Microchipping or leg banding?

[issy]

I was wondering what people thought about micro chipping birds?

I was thinking of micro chipping Sheldon, but then thought that it would be easier to band him. I wanted to ask if you could band a year and half old bird, because he was not banded when i got him.

-issy

[bmsweb]

Go to this address http://www.lentradirect.com.au and click on the Bird Rings and Bands, then click on Parrots. They have some Open Stainless Steel Bands.

[issy]

Thanks for the link =D

[bmsweb]

Let me know what path you go down.

[Michael]

I'm wondering the same thing with my future Cape. While I see many merits of micro chipping, it seems that such a bird would lack positive captive identification to the human eye and people might assume the lost bird is wild or unowned. A banded bird would make it very obvious and the owner would have to show nothing more than a photograph holding the bird with the band visible as proof of ownership. As for microchipping, only a specialized vet could take care of things and it would be difficult or impossible to just prove between owner and someone that may have found the bird.

[HyperD]

Another thing to consider is the fact that some birds start plucking at the area where the chip was planted...

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Also, a lack of a closed band may be taken by others to mean that the bird was not bred in captivity, and at least here, that's in most cases not legal. The band provides traceable proof that all is legit. Shouldn't matter if you keep your bird for life, but if you ever need to rehome, it might make a difference. I have heard some birds have difficultly with the band, but Scooter doesn't really seem to mind his.

[alight15]

I've heard the micro-chipping could be dangerous for birds,as useful as they may be..but all I have to go on are stories from the Internet on that

[Natacha]

I would not bother banding a bird unless it's with a closed band and I have not heard of that happening with birds who aren't babies; breeders normally only have a small window of opportunity to put the band on before the babies are too big.

As for microchipping - I have nothing against it. I would gladly do it if I thought that lost birds would be systematically checked for micro chips. Lost/stray dogs and cats are automatically scanned, however I do not believe it's common practice for birds yet and until it is, I don't see the point in spending the money to get it done. What would push me to do it would be if I was considering moving out of the country and needed to prove my birds are my birds and aren't imports - 3 of my birds have bands so I would be covered there but two don't so I would have to get them chipped and while I'm doing two, I might do them all.

[Natacha]

A banded bird would make it very obvious and the owner would have to show nothing more than a photograph holding the bird with the band visible as proof of ownership.

However, people might consider getting the band cut or do it themselves in the case of a stolen bird - I wouldn't count on that as the only proof of ownership in that case.