We have just purchased a 3-month, white-face cockatiel who has a closed band on his/her leg. The band is not loose so there shouldn't be any danger of him/her becoming entangled. The vet told me that if the band were to be removed there was a possibility that his/her leg could be broken in the process. What is your recommendation?
Thanks, Linda Abbott

Linda,

Unless the band is too tight, we recommend leaving it on. There are several really good reasons for banding and only one for not.

We band birds to enable us to know their genetic history, to determine a birds birthdate, but if for no other reason, banding provides you with a means of positively identifying that bird should it escape.

If it should become necessary to remove a band due to an emergency, you need to find another vet, an avian vet, that has a pair of band cutters.