How do I remove it?

[budgiebuddy]

I was just wandering. How to remove a leg band. I know there not a nesecity but it annoys my bird so I want to take it off. It does have a small opening. Any thoughts on how to take it off?

[Rue]

It would need to be cut off. But unless you know what you're doing, I'd take it to a vet for removal. If you make a mistake you risk breaking your bird's leg.

[budgiebuddy]

Yea that is what I am going to do. I was just wandering if there was anyway to do it by your self.

[MandyG]

I'm sure there is a way to take it off yourself but it definitely would not be safe for your bird. Especially for a bird so small and fragile like a budgie.

Why would you want to take it off? Most birds get their leg bands when they're very young and get used to them. Unless the band is too small and tight or too big and a safety hazard there is no reason to have it removed.

[lzver]

I wouldn't recommend removing the legband.

The legband uniquely identifies your bird. I have the leg bands recorded in my wallet and they are recorded at the vets office. If you bird ever gets lost/found, it is the only way to uniquely identify and prove that the bird is in fact yours.

Lucy and Jessie don't bother with their leg bands at all ... I'm sure they know that it is there, but doesn't seem to bother them at all.

[ptuga72]

I wouldn't recommend removing the legband.

The legband uniquely identifies your bird. I have the leg bands recorded in my wallet and they are recorded at the vets office. If you bird ever gets lost/found, it is the only way to uniquely identify and prove that the bird is in fact yours.

My Jake needed his cut off, because it posed a hazard. Now I am nervous that I don't have anything to identify him with should the unimaginable happens. My vet wouldn't microchip him because of how small he is, so I imagine that a budgie wouldn't be a candidate for it either.

[budgiebuddy]

Yea. You guys are all right. I looked it up more. I now think it is a bad idea. I am just going to leave it be unless it starts to be a problem. Thanks for helping me.

[a.susz]

i just removed a band from a rather large budgie(but not an english budgie) and her band was starting to cut the circulation off of her foot and caused alot of swelling. this girl i think was expected to stay small, was given a small parakeet band, and totally out grew her band. i was able to pry it off, but any one who is unsure should not try--stay away from breaking a leg! sometimes the band can be clipped but if it is a tough metal with no break in the band, not sure.

[Kim S]

What kind of a weirdo would put a band smaller than a 4.0 on a budgie? There are no smaller parakeets than that. While they usually use a 4.5 on an english budgie a 4.0 would fit just as wel.

[a.susz]

this girl was HUGE- i swear ive never seen such a large parakeet. but no crest feathers like the engish ones. really bizarre. and the band was so tight her own skin was pushing it open. very sad. glad to have gotten it off. its fine as long as theres still circulation going to the foot!