What band do I get?

[ptras]

Originally Posted by Rooster241-

Thanks. But how come they are not allowed to race? I mean cant you just cut off an old band and put on a new one?

Sorry for the late reply. My power went out last night and JUST turned back on (24 hours later!)

Not positive, but I believe the band requirement is to make sure that young birds race with young birds, and old birds race with old birds. You cannot cut off an old band and put on a new one. A seamless band (such as an AU or IF band) is placed on the birds leg at around six to eight days of age. As they grow older, the foot increases in size, keeping the band from coming off. Likewise, it is impossible to put a seamless band on a bird after it reaches a certain size. Many a fancier has missed banding a bird because they waited a little too long.

[ThePoultryFarm]

I would band them definately. It helps with records, and people can track you if the birds ever get lost. It also shows their age if you ever try to show them. AU is for racing for sport, NPA is just for birds that are for fun.

[wcooper]

npausa.com
They have regular leg bands or plexi covered.
$.35/each

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by Rooster241-

Okay, so I got my first pigeons today that I plan to breed. What leg bands do I need? I've looked online and I've seen ones with numbers, dates, or other stuff. Can somone send me a direct link or give me more info on what leg bands I need?

you would want to put racing bands on the young you get from your new birds..they are permanent..you put them on as said at 6 to 8 days old.. they may be out of the 2010 bands not sure.. so you may want to wait and get 2011 and start your breeding in Dec, Jan, or Feb.. npa are permanent bands as well they are not racing bands, just to keep track of the year hatched and has a number.. you can enter pigeon shows with this band and of course keep track of who is who with the numbers..

[Rooster241-]

Oh cool. That is great information you guys.

[Rooster241-]

OH! I do have one more question. Since I bought mine from somone else, is there anyway to REband them to show that they belong to me? Or register then with whatever club I join? How does all that work?

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by Rooster241-

OH! I do have one more question. Since I bought mine from somone else, is there anyway to REband them to show that they belong to me? Or register then with whatever club I join? How does all that work?

you can not reband with the permanent band.. but you can buy snap ons and put your information on it.. and remember if these are adult homers they are for breeding only as they will not beable to be flown as they will go back to where they came from..

[Rooster241-]

I see. That works for me. But I've heard ppl say after they have bred a couple times that my house will be their new home. Should I just follow the old saying "Better safe than sorry" and keep them inside?

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by Rooster241-

I see. That works for me. But I've heard ppl say after they have bred a couple times that my house will be their new home. Should I just follow the old saying "Better safe than sorry" and keep them inside?

yes.. very few have been successful in rehoming homers.. they don't call them homers for nothing.. and ones that do not are not good homers anyway so you might not want to breed those...lol.. a member here sold a young bird just at the right age to settle to anothers loft... well first time out of his new loft he flew back to the breeder.. that was a good bird.. but most times if they are 30 to 40 days old you can settle those to the new loft.. any older you run the risk of them flying off to find home.. it can be done.. it is hard though and you run the risk of losing the bird.. but if one knows the breeder or the breeders loft is not far, you can always go back and get the bird...

[Rooster241-]

haha, thats kind of funny. Sucks though. I think I will leave them caged then. BUT that brings me to the curious question of, what if you let out one, while the mate is still caged?

[ThePoultryFarm]

Rather the mate is caged or not it will still likely home. That is where it just depends on the individual bird and it's breeding.

[Rooster241-]

I see, if the measure of a good critter is it always going home, then I have a very bad dog.

[RodSD]

Rehoming is possible, but it is too risky. If they are young like less than 2 months old, then there is still a chance. The pigeons used in world war 2 had procedure to do that. Some people start breeding around December.