leg rings

[sypher]

Hi all,

was hoping for some answers to a couple of questions on leg rings.

Can you close ring an adult bird?
When do you ring a baby bird that is parent reared? ie. Is it hard with parents etc
Where to buy from? Online?

I have had split rings fall off birds and also here that they can get tighter etc with time.

Thanks Shaun

[Jane]

About 8 days old I think is ideal for close ringing chicks. You'll just have to be efficient so you don't upset the parents for too long.
You cannot close ring older birds, if you need to ID them you'll have to carefully apply a split ring and close it neatly ( 2 person job) so as not to leave any sharp edges etc. Any of my who I've had to put split rings on I check the ring anytime I have to catch them to check it's still on okay

[sypher]

Thanks Jane, Where do you get your rings from?

Thanks Shaun

[Jane]

Oh soory forgot to say that, I either get them at a bird sale or from the Parrot Society www.parrotsociety.org.au/products.html
I have also bought from Lentra Direct but didn't appreciate that they said postage was $X (I think 6 or 8) but then charged me $7.50 handling too I appreciate people being upfront about ALL their charges. www.bird-rings.com/

[sypher]

Thanks Jane,

I am a member, I should have checked them out.

Thanks Shaun

[avinet]

Putting leg rings on older birds needs some caution. The standard and cheap aluminium rings are easily deformed by even a lovebird, and can then have the two ends overlap and tighten on the leg. They are OK for neophmeas, budgies, cockatiels and similar birds but I wouldn't use them for larger birds. If larger and stronger birds are to be banded as adults then you have to use split stainless steel rings which can't easily be damaged by the bird. Also larger birds such as Alexes and larger should have stainless steel closed rings used if they are being banded as babies. Aluminium is just too soft for these larger birds. I sell aluminium rings in the shop but we won't get them in in any larger than a King parrot size, and we only get them in as solid and not split rings.

There are pluses and minuses with using rings. The plus is of course the bird is identified, which can be important if you want to sell sexed birds for instance, or keep track of individuals in a mutation breeding programme. Most vets will not issue a sexing certificate for a bird if it is not close rung for instance.

The minus is that sometimes a ring can get caught on a loose bit of wire, or a toy and a bird potentially lose a leg. Also in budgies that get scaly mite the leg can swell up and become constricted by the ring, also potentially resulting in the loss of the leg. We see the occasional budgie with this problem and I have a special pair of "scissors" that can cut a rung off in almost all cases we see. So if you ring a bird, be sure to use the right type of ring and be aware of the potential pitfalls.

There are several sources of rings advertised in the Birdkeeper as welll as the Parrot Society. We have had some dealings with Lentra who are probably the biggest commercial ring provider and it hasn't been that friendly an experience. Nothing wrong with their rings, just the customer relations could be spruced up a bit.


cheers,

Mike

[sypher]

Thanks Mike, I want to band two adult unsexed sun conures so I can get them DNA sexed and get mates for each. What would you recommend?

[avinet]

Aug 3, 2008 20:35:17 GMT 10 sypher said:

Thanks Mike, I want to band two adult unsexed sun conures so I can get them DNA sexed and get mates for each. What would you recommend?

Strong beaks so definately split stainless steel rings. Note that these supposedly need special pliers to put on a bird - I've never used them (s/s rings that is) so can't comment on this aspect. I believe the Parrot Society sells the pliers along with the rings.

cheers,

Mike

[rainbowfeathers77]

Hey Mike
Just thought I'd quickly jump on this thread, since there's discussion about leg bands....ok, so how would you remove a split ring then? Three of my IRNs have a closed band/ring but the green one has a split one and I just don't like it, it is an accident waiting to happen ...I tried removing it (opening the band) while hubby was holding him but it was very strong and I could'nt even move it slightly.

[avinet]

Depends on what the ring is made of Kat. If it is stainless steel don't worry, the ringneck will never bend it and it should be no more dangerous than a closed ring. Stainles steel rings are very difficult to remove and would normally need to be done under anaesthetic to avoid the bird struggling while heavy duty cutters are used.

If it is aluminium then it should be removed. To check which it is try scratching it with a point of some scissors or similar - aluminium is scratched by steel.

