Leg banding kits and recommendations ... advice please

[Finchy]

Hi

I am looking for advice on the best type of leg bands to use on young finches, suitable for a bird keeper who's never attached a leg band before! Are there any particular kits or types of bands that you have found to be better or worse than others? Please do tell.

Note that my nests are the wicker type which don't allow me access to the growing babies. I figure that the next best time to attach bands will be their first day of fledging, when they are wobbly and easy to catch (yes?).

[jusdeb]

I like aluminium split rings . The tool provided can be used to put them on and tke them off .
I get all my ringing gear from Lentra Direct , just email him for an invoice and he will help with sizes , tools etc .

[E Orix]

The only time I use metal split rings is one the Weavers and bigger birds(except the very very small finches) because they can peel them off after awhile.
For general run of finches Gouldians,Stars etc I use the plastic split ring and the supplier also should give you an applicater which makes the process easier. Remember if you are ringing a young bird just fledged handle them with great care as their bones and infact body still has not developed fully also they may go into shock.
I mentioned the smaller types, Orange Breasted Waxbills and African Fires(Ruddies) in my opinion they are too small for the plastic ring and I use the tiny
aluminium rings with the two raise parts(wings?) on them. They are very fiddly to put on but a small enough not to hinder the bird when it is in the nest.
They are made by someone in the Hunter region.
Allan Tully sells the English Hughes Rings which in my opinion are by far the best quality. He supplies all my rings and posts them without a problem.
If you need an applicater just ask for one email [email protected] phone (03) 93386082
Should you be worried about how to put them on put your area up and there maybe a forum member close by who can give you a demo.

[Simba]

I normally order mine from AC hughes direct but it takes a while as you have to post the application then wait for them to post them back from the UK, I just emailed Alan to see what he has will be a lot quicker if he carrys AC hughes stock over here.

[Finchy]

Thanks for those ideas... Still welcoming more though, as people obviously have different preferences.

What do you think about the clip/snap-on style? They seem like a good idea, no...?

What size(s) (in mm) should I be asking for, for a mixed collection that includes Orangebreast Waxbills, Cordon Bleus, Zebras, RFPFs and Gouldians?

[natamambo]

I use plastic rings first, to identify which finches came from which nest. Any finches I keep or buy and want to know specifically which bird it is for future breeding programs I will use a metal numbered split ring so there is no confusion if I keep siblings (which will have the same coloured plastic ring). Alan Tully is good, and the handy pliers for his metal split rings are great. It would be cheaper to import from England the metal rings but I don't bother as by using them only on select birds I don't use as many metal ones as plastic ones and that keeps overall cost down. With the chats and wrens the adults are rung so I don't ring the young, all will get moved on at the end of each season (I don't have enough space for multiple pairs).

You'll need different sizes for that collection, if you buy from Alan be guided by him, he'll tell you which size for which birds. Once you know what you bought it's easier next time.

[Finchman1]

http://www.avianid.co.uk/id-ring_sizes.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.nfss.org/bands/bandsizeplastic.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.nfss.org/bands/bandsizemetal.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Finchy]

Hi

I have just found out that I'm going to be away when my baby Gouldians fledge, and for a couple of weeks afterward...grrr. I won't be able to ring them until they are well-practiced fliers....or is it viable/terrible to tip them out of their wicker nest, ring them and pop them back at age 20 days?!

Ta

[Diane]

Ive done that with gouldians when I have a couple of nests expected to fledge at the same time, saves mixing up the babies.

[Finchy]

OK, I tried this today but could not get them out! They hang on for dear life to the inside of the wicker - quite understandably. How do you get them out?!