Tagging Of Proginy

[grumblebum]

Is there a standard perceived protocol for tagging birds and their proginy? Until now have never worried about tagging, as we had our 2 breeding pairs( swapping i dont know) all in the one aviary. Now that am starting to try selective breeding I wish to keep records of their breeding habits, so have now ringed my 4 breeders + 1 recently purchased. I have simply given 5 said birds different colour ring each, but wondering how to follow up with tagging of their offspring. Only the birds that I intend to keep for breeding would be tagged. Have made up charts  with descriptions etc which will suffice  for time being. Interested to hear what various methods others use. Thank you!

[Hezz]

You might be better off going to the Budgie Society with that question. I don't think we have anyone who breeds on a large scale, or selectively.

[grumblebum]

so no one here ever changes their breeders around? I thought i saw pointers on breeding charts and just wondered apart from charts how people denote which chicks come from which pairing is all. No I am not breeding on a large scale, as a pensioner is no way can afford it for a start. I love my birds, and the ones I offload merely pay for the upkeep of what is left. Hopefully someone is able to tell me how they track their birds proginy, it would be greatly appreciated.

[starlingqueen]

We don't have many breeders on here any more. And not any who post regularly.

[nev90]

Most breeders (including me) use closed leg rings that are put on when the chicks are about seven to nine days old. The rings have the breeder's initials, an individual number and the year the bird was born on them, they can also be coloured to make it easier to tell the birth year. Rings are available through bird clubs or you can buy them direct from the manufacturers. I live in New Zealand and buy my rings by mail order from A C HUGHES LTD in England. This works out cheaper than buying them locally!
For keeping records there are several computer programmes designed for birds that work very well and are much easier than paper based methods. Good record keeping is essential if you are serious about breeding.

[grumblebum]

Thank you Nev90 much appreciated... as a starter i used plastic split rings(colour only no Nos. or letters) They were A$27.95 for 50 landed here from Queensland or NSW (cant remember). Exact same type was A$13.95 for 10 in local pet shop.
Checked out AC Hughes but with shipping costs, is still cheaper to get from my Australian supplier. 10 plain split from UK
is approx A$10.50 landed.