question on Jiffy wing bands...

[ki4got]

ok, well, i've got the bands, the pliers & the birds. going from how it looks on one of my cochins, it looked like the point would be easiest going in from underneath (also easier to see what i'm doing on 3-4 week old chicks). but will the bands turn around/over on their own? i watched a video that showed turning it once it was in, but these guys did NOT like me trying that...

oh well, worst case, i'll have to read the number from underneath. or does anyone else have a suggestion?

i did band a much younger chick, and turned it on him much easier, but i'd like to know for the older ones, as i've got a number of adults too that i want to get done.

thanks.

 

[centrarchid]

I like read tag from above with wing to be read stretched towards me.

 

[ki4got]

but do you put the bands on point up and turn it over or do you put it point down and leave it there.

 

[countrygoddess]

I just banded my first chick, which is a one week old Dorking. It doesn't seem like it would turn over at all, the way the clip works. It'll swing up towards the head and down towards the tail, but it won't flip over. I put it through with the pointy end on top.

I came here looking for answers about placement. Just as I was about to push it through with the pliers, she moved and now it's very close to the edge. I felt for the tendon, and I think it's just at the back edge of the tendon. She is still able to fold up her wing okay. My first instinct was to take the band off and do it again, but how in the heck do you take them off?? It doesn't seem like it's possible. Is it going to be okay being so close to the edge? I certainly don't want her to be in pain if I got it too close to the tendon and I don't want it to rip out...

 

[centrarchid]

I just banded my first chick, which is a one week old Dorking. It doesn't seem like it would turn over at all, the way the clip works. It'll swing up towards the head and down towards the tail, but it won't flip over. I put it through with the pointy end on top.

I came here looking for answers about placement. Just as I was about to push it through with the pliers, she moved and now it's very close to the edge. I felt for the tendon, and I think it's just at the back edge of the tendon. She is still able to fold up her wing okay. My first instinct was to take the band off and do it again, but how in the heck do you take them off?? It doesn't seem like it's possible. Is it going to be okay being so close to the edge? I certainly don't want her to be in pain if I got it too close to the tendon and I don't want it to rip out...

Countrygoddess, when I apply a hundred tags, usually a couple can be expected to not go right because somebody flinches. Even so placement should never be close to an actual tendon or impact how wing is held. Proper placement means it goes through membrane that helps stabilize wing and feathers during flight. Occasionally a tag will be infected in part from improper placement and fall out leaving a temporary tear in membrane. In few instances I knew what was happening the damage was short-term as membrane repaired itself and flight was no longer impacted. Most of my birds must be able to fly in my setting and the damage did not interrupt their ability to fly up to roost greater than 8' up. Such birds I like to retag on other side.

I have removed tags by cutting flexible point of band using small wire cutters. Uncoupled, the two halves fall away. Wound heals within a couple of days. Do not rip them out.

 

[countrygoddess]

Oh, gosh, I would never rip it out!! No, I was wondering if there was a way to open it to reposition it. But she seems to be tolerating it well; she holds and uses her wing normally, from what I can see. We'll see how it goes as she grows up...

 

[centrarchid]

I did not mean rip it out. Opening and re-using is a no no too. Point will be bent.

 

[ki4got]

Oh, gosh, I would never rip it out!! No, I was wondering if there was a way to open it to reposition it. But she seems to be tolerating it well; she holds and uses her wing normally, from what I can see. We'll see how it goes as she grows up...

mine that i've banded acted like the world came to an end for about 5 minutes. then i put fresh food and water in for them and they instantly went nuts over that.

i have figured out tho, that it's easy for me to band them at about 2 weeks old tho. i can see what i'm doing much easier.

the one time the chick jumped i put the band in right next to the wing muscle. so using a small pair of diagonal cutters (wire cutters that have the cutting edge flat to one side) i just snipped as close to the skin as i could where the point went thru, opened the band and pulled the bit thru. he healed just fine and i banded him again a week later without issues.

i have discovered tho that it's easier for me to band them from underneath. positioning the point just inside of the tendon is easier at a bit older age, and you can see exactly where it's going because the feathering underneath is much thinner. so, yeah, you have to read the number from the underside. big deal. my partridge cochins that were banded by the breeder are the same way, so guess i'm not alone there. LOL

 

[countrygoddess]

She was two weeks old when I did it. I've looked at the two one-week olds that I have and I think I'll wait a bit before I band them. The band is still in place, hasn't ripped through. I pulled her wing out yesterday and looked at it with a light behind it and it's definitely just behind the tendon, so I think it'll be okay.