Microchip

[Mr.Darcy]

So my baby will be coming soon and I am wondering if anyone here has had a microchip implanted in their bird? My breeder uses open banding for the leg and I am a bit concerned about it getting caught on things so I was considering having it removed and having a microchip implanted...I would love any input you may on the subject.
Thanks
Marlies

[Michael]

I decided to open band my Cape parrot rather than microchipping? Why? Cause he's a flighted parrot and if he ever gets out, I can prove his identity and my ownership of him quite easily by showing a photo of his band and the breeder can confirm this. Whereas with a microchip, there would be so much involvement finding a vet with a reader and stuff that it defeats the whole purpose of an identifier. Also a band helps prove/confirm to people that it is in fact a "pet" rather than a weird wild bird. More likely that if the bird gets out that someone might take notice, hold onto, and return it if its banded. The microchip concept sounds nice but ends up only working to people that we have less need to prove bird identity to.

[Kim S]

Dont all vets have a reader? It is very common practice to chip your dogs, cats and other larger pets. Parrots are not very common to begin with, so they are not often chipped. But our african grey was. His chip was connected to his band in the system. So if he ever got stolen and the band was removed, we could still prove by the chip that he was ours.
Unfortunately, a lot of parrots get stolen here every year.

[TheNzJessie]

can you get a bird banded if you not a breeder? my rainbow lorikeet is not banded but i want to get him banded for the exact reason michael has posted, people are going to take more notices in a bird thats banded as being someones bet that has gotten out. bands have a breeders code on it so if i was able to band my bird what would i put on it?

[Natacha]

Personally I would take a microchip over an open band any day - too many horror stories of birds getting injured because of the open ban (it getting caught in something).

Four of my six parrots have (closed) bands, two have nothing.

Until the veterinarians and any other authority that might be contacted in the case of a found parrot starts scanning the birds automatically, I don't entirely see the point in microchipping my birds - the moment the practice is more common, I'll probably do it.

Why?

If the parrots get stolen, it's likely that the people that took them away might cut the bands anyways, leaving any form of identification of being there. It's rather harder to remove a chip.

[TheNzJessie]

Nz is a good 10-20 years behind america in bird care, theres not even the option for micro chipping your bird.

[HyperD]

Another consideration is that microchipping has been linked with plucking. If the site of chipping irritates slightly then the bird will pick and pick at it...

Although whether that is down to poor practice or it is a more common issue, I don't know.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

We're considering this with Scotty -- he's not banded. I understand that's almost the norm for Capes and I read that they need stainless steel bands as they'll wreck others and that picking at the band can trigger plucking in them. I gather it is common for them to pay much attention to their feet Is this BS?

Anyway, I'm interested in anything that's been published on tolerance of microchips in birds...

[bmsweb]

I just don't like the idea of implants period. Take a ring any day over Microchipping.

[Michael]

We're considering this with Scotty -- he's not banded. I understand that's almost the norm for Capes and I read that they need stainless steel bands as they'll wreck others and that picking at the band can trigger plucking in them. I gather it is common for them to pay much attention to their feet Is this BS?

Anyway, I'm interested in anything that's been published on tolerance of microchips in birds...

I have deliberated over this for months while waiting for my Cape to be raised. Breeders don't tend to closed band Capes. So that only leaves:

-Open Band
-Micro Chip
-DNA bank
-Nothing

I'd say micro chip is actually pretty appealing as a precautionary measure for a parrot that doesn't go out much and doesn't fly. This way in the unlikely event that the bird is lost or stolen, there is still proof of ownership. But this way there is no need for a band. However, for flighted parrots and parrots that are taken outdoors (or traveled with) should definitely be banded. Truman has a stainless steel open band and it really isn't a problem. I've had a lot of concern over this but he's used to it now and doesn't pay it any attention. It's a much skinnier band than Kili's closed band. I'm not thrilled about the open end but I think it's alright.

If I never took Truman outside and he weren't clipped, I probably would just take the last option and do nothing. However, I have a much higher risk of him getting lost either on an accidental fly off from home or when I take him out, so I want the most visible identifier possible. I think (since you will no doubt choose to keep his wings butchered) that your options are much more flexible and you don't need to resort to an open band.