To Microchip or Not?

As most have been aware the idea of micro chipping dogs, cattle, cats, even humans has been introduced for various reasons to track lost animals, track decease, study them and etc

I have been reading some thing about micro chipping their seems to be some benefits to the whole idea as any and curious other bird board members think about the whole concept as it applies to birds.

I don't want this to turn into a raging debate but would like to hear your thoughts on it in a open forum like birdboard. By the way 1st day here and I love it!

[RMSacha]

I have heard pros and cons...the two biggest cons I know of are:

Different chips use different readers--they are not universal.

In the case of parrots, some of them try to pick the chip out and mutilate themselves in the process.

Bob

[kimtoo]

I have 3 of my birds micro-chipped and plan to chip the others. It is the best hope you have of getting your bird back should they be stolen, escape, get lost...different readers/chips have been an issue in the past though I think that is more universal now. I could be wrong about that ...I have also heard that some birds are irritated by the chip though that has not been the case with my IRN, CAG, or B&G .

Having been on the finding end of a lost parrot more than once, I wish that the birds had been chipped so I could have gotten them home . If I am ever on the losing end, I hope the chips my birds carry will get them home.

[felisdomesticus]

I hope to chip my guys.

[Irish]

My AV says she's never heard of a bird actually being returned because of a microchip, and she's been in the biz for 20 or 30 years. That said, I'm still having my birds 'chipped. They're valuable, and even though you can't do much if someone doesn't take a lost bird in and have it scanned, it's at least one more thing you can add to your arsenal should your bird be lost or stolen and an honest person finds it. For me, it's better safe than sorry, ya know?

[kimtoo]

I have taken both of the birds I found to be scanned--if they had chips, they would have made it back to their original owners....I know a lot of people seem to think a found bird is "finders - keepers" but I believe in karma

better safe than sorry!

[kateBird]

ive had my amazon microchipped. he hasnt reacted to it at all. and i also think its one step closer to being able to find your lost pet if the unthinkable happens ***knocks on wood that it doesnt***.

but, there is another thing to microchipping...ive heard that it is not advisable (or not possible) to microchip the smaller species of birds. for example, i was told that my green cheeks were too small to have them microchipped. anyone else heard about this?

[Kevin]

I am sure in time animals will be chipped for various reasons. Lost being the most logical but also to curb the spread of very dangerous deceases in the future if a vet were to catch it while an examination and add an entry to the microchip. Justs just my 2 cents on the technology that will eventually end up. I mean heck its been applied in some countrys for high ranking people in govt, business and etc where info is that fragile. ID carrys persons info, data, cc info, medical records and etc ...

The technology is awesome but has its fair share arquements when applied to humans.

[little_angels]

well i did get marley and tango microchipped as they dont even have leg bands to identify them with... im sure lisa b will jump in here lol i didnt get zup chipped due to her advice and becasue he does have a leg band..i know its not foulproof but its better than nothing

[FeatherLover]

Togo is microchipped. She's never picked at it. I felt more comfortable removing her leg band knowing that she has SOME form of identification.

RJ is too small to microchip. If there was a chip small enough, I would definitely do it though.