Microchipping
- Thread starter Natasha
- Start date
Microchipping gives you are far better chance of being reunited with your bird if you become separated. Vets, rescues, the RSPCA, etc routinely scan for 'chips when a bird comes in and they can quickly identify a keeper from the registered details. Leg rings are hit and miss by comparison. Ultimately, they depend on the keeper calling them and knowing what the ring number is.
The chip is like a grain of rice, but the needle, relative to the body size, is large and it has to be inserted deep into the chest/flight muscle to ensure that the chip does not move once implanted. The skin is normally closed using medical grade cynoacrylate (superglue). The procedure takes less than 5 mins.
Jardine Jessie is 'chipped. At 250g, the risks of the procedure were relatively small. I put it off for too long but she handled it just fine. I did limit Jessie's activity for 24 hours - a bird's chest muscles are used for breathing so it was likely to be sore for a while. Anything on top of that (e.g. flight) is worth restricting to help the healing process, but within 24 hours it was as if nothing had happened and Jessie suffered no ill effects.
Many vets will implant microchips because in the long run, it makes the process of locating the keeper a quicker, more efficient and less costly process. For this reason, the procedure is normally inexpensive. Talk to your avian vet about it and they will advise about the risks and suitability.
The chip is like a grain of rice, but the needle, relative to the body size, is large and it has to be inserted deep into the chest/flight muscle to ensure that the chip does not move once implanted. The skin is normally closed using medical grade cynoacrylate (superglue). The procedure takes less than 5 mins.
Jardine Jessie is 'chipped. At 250g, the risks of the procedure were relatively small. I put it off for too long but she handled it just fine. I did limit Jessie's activity for 24 hours - a bird's chest muscles are used for breathing so it was likely to be sore for a while. Anything on top of that (e.g. flight) is worth restricting to help the healing process, but within 24 hours it was as if nothing had happened and Jessie suffered no ill effects.
Many vets will implant microchips because in the long run, it makes the process of locating the keeper a quicker, more efficient and less costly process. For this reason, the procedure is normally inexpensive. Talk to your avian vet about it and they will advise about the risks and suitability.
Natasha
Regular Member
Thank you so much! This was really informative x
MJGB - MikeJenGaryBeckyBoo
Regular Member
Hi, both of our macaws were chipped before we got them, and they both had closed rings on their legs. Bebe's ring is blank, so we think it may just have been to identify her as female early on. Gary's did have breeder info on it, but he's got a gob like a vice and he crushed it onto his leg when he was still an inquisitive baby 
. We got the vet to cut it off.
. We got the vet to cut it off.
Eclectus Frankie didn't have a ring, so we got him chipped quite quickly. I'd considered getting Jardine Jessie's ring removed shortly after we got her as it appeared to be causing some irritation. Under advice by the vet, it was monitored closely but soon settled down. Jessie still has the ring as well as the 'chip.
Is this for your BFA? Over 400g in that case, so there will be plenty of muscle for the vet to implant the 'chip.
Of course there's another side to this too. If your bird is stolen, or found and not reported, the first time that it is scanned, there will be a better chance of identifying the rightful keeper.
Is this for your BFA? Over 400g in that case, so there will be plenty of muscle for the vet to implant the 'chip.
Of course there's another side to this too. If your bird is stolen, or found and not reported, the first time that it is scanned, there will be a better chance of identifying the rightful keeper.
Natasha
Regular Member
It will be for her when I get her yeah
do you have a rough idea of the cost?
There will be the cost for the implantation. As I said before, this is not normally expensive as they want to encourage us to do it. Probably £20-30. You then have to register the chip on the IdentiBase website and there are a few price points for that with various benefits for each level. I think that the maximum is £21/22 - it is a one-off payment, no repeat fees.
I'd say too small, but it is worth speaking to an avian vet and getting their advice.
You revive or create new threads as much as you like
I would ask the vet, ok so microchips are dinky as a train of rice but birds skin is exceptionally thin. I have my African Grey's and Amazon's chipped. You could get a split ring engraved (what you would engrave on it that wouldn't need updating is something to puzzle about) and get it attached by the vet (different bird species have different ring size requirements) but better to ask the vet as JackAndRob said.
I would ask the vet, ok so microchips are dinky as a train of rice but birds skin is exceptionally thin. I have my African Grey's and Amazon's chipped. You could get a split ring engraved (what you would engrave on it that wouldn't need updating is something to puzzle about) and get it attached by the vet (different bird species have different ring size requirements) but better to ask the vet as JackAndRob said.
The 'chip is tiny, but the needle used to insert it would be huge to a small bird. That needle has to be pushed deep into the bird's chest muscles then the skin is normally resealed with medical grade cyanoacrylate - superglue.
Cyno' was developed for medical purposes, and primarily for human head wounds where the skin is very thin and stitches can easily tear, so its use should not be a cause for concern. Jardine Jessie (250g at the time) was 'chipped, but she handled it really well and acted as if nothing had happened once she was home. I did confine her to her cage for 24 hours though, to allow her wounds to heal a little.
Cyno' was developed for medical purposes, and primarily for human head wounds where the skin is very thin and stitches can easily tear, so its use should not be a cause for concern. Jardine Jessie (250g at the time) was 'chipped, but she handled it really well and acted as if nothing had happened once she was home. I did confine her to her cage for 24 hours though, to allow her wounds to heal a little.
Michael Reynolds
Regular Member
i have never had a kakariki microchipped along with the budgies, they are a very active bird with a fast heart rate, knowing there nature i think it would loose any trust in humans if they are chipped with out antithetic and i would think your bird would be at higher risk as JackAndRob said seek the advice of your avian vet