What Does a HCW Cockatoo Bird Breeder Band Do?

Bird banding is a method of identification that is widely used in the companion bird industry. Bird breeders and sellers of domestic and wild birds are required to use bird bands as a form of identification. The band on a bird tells a great deal of information concerning the bird's origin and breeder. States such as New York require these bands to prevent the illegal importation of wild caught birds.

  1. History of Bird Bands

    • Before it was illegal to import birds into the United States, bird breeders and sellers were not required to secure a form of identification onto birds such as leg bands. Since the ban on importing live and exotic species the law was put into place all companion birds sold in the United States must be born in the United States as well be banded to prove their origin. At the time of publication, a cockatoo with the letters HCW on its leg band means the bird came form Helga's Parrot Hatch in Mission, Texas (www.parrothatch.com).

    Types of Bird Bands

    • The Department of Environmental Conservation accepts two types of leg bands -- seamed and seamless. Seamed leg bands, also called butt-end leg bands, fasten using pliers or a similar device. These bands are temporary as they can be removed and replaced without destroying the integrity of the band. Seamless leg bands are placed on the bird when it is a chick and becomes permanent as the chick grows into the band. Permanent bands cannot be removed without destroying the integrity of the band or harming the bird.

    Drawbacks of Leg Bands

    • Leg bands on companion birds can get caught in toys, on cage parts and other materials. If the bird incurs an illness or injury on the banded leg, the band can cut off circulation if swelling occurs. Some individuals have a veterinarian remove the band and replace it with another form of official identification and documentation. Few successful alternative forms exists, but as of 2011, veterinarians and bird hobbyist find microchipping for medium to large birds easy and effective.

    Microchipping

    • Microchips are a form of identification the size of a grain of rice. One microchip is placed under the skin of the bird; when scanned, the chip will reveal the contact information of the owner. However, microchips for birds under 100 grams such as cockatiels and finches prove ineffective and cause irritation. Additionally, microchips in larger birds such as cockatoos, macaws and greys with lifespans of up to 80 years have a chance of becoming ineffective after 25 years. The benefits of microchips are that the chips are permanent and they have a high rate of returning lost pets.