Leg banding

[JohnP]

Now that my first batch of chicks are getting stronger I want to leg band them and would appreciate any feed back on the best methods.

1. One colur for all the group to identify parents,
2. Individual bird colurs,
3, dual banding to identify parenting and individual bird,
4. Other methods.

Also at what age does everyone band?

Where is the best source to purchase a variety of bands?

Thanks.

[Mickp]

have a look at these links
Leg Rings
More Leg Rings

[Diane]

I have been using this system for well over a year now and find its really simple. Its Michael Marcotrigiano's from exotic finches. Each colour represents a number. e.g.
1 = brown
2 = purple
3 = blue
4 = green
5 = red
6 = orange
7 = pink
8 = yellow
9 = white

For bird number 1 it would be nothing on the left leg (as the bird faces you) and brown on the right.

For bird number 2 it would be nothing on the left leg (as the bird faces you) and purple on the right.

Bird 12 would be brown on the left leg and purple on the right.
Bird 21 would be purple on the left leg and brown on the right.
Bird 56 would be red on the left leg and orange on the right.
then you go to your written notes for the bird.

(SIDENOTE Im using a free online record keeping program. Brilliant! Created by a forum member, its free, updated regularly and improving all the time. www.ikhom.com)

I remember the leg ring system by thinking of adding up in "tens (left leg) and units (right leg)"
As Michael explains there are some numbers you cant use, mainly those with a zero in the middle or at the end, 101 etc and 120, 130 etc. He didnt use those numbers because he wanted to keep the number of legs rings to a minimum. His system runs on 9 different colours, but if you wanted to use 10 colours you could use the 101 etc numbers.

I have only ever had one bird that seemed distracted by the leg bands, she kept looking at her legs and stamping her feet. So I took them off her. All the other are quite accepting of them.

[finchbreeder]

That is a comprehensive record site Diane. Have just signed up. Now got to get the hang of reading the rings as I face the birds not my previous right leg is right left leg is left thinking
LML

[E Orix]

Leg Rings
You would need to be super attentative to have any idea how old birds in your collection are unless they have a ring on their leg.
Each year I have a plastic two coloured ring as my year ring.It is simple if 2007 ring is green and white I know when I see a bird flying around exactly what year it was bred.The other leg carries an individuals colour ID ring if required.If it is to be DNA'd then the ring is numbered.
With the Weavers etc I can't use plastic rings as eventually they will break off so I use numbered metal rings.
Initially the birds dislike the ring so you can put it on late in the day and by next morning it is generally forgotten.
I DO NOT put rings on nestlings as at times the hen birds will take it out of the nest with the chick attached
The important thing is to use the correct size ring too small and it could cut circulation to it's foot
too big and a twig or some thing else my get between the leg and the ring and hook the bird up.
For birds with strong beaks do not use cheap light weight metal rings as they may be squashed on to the leg.
Rings do create problems so if you only have a few birds you may not need to ring them so don't .

[Diane]

That is a comprehensive record site Diane. Have just signed up.

I love the site, site admin is open to suggestions and very quick to implement the ideas.

Now got to get the hang of reading the rings as I face the birds not my previous right leg is right left leg is left thinking

I know its took a bit of getting used to it for me too, but its so much easier when trying to remember what number the birds are.......Im still trying to remember what colour = what number though

I use the same system for all the different species, at the moment I have at least three birds with the same colour leg ring on the same leg, as they are all different species it makes no difference.

[jusdeb]

Hmmm well I guess my system sux then . I colour coordinate the rings to what colour the birds are . Only my original breeders are banded
I guess I carry out my leg banding the same way I keep up with my record keeping. My system is do nothing till I need to know something then panic .
Way too laid back to be bothered with red tape , guess I should lift my game hey.

[Diane]

Different strokes for different folks. As long as you are happy with the system you use and know who is who.

[jusdeb]

Thats it Di , if I wasnt sure then Id be banding for sure . No where near that point with the finchies but have ordered some bands for the parrots , since they have been the main breeders this year I need to keep up.

[finchbreeder]

Why do you think I am doing this Deb? Used to ring the parents with different rings and all the chicks they produced with the same colour. OOPs but when I started expanding things got confusing cause which one of the offspring was the parent of the next generation? Had to add a 2nd ring. So might as well do it this way and get my act together. Yes Diane I have had to write the 1 = Brown 2 = Purple etc down so I can start learning it. I have added 0 = black cause it seemed like a good idea as I have lots of black rings.
LML