpies dry almost instantly so as long as there is good ventilation when you do it, it should be OK (blow on it to make it dry faster).

[JaydeParrot]

How long have you had them? I have aswell, it's sorta like having identical twins, you start off not being able to tell them apart, but within a few months off watching you can't believe anyone would think they look similar.

Just pick something out, like one has darker yellow eyes, one has a longer v, one has darker legs, one has a bigger beak. Garanteed you should be able to look at them from across the room and tell the difference.

If they already have a closed ring, the idea of a open ring on the opposite foot sounds to me a little pointless. Personally if I was that concerned with telling them apart I'd get a beetroot, squeeze the juice out into a bowl, and put a small dab of it on one of the sennie's heads, it lasts for about 3 weeks, it turns the area of feathers a pinkish colour, if you put touch them gently with your finger or a small piece of beetroot (like they're getting a head stroke) they'll never even realise they've been dyed pink. The feathers don't stick together either and besides being pink for a few weeks it doesn't seem to have any lasting effects.

Anyways, that's just my idea if you want an alternative to getting a second leg band.

[Pajarita]

I doubt beet juice would color green feathers pink... it would just make a slightly darker spot that would not really be visible from across a room.

[Navre]

I am the oldest child, a boy, with dark hair and blue eyes. There is a set of twins two years younger, one dark haired, one blonde, and then a younger girl 4 years younger, special needs, and heavier. And my mother still couldn't tell us apart when she was angry.

[Pajarita]

If by that you mean that she would use the wrong name, it doesn't mean she was confusing you. I do this all the time with mine and, now that I have grandchildren is even worse because I end up calling them by their parents' names. And the angrier I am, the more wrong names that come out of my mouth before the right one finally shows up - so I am like: "FERN (Fernando)...MMM GONS (Gonzalo)...AAA FEDE (Federico)... UHHHHH BABO!!!!

[JaydeParrot]

I doubt beet juice would color green feathers pink... it would just make a slightly darker spot that would not really be visible from across a room.

I meant on the top of the head, it turns the grey head pink- had a bit of a silly insident involving two over excited senegals and beetroot a year ago so I know what I'm talking about when I say it keeps the areas on the head a noticable pink for several weeks at least, .