Microchipping Question

[Elizabeth]

I had BooBoo's band removed as it was way too big and the vet suggested microchipping. I questioned her size and was told that it would be a problem. Well, she is favoring her left foot (chip was placed on the left side) and I can feel a little bump. I called the vet Friday afternoon as this was done on Friday morn and she stated that she expected this as she was so small and that if its not better by Tuesday to call her. Is the favoring of the leg normal? Has anyone had any experiences with chipping their little fids? I am kicking myself for chipping her and was going to do the rest of my flock but I don't think so now. Any experiences, thoughts.

[Lynjupiter]

No experence but my hubby and I have thrown around microchipping our conures. Sometimes my club will buy a bulk of chips and sell them to them members at cost, the local avian vet then chips the birds of the club for a bargain rate of ten dollars.

My thoughts were they were to small and I was afraid they might experince to much pain. After reading your post I am glad we have not done it. Please let us know how BooBoo does. I hope she is ok.

Lynda

[danforth3]

My research indicates that there should be no itching or favoring where the chip is placed. My research also suggests that microchipping small birds is not recommended due to their small size. If she is still favoring the leg, I would take her to the vet. It sounds like the chip may not properly placed.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by danforth3

My research indicates that there should be no itching or favoring where the chip is placed. My research also suggests that microchipping small birds is not recommended due to their small size. If she is still favoring the leg, I would take her to the vet. It sounds like the chip may not properly placed.

I have called the vet and she states that she should have explained further to me that she expected her to be uncomfortable for about 4 to 5 days do to her size. She stated that she chipped Goulian Finches and they did fine as well. I believe she is on the up and up, I just hate to see BooBoo uncomfortable. She stated that chipping is like a tenus shot as it is placed in the muscular something, I forget right now. I read that the chip can only be removed surgerically and I don't want to put BooBoo thru that so I will just have to give it a few more days and see how she does. I personally would not recommend chipping anything small. Thank you all.

[Greymom721]

Most of the research I have done says that microchipping a fid can be stressful as wll as have some"issues" attached. I have read that many who do not want microchipping chose DNA registration as a better alternative.
I hope that BooBoo has none of these "issues" and recovers without any further problems. Please keep us posted on his condition. Wil say a little prayer for you both.

[danforth3]

I agree on not microchipping small birds. I had already decided not to microchip my flock, although my caique and lutino cockatiel still have the bands on their legs. I decided to leave them as they are causing no discomfort.

[birdyland]

I had a sun conure chipped with no ill effects. Where was the chip placed in your bird? I had asked the same question about size to my vet, an avian vet of over 30 years, and he said that he has only had 2 problems out of many many many birds, and those were bigger birds. I too was also told with all three birds, that they may be uncomfortable with it for one day to a week - As I imagine I would be if I had something injected under my skin.

I think it was a very small amount of discomfort to ask from my birds in order to grant the level of protection that they now have. I wouldn't do something to them that I wouldn't do to myself. I thought of it this way, if I had to get this done to me, would I allow someone to inject one of these into my finger under the assumption that after a week it would probably never be noticed again?? My answer was yes.

[Elizabeth]

I went home for lunch today and BooBoo is doing much better. I felt her apply pressure on my finger to hold on and she is really fiesty. I think I am just so nervous doing anything with my fids that I panic when I see them uncomfortable. I think she may be just fine in a few more days. Oh and the chip was placed on the left side of her chest in a muscular something. I don't remember what she called it right now.

[birdyland]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

Oh and the chip was placed on the left side of her chest in a muscular something. I don't remember what she called it right now.

Sounds about right.... just wanted to make sure they didn't put it IN her leg or something.... you never know.

Don't be too worried. IMHO you did the right thing by chipping your bird. I know you posted early in the "does anyone recommend band removal"... it mentions later on in that post the benefit of having a bird chipped because a band can so easily be removed by a thief....

[Willow]

I had Willow, Aspen, Mulberry and Cypress microchipped. Cypress did have a problem and actually removed his chip. I suspect it wasn't properly inserted. (I know this can somtimes happen as have seen it with the many cats, kittens, puppies and dogs done at the shelter where I worked. Very occasionally, as the needle is pulled out, the chip comes out a bit. That's my theory with what happened to Cypress.) He was re-chipped with no issues at all. The cubans are 240 grams, so not that big of a bird, though certainly bigger than a gouldian finch. ;~) I never thought of those little ones being done. Interesting! Anyway, I will definitely be having Maple chipped next time I take him in. I definitely believe in chipping. God forbid the bird were to escape to someone who decided to keep him or her, or be stolen. Hopefully at some point a vet would scan them and they could find their way home.