BIRD BANDS

All kinds of birds raised in captivity are identified with bands, from the largest Macaw to the tiniest Waxbill. There are some basic kinds of bands.

Closed - this is a solid metal band that is put on the bird when it is small and the foot flexible. As the bird grows it becomes impossible to remove except with metal cutters. Closed bands may be coded by a society and therefore traceable thru that society, or have the breeders initials imprinted and be traceable through the manufacturer. These bands always have the year printed on them so that the age of the bird is readily determined.

Open - These may be metal and imprinted with the year and initials just like the closed bands, but they do not truly certify the year of the birds birth, because they are easily put an and removed at any time. Open bands are also available in colored plastic for finch breeders who use them to track families and bloodlines.

CAUTION, HOOKBILLS MAY BE ABLE TO REMOVE OPEN BANDS. ALL BANDS DO POSE A POSSIBILITY OF ENTANGLEMENT AND INJURY. FOR THIS REASON YOU MAY WISH TO REMOVE BANDS FROM PET BIRDS WHERE BREEDING RECORDS OR PROOF OF AGE ARE NOT IMPORTANT.

Reprinted by Pretty Birds from Birdkeeping Naturally by Eb Cravens @feathers.org

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