Banding can be an intimidating process to begin with, but with a few simple and easy steps you can safely and quickly band your chicks.
The ideal banding age ranges from between 5 and 9 days for most babies. Once you get to know the general sizes of your specific budgies bloodlines you will get a better of the best days for banding their chicks.
Until then, start trying to band daily from 5 days on until the band fits properly. How will you know when a band fits properly? It will be relatively easy to slide over the chicks first two toes, but it will not easily slide off once it is on properly.
All you will need to band your chicks is a closed band and a dull ended toothpick if they are at the proper age:
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Step 1 - Start by holding the chick gently but firmly in one hand (Pictur
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Step 2- Then, gently hold the leg you would like to band. It is mostly a personal preference as to which leg you choose to band. I band my birds on the right leg:
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Step 3 - Gently slide the band over the first two toes that point forward (Picture 3)
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Step 4 - Now slide the band down until it goes over the chicks ankle and you can just see the other two toes that point backward (picture 4).
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Step 5 - Here is where you will need the toothpick. Gently slide the toothpick under the chicks first back facing toe (Picture 5).
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Step 6 - Now gently pull up on the toothpick and the toe will slip right out of the band
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Step 7 - Repeat step 6 with the second toe that faces backwards (Picture 7)
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Step 8- Now all 4 toes should be out of the band, and it should be resting between the chicks knee and ankle (Picture 8).
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See, that wasn't so bad was it? If the chick is at the right size to band you should be able to gently pull on the band without it coming off of the chicks leg.
If a band slides off too easily give the chick another 12-24 hours to grow before trying to band again. Chicks grow incredibly fast and sometimes all it takes is waiting the few hours between the morning and the evening before it will fit properly.
If you are having a hard time getting the band on sometimes a bit of olive oil or Vaseline will be all that is needed to slip the band on. If however you have waited too long to band and you can not get it to slip on easily with a bit of lubricant than stop immediately.
Trying to force a band on too late in development can cause permanent tendon and nerve damage to the chicks leg.
