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Hello All!

I have just this week resuced a little male Tiel from a local big chain pet store. He is approximately 5 months old, as I believe he is still before his first molt. He in not hand tame, though the store claims that he was hand fed. He has a bad foot - the end is missing on one toe, and another toe is seriously distorted, curving to one side. He has great difficulty climbing, but I think he will learn. His band is on the bad foot!! I want to have his band removed as SOON as possible, it drives him crazy and he already has enough trouble with that foot...My question: Do I wait until he is hand tamed, or should I just take him now to get it over with? Will the event cause him to fear me too greatly??

What do you think?
Thanks!
CjP

If you haven't brought him to a vet for a wellness check I would schedule a visit for him ASAP. The vet is the ONLY one that should remove the band so at that time ask him/her to remove the band.

I agree about the vet. I would have a full blood work up done, calcium levels, infections, PDD, psittacosis, etc, the works. It will be expensive, but worth it since we all know what has been coming out of these big chain stores.

My oldest tiel plays with his band, so unless it is causing irritation, I would leave it on. Keep him well apart from your other birds, running a full quarantine until otherwise directed by a vet or until 30-60 days are over.

Let him relax and feel at home for a few days, apart from the vet visit! Then start with feeding from your hand. Get all the vet's reports and take them to the store and bring it to the attention of the local animal services. This sounds like a case of neglect on the store's part and possibly malnutrition with the bent toe if it isn't a birth defect.

No worries about the vet situation...will have a full workup. He's in strict quarantine from my other bird. I've NEVER bought a bird at a pet store, never even considered it....but this little guy was so obviously in need and I couldn't pass by him. I do beileve the band causes problems for him, it isn't a closed band, but the terrible crimp-on kind, and I think the edges are rubbing him. He picks at it, and I don't want him to transfer the picking to his already bad leg!

My main concern is the possibility of a lasting effect from the ordeal of cutting the thing off! I consider this little guy to be abused by being in the chain store, so I don't want to further the trauma! But I'm thinking that it's more important to get the band off to prevent picking.

A crimp on band!!! Horrible!! The only real reason for those was when we used to import birds from other countries, a practice that is now banned. By all means, get that thing off, it probably is bothering him. He will heal from the trauma of it being removed, but keep the pieces and photograph him with it on. Have the vet document why it was removed, just in case there is any problems in the future.

Report the store, please. That doesn't sound good at all...

I'm a new soon to be cockatiel owner with very little knowledge except what I'm learning on this board, so all I can do is wish you the very best for your poor little rescued tiel! The band on its leg sounds awful and I would imagine that it might be best to take it off so the bird can feel more comfortable and focus on other things instead of being bothered by that all the time.

I am trying to do some research to find out why a bird sold as a pet would even have a band on its leg. All I have found is some info about putting the age and breeder info on this band. The cockatiel we are getting does not have a band on its leg. Should all birds have some type of band on their legs? Is there different laws in different states? I was curious particularly because of the last comment about keeping the pieces of the band incase there were problems in the future. I don't think I would want a band put on our little cockatiel's leg.

I am trying to do some research to find out why a bird sold as a pet would even have a band on its leg. All I have found is some info about putting the age and breeder info on this band. The cockatiel we are getting does not have a band on its leg. Should all birds have some type of band on their legs? Is there different laws in different states? I was curious particularly because of the last comment about keeping the pieces of the band incase there were problems in the future. I don't think I would want a band put on our little cockatiel's leg.

Leg bands are used for identification purposes. With the normal, slip on bands, chicks are banded when still in the nest. It will contain an identification number, breeder code (sometimes traceable), and hatch date. Some states require that certain types of birds be banded. If a banded bird escapes and is recovered, then knowing the identification number will help them know that the bird is yours.

Many breeders will band their birds with traceable bands that way if someone wants information on the genetics or family line it can be found out with some searching. People who show their birds may also have to have closed banded birds, but I'm not sure about that. If someone decides at a later date to breed their bird, they can use breeder information found on bands to help them find an unrelated bird.

Bands, when done correctly rarely bother the bird, kind of like us wearing a loose bracelet. As I said before, my oldest tiel has been wearing his for 20 years with no problems.

Open or split bands were used on imported birds. The information on those would have contained an ID number, place of quarantine, and I believe the year they were imported. Many parrot type birds are able to open these and they can cause problems, but I don't know about the legality of taking them off.

