Banding Your Birds
Any form of record keeping starts with some way of identifying your birds. It is best if the identification is semi-permanent, following the bird through its entire life. For most of us, the most economical and better method is "banding." Banding is where some form of material, shaped as a cylinder, is placed around the bird's leg between the foot and the tibio-tarsal joint (its knee). These leg bands are generally available in plastic or metal. They also come as either split or seamless. Split bands are cut or separated in some way so that they may be opened, placed around the leg and closed. Sometimes a tool is needed for this application. Split bands can also be removed fairly easily. The seamless bands are continuous and must be placed on the leg of a young chick. As the leg grows, the band reaches a point where it becomes difficult if not impossible to remove. To determine the correct size band to use, select a few adult birds of the same species and measure the maximum thickness of the leg between the foot and the knee. You will want the band to move freely, so add a little to this measurement. It is very, very important that the correct size band be selected for the birds you wish to band. I have seen and heard of many instances where too small a band was placed on a leg and the leg eventually grew around the band, the band cut off circulation or the leg was lost entirely. Too large of a band can also cause problems by binding toes or getting caught somewhere hanging the bird by its leg.
Bands come in a wide variety of sizes from many different suppliers. The ADA offers seamless leg bands in 4 different sizes. Here I will discuss these four sizes and include the species of pigeons and doves that the bands can be used on. It is very important to remember that these listing are just suggestions. Variation is always possible in live animals. When you band your birds, keep a good eye on the band every day for a few weeks and then as often as you can until the bird is fully mature. At the first sign of trouble, remove the band. If you purchase bands from other suppliers, discuss the birds you will be banding with them and follow their advise as to the correct size band to use. There are many suppliers of bands out there and I have found a wide variety in the names, numbers and letters used to identify the different sizes of bands. I prefer to discuss band sizes by the millimeter measurement of the inner diameter of the band. This seems most universal.
The American Dove Association Offers the Following Bands:
Four Sizes of Closed Leg Bands marked with the ADA initials, the Year and a unique number series. The number series and purchaser are recorded for future reference.
From Largest to Smallest, according to my research these bands fit the following:
1) 7.8 to 8.0mm (5/16") Inner Diameter, ~6.0mm (1/4") wide.
Olive Wood pigeon, Wood pigeon, Picazuro pigeon, Purple Wood pigeon,
Red-necked (Scaly-naped) pigeon, White-throated pigeon, New Guniea Bronzewing, Wonga pigeon, Yellow-legged Green pigeon, Wedge-tailed Green pigeon, Yellow-bellied Green pigeon and the Thick-billed Ground pigeon.2) 6.0 to 6.2mm (1/4") Inner Diameter, ~4.0mm (5/32") wide, Fits Ringneck Doves.
Lemon Doves, Luzon Bleeding-heart, White-breasted Ground dove, Golden
Heart, Key West Quail dove, Ruddy Quail dove, Orange-bellied Fruit dove,
Superb Fruit dove, Javanese Collared dove, Ornate Fruit dove, (Chinese) Laceneck dove, Eurasain Collared dove, Most of the Turtle doves including the Ringneck, White-winged dove, Socorro dove, and the Martinique dove.3) 5.0mm (3/16") Inner Diameter, ~4.0mm (5/32") wide.
**This band size falls right in the middle of many Species. The first group call for a
band 0.5mm smaller than this band. The second group call for a band 0.5mm larger than this band. It should work on all listed species. It will need to be placed onto group 2 at a younger age and watched for tightness.Group 1: (4.5mm)
Tamborine dove, Emerald-spot dove, Black-billed & Blue-spotted Wood dove,
Beautiful Fruit dove, Bare-faced & Black-winged Ground dove, Zebra dove, Mauge's dove, Peaceful dove, and the Blue Ground dove.
Group 2: (5.4mm)
Green-winged doves, Bar-shouldered dove, White-fronted dove, Laceneck dove, African Collared dove, Senegal (Laughing) dove, Dwarf Turtle dove, Vinaceous dove, Blue-headed Wood dove, Eared (Pea) dove and the Mourning dove.4) 3.7 to 4mm (5/32") Inner Diameter, ~4.0mm (5/32") wide, Fits Diamond Doves.
Diamond dove, Buckley's Grnd dove, Gold-billed dove, Pigmy Grnd dove, Scaley-breasted Grnd dove, Picui dove, Ruddy Grnd dove, Cape (Masked) dove,
and the Inca dove.
Band Suppliers American Dove Association: 7775 Montgomery Rd., Apt. 15, Cincinnati, OH 45236, 513-984-1372.
Canadian Dove Association: P.O. Box 135, Plattsville, Ont. Canada, NOJ 1SO
Red Bird Products, Inc.: 2786 Fruitridge Rd., Sacramento, CA 95820, (916) 421-0517, http://www.redbirdproducts.com
L & M BIRD LEG BANDS: P.O. Box 2943, SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92406, TEL:
(909) 882-4649 / FAX: (909) 882-5231 email: lmbird@earthlink.net, http://www.links2go.net/more/home.earthlink.net/~lmbird/index.htmlNational Band & Tag Company: 721 York St., P.O. Box 72430, Newport, KY
41072-0430, Phone: (859) 261-2035 Fax: 800-261-TAGS (8247) E-Mail: tags@nationalband.com, http://www.nationalband.com/nbtpoult.htmlGlobal Pigeon Supplies Inc.: 2301 Rowland Ave - Savannah, Georgia 31404
1-800-562-2295, 912-356-1320, FAX: 912-356-1691, http://www.globalpigeon.com/main.html
Click HERE to go to my Banding Page with examples, photographs and links.