Proof of ownership

[EngTeach]

I just brought into my family a baby G2. He is not banded (breeder does not like bands). I took Chaucer to my avian vet for a well-bird check up yesterday and asked about placing a microchip in him. The vet suggested I NOT chip Chaucer because the chip is large, the needle is large, and it would have to be placed along side is breast bone. He said chipping should only be done on much larger birds, that Goffins where just too small. So here is my question, if by some terrible chance Chaucer was stolen or escaped, and was recovered by police or citizen, how could I positively identify for THEM that he is mine. My Poodles and Chihuahua have a small tattoo in their ear, can a bird be tattooed? Open bands seem to have a bad rep, so that might not be the way to go. I'm open for suggestions....thanks

[Irish]

From the website of a Hyacinth breeder we're considering purchasing from:

"We offer GeneMatch Registry instead of microchipping, if desired"

Googling for it gives quite a few hits--looks like it's a DNA registry to determine paternity, and is often used with dog breeds in the stud books. Apparently you can do it with a bird, too....

You might find this link helpful: http://www.midwestexotichospital.com...are_bird4.html
Apparently it can be done through Zoogen, which is the lab we had our birds DNA sexed through.

Quote from that link: " In addition to the DNA sexing, you also have the option of joining the GeneMatch Registry through the Zoogen Laboratory for an additional fee at the time the blood is sent in. This means that the blood is stored permanently in two locations under carefully controlled conditions so that it can be used in the event that the DNA is ever needed for a DNA “fingerprint”. The DNA fingerprint can be used to confirm the identity of the bird if it is lost or stolen and then recovered. "

Hope that helps

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by Irish

From the website of a Hyacinth breeder we're considering purchasing from:

"We offer GeneMatch Registry instead of microchipping, if desired"

Googling for it gives quite a few hits--looks like it's a DNA registry to determine paternity, and is often used with dog breeds in the stud books. Apparently you can do it with a bird, too....

You might find this link helpful: http://www.midwestexotichospital.com...are_bird4.html
Apparently it can be done through Zoogen, which is the lab we had our birds DNA sexed through.

Quote from that link: " In addition to the DNA sexing, you also have the option of joining the GeneMatch Registry through the Zoogen Laboratory for an additional fee at the time the blood is sent in. This means that the blood is stored permanently in two locations under carefully controlled conditions so that it can be used in the event that the DNA is ever needed for a DNA “fingerprint”. The DNA fingerprint can be used to confirm the identity of the bird if it is lost or stolen and then recovered. "

Hope that helps

wow...really? good idea....


ENG teach...My vet suggested doing my guys in addition to the band. Bands can be removed. Tho, not easy...they can be.
Emma is Tiny..354 grams....so I'm not sure how to answer that.
I was more conserned with the chip being relitivly new, and causing a problem down the road. Everything in the bird world changes so quickly, that something that is good today is bad tomorrow. that is why I havnt done it yet. guess I'm waiting for more time to pass to see if there are problems that arise.

[EngTeach]

The GeneMatching sounds interesting, I'll have to check it out. But I'm wanting something that will prove ownership faster. I would have to wait several weeks for DNA results to prove ownership. In the mean time my bird might not be receiving the best care. I googled "bird tattooing" and did't really find anything. I'm dropping my dogs off for boarding friday at my vets (canine vet) and I'll ask him if he's heard of tattooing birds. He has a U2 and CAG so he might know. What is your opinion of open bands? I know that any band can be removed, but at least if Chaucer got away some honest person might actually return him.

By the way Lisa B....I'm not one for trying new things either. Have you seen those chips? They are huge when you concider the size of a G2. At Chaucer vet visit yesterday, he only weighed in at 270 grams; he's only 20 weeks of age. So I would have to wait until he's fully grown before doing a chiop anyway.

[EngTeach]

Found information on bird tattooing at http://www.wingedwisdom.com/ww22e.htm

"By the way, tattoos do not work as an individual marking system for birds. Because of their skin construction, numbers and letters become illegible in a short time. (Tattooing for sex identification consists of a large blob of ink in the right wing web for males and in the left wing web for females.) Keep a record of the complete ID code (include the organization that issued the device).

[Irish]

Well, I'll have Bob and Arthur chipped soon--doc says they should be at least a year old, first. But then, they're big macaws, so the size of the chip shouldn't be as big an issue. Since Arthur isn't banded, he needs some form of ID, for sure. If a DNA service or a microchip aren't what you're looking for, I don't know what else to suggest. Unlike dogs, which are commonly tattooed, especially purebreds, I don't think it's very common for birds to be tatt'ed, so I'm not sure that even the most honest person or the average vet would think to even look for one on a bird.

Whatever you choose, though, please let us know. I'm sure it would be a good service to all people whose birds are unbanded or too small to 'chip. Good luck finding something that works for you :-).

[Mlewis]

I can't offer much advice about chipping birds, but my vet said he wouldn't chip anything smaller than a conure. My other vet said he didn't want to put a microchip in my toy chihuahua until he was "put under" for his neuter because the needle was so big and uncomfortable. Makes me wonder if doing it even to big birds is painless...

[featherduster]

I read this somewhere on the net years ago.
I use this method myself.
If you collect a freshly molted feather and save it in a baggie. I date and state which bird the feather came from on the outside of the baggie. then store them in the fridge. That is proof right there the bird is yours. There is enough DNA in the tip of that feather to prove it. You must refresh that feather every 3 months or so.

I also am not sure of the micro-chips and like said above the legs bands can be removed.

I have heard of underwing tattoo's. I think those are for just determining sex though, right?

[poi_lover]

I asked my AV if my Meyer's was big enough to be chipped. He said it would be no problem and shouldn't bother her at all. She is only 105 grams.

[Lisa B]

yes.underwing tattooing was done to determine sex.some oldtime vets will check for it. my tag had a bad blood draw under his wing that left him to appear as if he was tattooed.
old time vets also used to draw blood from under the wing....this was in the early nineties.
it was thought that after the bood was drawn,and the massive clot was formed,he would have to have his wing amputated. it never happened.he was ok.