Microchipping conures?

[Crazypetlady]

So how small a bird is too small for a microchip?

I'd personally never do a finch, lol!! but how about a conure? Do any of you have a conure with a microchip?

After losing Kahlo to an open front door, and then finding her again so easily, I think microchipping her (and sunny) would be a great idea.

Anyone?

[marie83]

I've read that birds as small as canaries can be chipped but I really wouldn't feel right about chipping something that small. I would have reservations about doing something conure sized, I didn't like my dogs being chipped either!Despite that I want my green cheeked done because bands can be cut off if a birds stolen or someone finding him decides they want to keep or sell him.
On the other hand vets don't automatically scan birds for microchips so I suppose if anyone else somehow got hold of him with dishonest intentions nobody would know anyway even if he did end up with someone who cared for him and took him to the vet for check-ups
I also think its unlikely he would be stolen as our flats are really secure and we are second floor and he is unlikely to escape because I'm pretty OCD about windows + I'm looking into getting some sort of mesh guards on them anyway.
It's hard, I still want him done just in case but on the other hand I'm not sure the risks are worth putting his tiny body under the procedure.

Looking forward to seeing other peoples thoughts on this.

[pennyandrocky]

i wouldn't risk it.i really don't see how that would help bring the bird home if it were lost and someone decided to keep it or sell it like marie said a vet wouldn't just scan it just to see if it might be lost or stolen.

[marie83]

i wouldn't risk it.i really don't see how that would help bring the bird home if it were lost and someone decided to keep it or sell it like marie said a vet wouldn't just scan it just to see if it might be lost or stolen.

I wish they would routinely scan all new animals of a client that are chippable though. I bet tons of animals are 'missed' that could have been reunited with their owners because the finder got attatched and decided to keep an animal or they have unwittingly bought a stolen animal and the vets fail to scan it. I've seen loads of people on forums that have found animals and end up keeping them that say they have tried to find the owner. It's possible some will check to see if the animals chipped but I reckon alot wont. I think the only times an animal is scanned if it turns up at the police, shelter or a person taking it to the vets admits they found it

[Pomlover2586]

I spoke to my vet regarding getting my WBC chipped. Apparently they can chip Doves, pigeons, and larger birds likes Greys, Macaws, and Too's but not smaller birds. The problem is the microchips used in birds is the same kind used in dogs and cats etc. The chip is the size of a grain of rice- and so the needle gage used to insert has to be big enough to pass the grain of rice sized chip. The problem is using that size of a needle on a Conure, WBC etc would leave a HUGE hole in their breast area. My vet spoke to Dr. Speer (spelling?) the famous bird vet, and he confirmed there is no realistic way to chip a smaller parrot without causing serious pain. Also as stated by a PP many shelters, vets etc do not scan birds anyway because they are rarely chipped, so whether it would be effective or not is unknown.

Anyway bottom line is I won't be chipping Iago because I know first hand how big those needles are. i was expecting them to have developed a smaller chip/smaller needle by now but apparently that is not the case. And no one size does NOT fit all

[Crazypetlady]

The problem is using that size of a needle on a Conure, WBC etc would leave a HUGE hole in their breast area.

CHEST?!?!?! I thought they injected that thing into their backs between the wings.

[marie83]

nope they simply dont have enough loose skin there the way dogs and cats do, all that would achieve is causing damage, quite possibly to the spine or neck. Bird chips are done into the breast but that isn't without risk so it is essential the vet knows what they are doing. I found out there are two types of chip now but the new ones are only marginally smaller so still not really great for chipping birds with, the chips are about the size of a grain of rice. As to what size of bird a vet will chip depends on the vet, my old one had done green cheeks before with no problems apparently but that still hasn't convinced me it's worth doing. Some vets will do it under anasthetic and some vets wont although smaller species are nearly always put under if not always. I definitely wouldn't have a chip done without though as I don't think it fair on the bird.

[Pomlover2586]

I spoke to my vet today about the chipping. he said they can chip birds as small as 70 grams- but that unless a bird does a lot of heavy traveling- as in out of the state/country he doesn't recommend it. He said it can be done- but the procedure (due to the large gauge needle) is more painful than it's worth for the bird. He said as long as the bird has a band on his or her leg that should be sufficient for tracking purposes it the bird doesn't travel. Hubby and I decided to forget the chip for Iago- he doesn't travel and I don't want him to suffer unnecessary painful procedures.

[marie83]

I spoke to my vet today about the chipping. he said they can chip birds as small as 70 grams- but that unless a bird does a lot of heavy traveling- as in out of the state/country he doesn't recommend it. He said it can be done- but the procedure (due to the large gauge needle) is more painful than it's worth for the bird. He said as long as the bird has a band on his or her leg that should be sufficient for tracking purposes it the bird doesn't travel. Hubby and I decided to forget the chip for Iago- he doesn't travel and I don't want him to suffer unnecessary painful procedures.

Exactly, its just not worth putting the bird through that procudure in the majority of cases which is why I decided against it too. It is a shame there isn't an easier way though, I would much prefer it if I could give my birds a permenent way of being identified, particually Harlie who doesn't even have a leg ring at all and Ollie whos letters on his ring are getting hard to read after only 2 and a bit years but the cons far outweigh the pros. For me the risks of escape and theft are low and even if they did the chances of them being picked up and actually scanned are even lower it just doesnt make the trauma to the birds worth it.

[Crazypetlady]

I watched my CAG get "groomed" for the first time ever today. Ugh.. The nail clipping alone seemed to be more torture for him (as he SCREAMED for a full 2 minutes) than a one time prick with the chip needle.

No more wing clippings for him (ever), and no more nail clippings by that woman who did it today. But he will be getting the microchip.

As for my conures? I don't know yet. I'm going to wait and see how it goes for Zuzu and see for myself how big that needle really is and get the advice of an avian vet with 30 years experience first.