6 Facts about Pigeon Leg Rings You May Want to Know
A pigeon leg ring is otherwise known as a pigeon band. Racing pigeon breeders place a band on a pigeon when they’re young. It comes in a small metal or plastic strips and remains on a pigeon’s leg forever to indicate its owner. The band helps a lost and injured pigeon return home to its owner.
Table of Contents
Fast Facts About Pigeon Leg Rings
1. Parent Organization
The letters in the first set of a pigeon leg ring comprise the name of the organization the animal belongs to. The pigeon’s organization can only track the animal it owns. The first set of letters on a pigeon leg ring is the key to locating and identifying a lost pigeon. Remember to keep the first set of notes on a pigeon leg ring always in mind. If you forget them, you may not locate your pigeon when it gets lost or accidentally gets injured.
2. Local Club
The parent organization administers the operation of a local club. All unique letters on the pigeon leg ring are symbols of a local club. The club name is generally on the third section of the pigeon leg ring. The organization keeps a list of all the registered clubs with the group. The terms of the clubs from each organization are on the parent organization’s website.
3. Serial Number
Every pigeon gets a serial number belonging to a local club. A certain number is tagged to a couple of birds that comprise a group and is the source for obtaining a means of making identification on a specific pigeon. The serial number usually contains four numerals. However, based on the parent organization, they can either be longer or shorter.
4. Birth Year
The two digits placed in the second or fourth place are the year the pigeon was hatched. The number and the serial number can be in the same place. It’s easy to make the differentiation. The birth year is always in a two-digit format. Meanwhile, the serial number is always longer in length.
5. The Only Exceptions
There are pigeon owners who are not in any affiliation with clubs. The bands of the pigeons that belong to these owners bear the owner’s name and contact data. Examples of contact details are a phone number, a residential address, and an email address. Sometimes, owners put the bands on the pigeons in addition to putting on the club bands. Owners do this to make the lost pigeons easier to return home to them if there are people who find the animals upon getting lost.
6. Potential Problems that Leg Bands Cause
Leg bands can sometimes cause leg injuries. The bands can get tangled up in cage parts or toys. The situations can lead to the birds getting breaks, cuts, dislocations, or sprains upon getting tangled. At times, leg bands that are too small cause the legs to acquire blood flow constriction. When the legs get blood flow constriction, smaller birds can accumulate dead skin between the legs and the bands. The bands, then, become too tight. If the feet are injured and are swollen, the leg bands cause blood flow restriction to the feet. When the blood circulation becomes seriously constricted, hospitalization of the animals may be necessary. At times, medical experts may perform a surgical amputation of the feet. Owners have to be extra cautious so as to not accidentally let the leg bands injure their pigeons.
The leg bands are the only accessories that symbolize the identification of pigeons. They’re among the pigeon supplies that every owner must-have. The bands help the owner keep track of their animals. They also make it easier for other people to return a lost pigeon back to its rightful owner. Despite being essential, leg bands can cause injuries to pigeons when not used or placed properly. Pigeon owners must take extra care of their animals regularly checking on the condition of the leg bands.
