Things You'll Need
- Closed band of the appropriate size and material for the species being banded
- Petroleum jelly
- Blunted toothpick
- Baby parrot that is 10 to 15 days old
Instructions
Make sure the baby parrot's crop is empty, since manipulating a baby bird with food in its crop could cause aspiration.
Gently pick up the baby parrot and hold it in one hand, making sure the feet are accessible. Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the bird's foot.
Hold the front two toes and longer back toe of one foot closely together and extended, using the same hand that is holding the parrot. Use your other hand to slip the band over the three toes you are holding in place.
Push the shorter back toe of the bird against its leg, then slide the band over the toe and onto the leg. Often the toenail of the short back toe will catch on the band. If this happens, you can gently work it free using a blunted toothpick.
Check to be sure the band is on the bird's leg and the toes are free and uninjured. It should appear that the bird is wearing an ankle bracelet.