Want to learn more about parrot care

[BigBirdy]

The only type of bird species I have experience with is having many chickens. I'm interested in parrots now because I've decided to build an outdoor aviary.

I'm having issues with deciding whether to put stainless steel leg rings on my parrots or not. The "closed leg rings" have to be applied before the third week after the baby parrot is born, but they don't have accurate measurements for that young age to ensure they won't be too tight in it or if it will slip off in the future.

The metal rings can be dangerous if they get caught in toys or branches, and if they're too small they can restrict blood flow to the feet. Sometimes the only way to remove them is to amputate the bird's leg. I'm also worried about electrocution when they land on power lines, but I read that stainless steel is a poor conductor of electricity.

Here's a budgie who had a leg injury from a ring.

https://www.facebook.com/melbournebirdvet/posts/2626439977426850

Here are some studies I've researched on what are the most appropriate rings to apply to parrots.

Is it better to get closed rings that are a little loose, or get open stainless steel rings and adjust it to their size with pliers?

Here is a company that sells rings:

https://www.birdbands.com/legrings/stainlesssteel.html

My new parrots will be hand-fed and hand-raised so they can have a good relationship with me and each other. My plans are to teach them to free fly by recall training in the outdoor aviary, then putting a GPS on their tail and letting them free fly, so they can learn to go around my neighborhood and return to the aviary to sleep and eat in the evening. When I see that they return on their own before night 10 days in a row, then I'll be confident enough to remove the GPS.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My Amazon parrot has had her leg band since I got her as a baby. It hasn't caused her any problems in her 27 years. It's a closed band that I think is slipped on after the bird is a few months old, but I'm not positive.

 

[BigBirdy]

My Amazon parrot has had her leg band since I got her as a baby. It hasn't caused her any problems in her 27 years. It's a closed band that I think is slipped on after the bird is a few months old, but I'm not positive.

That's good news. It must be stainless steel and fits perfectly. But my situation may be different because I want my parrots to free fly, so they might have more chances getting their ring caught in stuff, or having their leg muscles outgrow a closed ring. If it gets too tight I want a vet to be able to remove it without amputating their leg.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's good news. It must be stainless steel and fits perfectly. But my situation may be different because I want my parrots to free fly, so they might have more chances getting their ring caught in stuff, or having their leg muscles outgrow a closed ring. If it gets too tight I want a vet to be able to remove it without amputating their leg.

Mine is outside in the summer an occasionally gets in the shrubs or up in a tree. It would be very easy to use a sharp wire cutter to remove the band on her leg if necessary. It's roomy enough. It's like a bracelet.

 

[Alaskan]

I think injuries from closed leg rings are very rare.

They are put on a few days to 2 weeks after hatch.

However... free ranging parrots.... that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. They are such delicious bite sized morsels.

 

[BigBirdy]

Mine is outside in the summer an occasionally gets in the shrubs or up in a tree. It would be very easy to use a sharp wire cutter to remove the band on her leg if necessary. It's roomy enough. It's like a bracelet.

If it gets caught a lot in branches and I'm not around that can be dangerous, or they can't return home. Being too loose like a bracelet might be the reason your parrot gets stuck. It's only safe if it fits perfectly, that's why I think open bands are better than closed ones. The little gap in the open ones can be filled with cloth or small tape.

 

[BigBirdy]

I think injuries from closed leg rings are very rare.

They are put on a few days to 2 weeks after hatch.

However... free ranging parrots.... that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. They are such delicious bite sized morsels.

I'm thinking they'll be more protected by flying in a flock instead of alone. My area in northern California also isn't known for having many big hawks. The more the parrots practice flying outside the more strong and safe they'll be.

 

[townchicks]

What kind of parrots are you talking about? There are hundreds of species. I do not think it is practical to expect them to come home like chickens or homing pigeons . It it illegal to release parrots into the wild, which is essentially what you will be doing. There are people that free fly parrots under SUPERVISED conditions, with trained recalls, but it is not advisable to just let them roam. And there is nowhere in California that doesn't have big hawks.

 

[Serin]

You can't fly parrots like pigeons. They will leave.