Bird identification - BAND OR MICROCHIP?

There exists two principal types of ID bands on the market; the closed or opened band.

The closed type is largely used by breeders, so as to identify their chicks. It is placed on the bird's leg at a very young age, often between 7 and 10 days following their birth. They are also often used to identify the adult birds in the breeding colony. The breeder's code, including the letters and numbers, as well as the chick's birth date and identification number, can be found on the ID band.

The ID band is very inexpensive and is easily available, which explains its popularity. However, there are also a lot of negative points concerning this type band. Many birds will fracture their leg or will inflict serious wounds to themselves, following an accident caused by the band. Also, many birds will mutilate their leg because the band is uncomfortable and, therefore, risk developing serious infections and swelling. Furthermore, the ID band identifies the breeder and in no way the client who adopted the bird. The registers that manage the bands are often in Ontario and it is not always so easy to trace the breeder. If your bird should be stolen or lost, dishonest people could easily remove the band with the help of pliers and pass off the bird as their own.

Another way to identify a bird is with microchip implantation. This is actually a small metallic device that contains a numeric code. It is injected into the bird's pectoral muscle by a veterinarian. The microchip can be implanted at any age and it only takes a few seconds to do.

Generally, there are no secondary reactions, except for very little bleeding or bruising. To obtain the microchip code, an electronic reader is necessary. Several veterinary clinics, shelters and other services for animals have the reader. During the placement of the microchip, a document that includes information, such as date of birth, origin (breeder, pet stores), band number (if available), owner's name, address and phone number, as well as other pertinent details will be indicated.

This document is then sent to an ISO certified and internationally recognized database. Microchip implantation is presently the safest and most effective way to adequately identify your bird.