Bands

[cbx1013]

All:


Can anyone give me the short course on bands? I'm okay with the "how"... But I'd like direction on the what, and why.

I won't be racing. I'm a recreational owner... just homers and a rare feral or two. I'll likely breed a couple of pairs in the spring, but I'm not looking to raise a team. I'll probably always have less than 20 birds.

I'd like to band for age and sex. I'd like to be able to know what my pairs are, given that a few of the birds have very similar markings and are similar ages.

Are there organizations, types of bands, colors, etc. What system would work best given my interests?

I was thinking a "year" band, possibly also pink, or blue. Maybe with a "number" band to track a particular bird. Are numbers then registered with the particular organization that issues or sells the bands? Are there tegistrations fees, etc.?

What are y'alls thoughts? Thank you for any help!

Don

[spirit wings]

there is seemless bands which are permanent, and snap on bands which are used in colors to mark birds, they can have a number on them or your info on them as well. the seemless has a number and the year the bird was hatched, you can get custom seemless bands with your info on them as well, serveral organizations have bands, if you race you have to have au or if and there is another can't remember(I don't race) . the seemless have to go on when the young are about 7 days old otherwise it will not beable to be put on. the snapons can go on anytime. you can browse bands at any of the pigeon supply sites, you do not need to be a member. I use npa bands for my fancy pigeons and seemless custom made with my phone# on the homers. important...have to get the right size for the breed of bird you have. also they can have a seemless band on one leg and a snapon colored one on the other to mark birds.

[sky tx]

You can order bands from the AU--IF--NPA and several pigeon supply places. You need to keep records so you know which pair put out the color-pattern ETC that you are looking for. You can use a Second Snap-on color band to mark Cocks-Hens or whatever reason you like.

[MaryOfExeter]

Yep, if I were you, I'd band all future babies with seamless bands. The IF and AU have bands that fit homers. But the NPA has bands of all sizes for any breed. You can get all three (plus IPB) from foyspigeonsupplies.com
For banding pairs and sexes, they make colored, numbered snap on bands. With the numbered ones, you will get a pair of the same bands. So one pair may be "Blue 01" and another pair may be "Yellow 30", etc. Both birds in the pair will have the same color and number
You can also just get plain colored ones just to mark unpaired birds as blue or pink (or whichever colors you want for that).
You can do it however you want but those are some options The seamless are traceable back to you in case one gets lost or sold to someone who wants to know where it came from.


Forgot to add, seamless bands also have the year and a unique serial number/sequence that no other pigeon will have. That helps a lot in identifying how old each bird is, and makes record keeping easier.

[cbx1013]

Thank you- I'll call Foy's and see what they have to combine all my needs in the simplest band arrangement possible. Seems like I should be able to find something to band the older birds, as well as future young birds.

Thanks again,

Don

[LokotaLoft]

yes please do band all your birds ,it can save a life or at least get them back to you if they are found banding is a great thing to do

[mookeeman]

ya but where i get my bands they dont record the info oranything so if my pigeons get lost or in there case get out there gone so this year i bought these bands also permanant and they have my e-mail address on them