why does my cockatiel attack his leg band.

[cockatiel92]

he randomly just starts to attack his leg band its weird anyone elses bird do it.

[KimM]

They can be uncomfortable or annoying. It's a foreign object on his little body that he may not like. Hopefullly its not too tight or rubbing and hurting his leg.

Honestly, my suggestion is get it taken off by your AV, unless there is some reason you need to have it on. It's my personal opinion, but I don't like to put anything "foreign" on any of my animals that they have to wear all the time. My dogs do not wear collars in the home, my horse wears no halter, etc in the field, my birds wear no bands, etc.
Of course if we are going out, the all have their appropriate "gear" on for safety.

[Ginnyk]

Roxie doesnt have a leg band but Piper does. When he was younger and we first got them he fussed with it quite a bit. Now he only chews on it once in while.
However Roxie sometimes attacks her foot (as if there was a band there) and play fights. Now he play fights with me.
That is if Im thinking your Petrie is doing the same thing. Id say its normal. Someday I plan on having his band removed, as I dont agree with them either. And Grays too since he has one.
Do you have a video?

[cockatiel92]

no no video yet lol. ill make one the next time i spot him but he is a little camera shy lol. hmm i wonder if they make leg bands that are like colars u can put them on the leg and take it off when u want. the band is not tight becuase it moves freely rlly well, and its not hurting his leg, maybe he just likes to play with it.

[hollyhawkz]

We had Wawa's leg band removed from our avian vet. He didn't like his either.

[Jannabellsmom]

Sometimes I think Jannabell is itchy underneath it and trying to itch. I asked my avian vet to remove it but she said the risk of breaking her leg was too great trying to remove it.

[Halo]

My male Goffin does it all of the time... he's constantly chewing on it. I think it's because it's one of those open bands that was put on him when it became illegal to import birdies.

[hollyhawkz]

Sorry Jannabell's Mom, but that is an odd response from a AV....

AV's have a special tool/machine that removes bands carefully. It's like a can opener, or a better comparison, like a cast remover. The foot/leg is stable, and there is no risk of cutting the skin or breaking a bone. I sat right there and watched.

My guess would be your AV doesn't own one, and then yes.... that would be greatly dangerous.

Our AV encourages it for many reasons (as long as she knows you're careful with flight risk).

If you really want it off, find a vet that offers that sevice, and uses the right tool for safety.