Leg bands and quarantine rings are often applied to the legs of caged birds for regulatory purposes or to help breeders to identify individual birds. Once the bird is sold the band or ring is usually unnecessary and should be removed. Most limb injuries (broken or sprained legs etc.) in caged birds involve a banded leg. Some of these injuries result in amputated toes and put the entire leg at risk. Talk to the veterinarian about weighing the risks of injury against the need to keep the band. A few owners traversing international waters or boundaries with their birds may need to keep them on the bird. A bird owner should not attempt band removal. Only an experienced veterinarian or veterinary technician equipped with a band remover should perform this procedure. Removed bands can be taped into the bird’s record or returned to the owner if they want to keep them.
