Leg bands

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

So these were on the legs of the Cayuga ducklings I just bought home, ostensibly to identify them as girls. They looked flexible, so I didn’t get them off immediately, I finally caught up with my wife last night and we tried to take them off, they were so stiff and tight I had to cut one off, the other required 2 pairs of needle nose pliers because I couldn’t get hold with my fingers. They had an indent on their legs where the band was, but seem to be fine now. Are these an actual band for the purpose or is it something else? I am worried about the other ducks that we didn’t take.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can you contact the people who have these ducks? that is mainly what their used for to identify boys from girls but many forget about them and they can cause serious injury if left on too long Glad you got them off yours.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Can you contact the people who have these ducks? that is mainly what their used for to identify boys from girls but many forget about them and they can cause serious injury if left on too long Glad you got them off yours.

I did, no reply, but I hope she got it taken care of. I am less and less impressed.

 

[Miss Lydia]

At least you left a message so hopefully that takes care of it.

 

[Huntmaster]

So these were on the legs of the Cayuga ducklings I just bought home, ostensibly to identify them as girls. They looked flexible, so I didn’t get them off immediately, I finally caught up with my wife last night and we tried to take them off, they were so stiff and tight I had to cut one off, the other required 2 pairs of needle nose pliers because I couldn’t get hold with my fingers. They had an indent on their legs where the band was, but seem to be fine now. Are these an actual band for the purpose or is it something else? I am worried about the other ducks that we didn’t take.

Yes, those are sold as spiral leg bands, and I would never use them on a bird again. Tried them once and had to dig them out of bird's leg, they have very sharp pointed ends and imbedded into legs of birds. It wasn't because they were not changed and grew to tight, they were loose and still imbedded in leg. I have heard many others with same problem. As far as not changing and to small will happen with most leg bands growing tight on leg if not monitored closely on young fast-growing birds. I use these rubber bands for all hatchlings and small birds they work great for me. Safest band for hatchlings and smaller birds I have seen or used. They come in different sizes but not for adult birds.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Yes, those are sold as spiral leg bands, and I would never use them on a bird again. Tried them once and had to dig them out of bird's leg, they have very sharp pointed ends and imbedded into legs of birds. It wasn't because they were not changed and grew to tight, they were loose and still imbedded in leg. I have heard many others with same problem. As far as not changing and to small will happen with most leg bands growing tight on leg if not monitored closely on young fast-growing birds. I use these rubber bands for all hatchlings and small birds they work great for me. Safest band for hatchlings and smaller birds I have seen or used. They come in different sizes but not for adult birds. View attachment 3854699

Thanks for the reply. I feel terrible that I didn’t remove them immediately. These 2 seem more mellow than any of my other ducks ever were. I don’t know if, as Miss Lydia suggests it is a breed trait or what, but they were more tolerant of being worked on than I had expected.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I always wanted Cayuga but never got any until I was able to adopt this 4 year old in Jan along with her best friend an Indian Runner. Olive is the sweetest laid back duck. I do beleive you'll love yours too.