Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Howdy!
    
    Another question on banding.  I was at a Bird store in Denver and
    they had some 7-8 month old hand-fed Yellow Napes.  On thier left
    foot they had a round (like large gage wire) band with a number
    on it.  The number was hard to read but just a number.  On thier
    right legs they had a flat band with nothing on it.  
    
    I asked the owner and he said that these babies are import birds
    and the round wire like band was the import band and the smooth
    one was to just signify that they where hand-fed.  They are really
    friendly guys.  The owner went on to say that they get these guys
    when they are just days old out of the wild birds nests, ship them
    to the U.S. and in quaranteen they hand feed them so they are nice
    and friendly which they are.
    
    What do you know about this?  

    Thanks-
    Karen

    For every baby bird taken from a nest and sent to quarantine, 5
    or more died.  There are only 2 people allowed to work in the stations
    per any shift to limit disease.  But, because of the numbers of
    babies they are feeding, they are not handled and fed with pipettes.
    They are in "squeeze" cages and pulled forward, a large syringe
    is placed in their little mouths and swoosh, they get a glop of
    food, and on to the next cage.  
    
    I get the feeling that working in a quarantine station is not to
    unlike working at a humane society shelter.  You see more than you
    bargain for...And because so many birds are brought in and there
    is so much disease....many birds meet a demise long before they
    should.
    
    I don't meant to knock wild imported birds, I feel so badly for
    them.  If you get babies, you will probably get a nice
    pet...Unfortunately, that is not the case with the wild caught adult
    birds.
    
    Off the soap box now!  Thanks for your patients!!!
    
    j
    
    

    I band all my baby birds.  That way I can identify them from
    imported birds whose bands are like the one yaw'll mentioned.
    
    The first thing I tell people who buy my babies is to get that
    band off their legs!!!!!  I have read/heard of too many horrible
    accidents.
    
    One scarlet macaw lost her life because she panicked when her band
    caught around a toy.  Please get those bands off!!

Jean, thanks for the info on banding birds, I guess the band on my
new feathered friend (still haven't named him yet) can be removed or 
should I leave it on.  If I keep a record of the information on his 
leg band, then the leg band serves no other purpose, is this right.
He is so tiny, how do I remove the leg band!!! 

What would I do without the Notes file!!!

Lorain

    Hi Lorain,
    
    my birds are still banded.  There is a tool however that is made
    specifically for removing bands.  Have a qualified avian veterinarian
    do this though.  The thought of those tiny little legs an squirming
    around....gives me willies!
    
    Bands are a serious controversy, like note .3 (?).  If I had bands
    on my larger birds however, I would take them off!  Our Quaker was
    banded and went bananas trying to get it off.  It seemed that a
    new environment brought it to her attention, and she almost knawed
    her foot off trying to get rid of it.
    
    Quarantine bands are "open bands" and usually, domestic bred bird
    are closed bands.  
    
    To answer you question tho....if you keep the band in a safe place
    after removal....it will save you the agrivation of writing down
    the info...
    
    j
    

    
    re: .3:
    
    Pat, how do you get the bands *off*?  My wild-caught Timneh has
    one of the round, open bands from quarantine that she has had on
    her leg since around 1983.  It has never seemed to give her any
    trouble and she doesn't mind it.  I asked my vet to take it off,
    and she told me it was trouble to take off such a heavy band,
    and she was might injure the bird removing it - it was less dangerous
    to leave it on.  I'm fairly confident doing routine care with this
    bird - wing clipping, nail trimming, beak filing - but I'm not really
    ready to go at this little piece of steel with a pair of plyers.
    
    Rita
    

    Re: .6  I had one removed from my Double Yellow Head.  Dr. Kilgore
    used Bolt Cutters to remove it.  I have to say that I was impressed.
    The Bolt Cutter had to have been two feet long!
    
    The reason I had it removed was when I got him home he got his lower
    beak caught in the opening in the ring.  I tried to get it out and
    couldn't.  He ended up breaking a piece of his beak off.  It was
    at that point that I decided it was coming off!
    
    Mark
    

    Mark is correct:  Boltcutters.  It sounds awful, but I have 
    observed people with skill in doing this quickly and easily.
    And yes, the boltcutters are about two feet long; it is impressive.
    I don't recommend you try this yourself, find someone adept
    at doing it.
    
