Tools for Banding Finches

Bird banding is done for a variety of reasons, including sex, age and bloodline identification. Banding is also done by bird breeders to help them identify which birds have come from their aviaries. Bands come in two major classifications: closed metal and open plastic.

  1. Closed Metal

    • There are no tools required for banding a finch with a closed metal band. The band is simply slipped over the front two toes of a chick, usually 9 to 11 days old. During this time the chick's joints are still pliable and the band will slip right over the joint by pulling the toes through. Move the band up the leg and pull the back toe out to complete the banding.

    Open Plastic

    • Split plastic bands usually come with a small metal applicator trough. The tool looks a bit like a tiny scoop. It is very thin on one end and gets progressively wider. The band slides on the end of the trough and when forced down the tool, the band begins to spread. Holding the bird on its back, the band and tool can be placed over the bird's leg. When the tool is slid away, the band closes around the bird's leg.

    Homemade Bands

    • Dr. Geoffrey Hill, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University, published a study entitled "An Inexpensive Source of Colored Leg Bands," in which he describes making homemade leg bands from craft beads. Dr. Hill simply split the plastic beads with a razor and used them in the same fashion as an open plastic leg band.