The reason I say to take photos and save the pieces is just in case there are any laws passed about having pet birds banded in their state. I highly doubt that there will ever be any issues with cockatiels, but you never know. This is one of those cover your butt situations.

Also, if they file a report with animal control about the unhealthful (abusive) situation at the store, then photos and a vet's report will be helpful. By banding this paticular bird with an open band, they could be trying to pass off birds as older than they are or fake breeder info. I don't see any profit in this, so I don't understand the reason for this paticular band.

I'll take a couple of photos when I take him in to have the band removed. It is obviously from a mass production bird farm....it's an open band (crimped on), with the following: BBF 2772. How generic! I can't wait to have it removed. Once I hear what the vet has to say about his foot, then I'll be able to report the situation. I don't believe that Tiels need to be banded in WA, so I'm not concerned about a law against it.

In response to the post asking about bands above: All of my previous birds (5 in all) had closed bands (like a solid bracelet), and they never once bothered the birds - even my old English budgie. It is the crimped on band (like a cheap adjustable ring from the gumball machine) that is so bothersome for him.

He is so scared of contact right now...but he is very vocal and loves whistling back and forth with the family! When I change his paper (slide out tray), he thrashes about...and he already had 2 broken tail feathers. It makes me so sad to think about scaring him more by the trip to the vet, but we're going this afternoon!

I know there is great debte about purchasing a bird from these big name pet store. I totally agree...I think that they should NOT be allowed to sell birds and other animals that can be bred in mills. Those stores should stick to fish and reptiles. 99% of the time, I would absolutely say "Do NOT buy from the pet store, find a breeder!" BUT....I have such a soft heart for "special needs" (my son has many special needs), and that is the only reason for my decision to RESCUE this little guy. So, if you are wanting to have a little Tiel or ANY other bird (even a budgie), PLEASE PLEASE buy from a reputable breeder!

Vet asap. Get it all over with now so you can enjoy a better life with him later.

That said, I wouldn't have purchased the bird a all. As a former pet store manager, I assure you they'll just bring in another bird to replace that one. It wasn't a "rescue" if the store profited from it. You essentially let them know someone somewhere will buy their pets no matter how badly they are cared for. I'm happy the bird is now in a loving home, but now another bird will fill his shoes.

Also, birds can be handfed and still be little urinate ants. That happens when they're in a scary environment (pet store) and nobody handles them anymore. A bird can become quite untame in a short period of time, particularly when it is young, without regular, daily handling.

Well said Susan . Great reply.

In New York it is illegal to sell a bird in a pet store without a band. I imagine other states have similar laws

Yogi

I respect your thinking on the store situation, Susan...but there are already 100 birds ready to fill his shoes, so my bringing him home doesn't change that.

I can't change the lives of any of those other poor birds, but I CAN change the life of this one little guy.

You won't find me trying to "save" every bird in the bin, but just this once it feels great to know that one crippled bird from a pet store won't be spending months in a plexiglass cage only to go home to some kid who doesn't know how to care for him.

I see a lot of posts like this even though i dont buy birds from a pet store I know where you're coming from . I like Susan's answer and I also like yours. I always want to ask this question----Did you pay full price for this poor bird that may end up costing you at least an arm? None of my business ,I know, but I'm curiousto know if they at least discount these birds.----Yogi

I had a "rescue' tiel with a band on his leg that was bothering him greatly. I had the vet remove it as well.
Have the vet take the band off but keep the band or at least write the numbers down somewhere so you have the "record". Linus was biting and scremaing at the band. I do not know what some of these bands are made of. it could be nickle which as in humans is very irritating. (just a guess)
Keep us updated...

Yes, Yogi - I paid full price for him ($140). I was not after a bargain, only trying to get this little guy out of there. I didn't even ask about a discount.

We ended up needing to reschedule the vet appointment, so we'll be going in on Sat morning. I'll have pics then. The more I think about that raw metal edge on his bad leg, the madder I get. I'm sure he would have eventually resorted to picking desperately at his own leg, and once that happened he would be history.

seattle2 wrote:... I can't change the lives of any of those other poor birds, but I CAN change the life of this one little guy...

We've all been there! I paid $600 for a plucked bird in a bad situation. Best bargain in my life! I hope all goes well with your new baby.