    Jean mentioned saving the old band.  Great advice.  

    
    re: boltcutters - can someone *recommend* someone who is adept at
    this?  I live in Shirley, Mass (about an hour west of Boston). I take
    my birds to the Littleton Bird Clinic, and I've been satisfied with
    the veterinary care there, but they are unwilling to remove the bands.
    
    Rita

    I have had friends that have removed their bands and had their birds
    confinscated when they got close to the border area.  ie texas &
    new mexico.  also certain birds are required to have a band in the
    state of New York.
    
    I have closed bands on all my birds and have never had any problems
    yet.  the one time I did cut one off I bought a special cutter for
    small birds.  this burke had one on each leg.  I cut the extra one
    off on a damaged foot and low and behold the sterial cock I was
    using for a foster parent became fertile and has already raised
    6 clutches in the 3 years I have had him.  Unexpected bonus.?

    Find a medical supply house and ask for a of all things "ring cutter"
    which is designed to remove rings from injured fingers/hands in
    emergency rooms. I used one in my EMT days and can say that it is
    perfect for the job. They are a bit large but the anvil section
    is usually made of plastic and could probably be modified. The price
    if I remember right was around $18 back in '80 cheaper than a vet
    anyway...
    FWIW- the cutter looks like a hybrid cross between a pair of pliers
    and a hand operated can opener one side of the jaws serves as the
    anvil the other has a cutter wheel that i turned by a handle much
    like the can opener. The anvil is very thin designed to slip between
    the band and swollen finger. I belive with one of these restraining
    the bird would be your biggest concern.
    
    Hope this helps, Jerry
    

    I live in Texas.  Banding is not required.  However if you want
    to bring your pet bird across the border you may need to use a
    temporary band.  This is quite permissable.  Other documentation
    is also necessary.
    
    I know of many happy healthy banded birds.  I also know of many
    birds seriously injured or killed by catching their bands in
    something.  
    
    I do think it is important for breeders to band their birds to 
    be able to prove they are domestic parrots.

    Littleton clinic is where Mark Lajeuness goes with his birds....and
    that's where Dr. Kilgore cut the bands for him!
    
    I've restrained birds while the Dr cut the band off, it gave me
    the willies...I don't think I could do it myself....
    
    j
    

    Thats right Jean.  Dr. Kilgore did mine.  God you really don't want
    to look when they do it.  I just keep the bands after they take
    them off.  I honestly don't think they charged me for it either.
    
    Dr. Kilgore was persistant it seemed to me that her opinion was
    to take the band off.  I wanted to wait because the bird was ill
    and I had just purchased it.  Once the bird was well she cut it
    off.
    
    M
    
    

    What division of the State Government would you contact to find
    out about bird banding for a particular state?  

    Karen---what's I.L.M.T.B?  I love my talking bird?
    Frankly, I was fond of nuking the duke!
    
    
    Anyway -- The department of animal industry is a good place to start.
    Or contact a quarantine station.
    
    And what do you mean by that last question .15.  
    
    I know, now that I have all this done now...the AFA, American
    Federation of Aviculture...they will tell you anything you want
    to know!  And, they are moving to Phoenix!  I read their news letter
    to our club last nite!
    
    They are presently in California and there is usually something
    from them in all the magazines.
    
    j
    

    Almost... The T. is for Turd.  You see he has a VERY active waist
    system (if you know what I mean).  He is starting to say "WHAT A
    TURD BIRD" when he lets one go.
    
    Anyway, in reply 12, Patricia was saying that in her state, bands
    aren't required unless you bring them over the boarder.  I was just
    wanting to know what the deal is with Colorado but wasn't sure who 
    I would contact for this info.  

    Pat was right...But, there is at least one species of bird in all
    states that is not allowed, like the quakers...if the authorities
    find these birds, they confiscate them -- no questions asked.  If
    the bird is banded though, it's proof of breeding, origin and all
    and will be allowed to stay.  There is some kind of parrotlet from
    Mexico that is being confiscated if not banded...
    
    The more I think about it, I'd contact the AFA for info.
    
    J