A split aluminium ring can normally be removed by getting your nails into the join and spreading the ring apart - needs strong nails. If that isn't possible then wait until you come up to Brisbane and bring the bird up to us and I can cut it off. There is a high risk of injury to the bird without the proper equipment.

cheers,

Mike

[rainbowfeathers77]

Thanks Mike. Did you mean aluminium scratches but steel doesn't?

I had a feeling it was going to be a more complicated procedure. I can just see me trying to force it open and then slipping and tearing his foot off along with it ouch.
I'll try the scratch test and if it does turn out to be al. then I might take you up on the offer

Thanks AGAIN so much, Mike.

Maybe you should add a 'Paypal' button as your siggie ;D ;D ....surelly you'll eventually want to start charging us for all the great help and advice you give us - nothing is free these days - or are you just naturally so kind and generous ?
Thanks heaps Mike!!!!!!!

[Laraine]

I had a bad experience with one of my show budgies a couple of months ago. Her leg swelled up around the ring and it cost me $80 to get the ring off by a vet. She had better breed for me this year.

[courtzrocks]

Yeah Matches doesnt have a ring but beetle does, we sell leg rings at work but I don't really like them because of the horror stories. Beetle's is ok cos she's not a nutcase conure lol and it's purple, awesome colour lol but it's a closed ring. I wouldnt trust a split ring but if it is necessary then it is possible to do.

[avinet]

Warning - the photo is not a pleasant sight so don't scroll down if you may be upset by such photos.




The enclosed rather gruesome photo shows one of the potential dangers from leg rings, and the need to check them regularly to make sure they are still loose and not tightening due to swelling of the leg or by the ring being squeezed by the bird.

The budgie came into the shop today and as can be seen it has had the lower leg and foot die after swelling (from an unknown cause) caused the band to become tight and cut off circulation to the leg. This can happen quite quickly - it can only take a few days to reach this stage, so it is important to monitor rung birds regularly. Often in budgies such a problem comes with swelling caused by scaly mite, but this case had no scaly - perhaps it was bitten (came out of a multiple bird aviary) and swelled.

The bird also had other problems and had to be euthanased, even without other issues that may have been the best decision anyway.

cheers,

Mike

[Jane]

OMG that poor poor bird

I don't ring most of my birds, just some I have to like the scarlet hens or I wouldn't be able to tell them apart from their fledglings

[courtzrocks]

OMG!! Ok checking beetle EVERY DAY NOW!!!

[farseeker]

Trouble has a leg ring, neither of the budgies do though. Jedi did have one but I had it removed because she'd chew and worry at it, and I was afraid of her damaging her leg and having something similar to the photo of that budgie. I was going to look into getting her micro-chipped once her treatment had completed, but she was stolen before that. Made me feel incredibly guilty at having had the ring removed, although to be honest the feather mutilation on her back would have been an easier identifier than the ring in any case.

I'd like to look into getting Trouble micro-chipped, but discounted it since I hadn't been able to find any avian vets listed in Mackay anywhere. Had another look around today though and found this list: www.birdmunchies.com.au/associations/vets/qld.htm

It's old (2003) but both the Andergrove and Stabler, Howett and Lemmons are still open as far as I'm aware, so I might give them a call and see if they still have the avian vets with them. The birds are all probably due for a general health check in any case!

[rajasmom]

I myself just hate leg bands only 2 of my birds have them and I'm constantly worried that they will get them caught on something. I'm waiting for them to come out with the GPS chip my vet said it should be out here within the year then I'll get all my birds a new chip and those rings cut off. Raja has one I guess because he's dna'd and She gave me a copy of the Dna certificate I guess she had to put rings on the babys. in order to get the certificates it has the ring number on it.

[pinkdevil]

Imagine how painful that would have been.

So we can see the effects of using leg rings on birds, is there an alternative way to ID birds when having multiple birds DNA sexed or for birds that require traceability instead of using leg rings or micro-chips?

[courtzrocks]

I think a bird has to be over 100g to be microchipped, beetle is only 65g. Matches isnt banded and was thinking about getting her chipped.