Budgie leg band

[Budgie Boo]

Just wanted to ask for general advice about my budgies leg band or info ring.

Boo is a male budgie now two years old and has had a leg ring or band put on by the breeder since he was born. Some people have said to me that the band should be removed for safety concerns as Boo is out of his cage quite a lot, and like a ring on our hands could get caught on something. So I was interesting to ask what other budgie owners think.

I have asked a vet if they can be removed and was told that depending on what the ring was made from we might have to leave him with them, and also they said they may have to use a Dremel tool to have it removed.
This has made me wonder if this is a good idea or not as I don’t want to leave him and the use of a Dremel on a ring that close to a budgie leg worries me.
What do experienced budgie owners or breeders here think.
I thank you for any advice .

[Loz]

I've asked my vet about this issue, previously, as I worry about this same thing.
If the band is metal, my vet said she would need to put the budgie under in order to remove it. If the band is fibre, she would attempt removal without anaesthetic. She gave me the impression that it is almost always an unnecessary procedure, unless the band is too large for the leg & represents a definite hazard.

Others may provide more helpful advice!

[Budgie Boo]

Thanks for your answer I certainly don’t won’t the risk of putting Boo under anaesthetic. From what I understand from the breeder they use a soft alloy . I guess I’ll see what the vet says tomorrow.

[blueelephant]

It's very bizarre that leg bands are so hard to remove? I've put on and removed numerous metal leg bands from wild birds, and never under anesthetic. Maybe they are different rings? I've never examined the ones my boys have closely. Will have to have a closer look!

[skysmum]

They are quite soft tbh, ive removed them with the help of OH holding the bird, i used some tiny sharp snips, a cut each side and its off but only if your confidant enough and have someone to help.
The vet should be able to do this without any trouble with a nurse holding him in a little towel, absolutely no need for anaesthetic.

[Loz]

Feb 6, 2023 13:46:32 GMT skysmum said:

They are quite soft tbh, ive removed them with the help of OH holding the bird, i used some tiny sharp snips, a cut each side and its off but only if your confidant enough and have someone to help.
The vet should be able to do this without any trouble with a nurse holding him in a little towel, absolutely no need for anaesthetic.

I don't doubt you are right, not for a moment. My vet is not an avian and I think she just wants to spare herself potential difficulties. If there were two of me, I'd be snipping off the bands in no time at all.

However, if you're not confident & careful, untold harm could come to your birdies from a botched attempt.

[tweetiepiesmom]

My Tweetie Pie had a leg band which my avian vet recommended I remove for the safety concerns you mentioned. She said she has treated pet birds who got the leg band caught on something in the cage, struggled and was injured. I did have it removed and she used what looked like cuticle clippers and easily snipped it off.

The argument for keeping the leg band is that it can be used as id in case your budgie gets out. For that to work someone has to find your bird, be able to hold him while reading the band and then post it on a 'lost and found' site. I didn't think all of that was very likely so I had his band removed.

[Budgie Boo]

Thanks to all who have made comments. Ive decided to cancel the appointment with the vet, it worried me too much with having to put Boo through the stress of it all. He's had this band on now for nearly two years without a problem, ill keep a check on it but there is a nice gap between it and his foot . I also contacted the breeder we bought Boo from and he said he's never come across a problem with them.
I think that it was the uncertainty of the vet that put me off from having the band removed.along with the idea of leaving him and Dremel's etc

[Hezz]

Feb 6, 2023 13:46:32 GMT skysmum said:

They are quite soft tbh, ive removed them with the help of OH holding the bird, i used some tiny sharp snips, a cut each side and its off but only if your confidant enough and have someone to help.
The vet should be able to do this without any trouble with a nurse holding him in a little towel, absolutely no need for anaesthetic.

I agree entirely with skysmum’s summation. Also the softness of the band can be cause for concern itself as they can be crushed and cause damage to the leg, they can slip if not fitted properly in the first place and they can cause rub points on the birds’ legs.

If you are going to keep them on be sure to check the leg that it is around on a regular basis. It doesn’t take long for a situation to turn from bad to worse.