Bird Care

MICROCHIPPING YOUR BIRD

A friend of mine owned this wonderful pet store in Beaverton, Oregon. Many of her exotic birds were there including her Major Mitchell’s cockatoo, Major. One day when the store was very busy this couple came in and stole Major. Alerts went out to various pet stores around the country and because Major Mitchell’s are not a common species that is usually kept in the United States, when the couple tried to sell him in another state they were caught and Major was recovered.

 This story could have had a sad ending where the bird was never recovered. Unfortunately this is usually the case. However it doesn’t have to be. As soon as Major was recovered he was microchipped along with her other birds. Microchipped birds stand a much better chance of being reunited with their rightful owners than those that are not.

 Bird theft is on the rise in the United States. Along with theft many birds escape because owners thought their wings were clipped and didn’t realize they grew back out.  

There are many ways to identify your birds but most can be tampered with. Leg bands can be removed. Tattoos can be alerted. DNA fingerprinting is now available, but it can be expensive. So what is the best answer?

 Microchipping your bird is the only permanent way to prove that the bird is yours unless there is something unusual about your bird. It could be words that your bird knows or perhaps a unique trick, but in most cases there is nothing unusual about the bird. But with a microchip you can prove the bird is yours.

 Microchipping has been available for many years now. Animals from dogs, cats and birds are microchipped daily. Microchipping of zoo animals is a common practice.

 So how does microchipping work? The microchip which technically is really a transponder is around the size of a grain of rice. These chips are encased in an inert material, which is glass so the bird or other animal does not react to it. The chip itself has no moving parts or power supply. At one end is a copper wire that acts like an antenna. Depending on the system used, the chip contains between a 10-13 digit alphanumeric code that is unique for that individual chip. No other chip will contain this special code. Further more, this code cannot be changed or tampered with.  

Before the chip is loaded into a special syringe, whose needle is around the size of an Amazon’s or African Grey’s nail, the vet will pass the reader over it to make sure that the chip is working. This reader emits a low frequency radio wave which activates the chip so the number appears. This number is then recorded. The chip has an average life of around 25+ years, but owners of birds that are long lived don’t have to worry. Because there are no moving parts the chips will last a lot longer. Once the vet is sure the chip is working the bird is then restrained.

 Most vets will ice the area where the chip is to be inserted. It is just like giving them a shot but with a larger gauge needle. The icing minimizes bruising and any bleeding that may occur. It also reduces swelling, though this usually does not happen. The chip is then injected into the breast muscle of the bird. The vet may ice again before passing the reader over one more time to assure the chip is still working.

 The time to do this is usually only a few seconds.

 The microchip, once in place does not move. Early chips did have some problems with migration but today’s chips are treated in such a way that scar tissue is encouraged to form around it, thus anchoring them into place.

 It does not bother the bird, nor can it be felt, and it does not pass from the body. It can’t be removed without harming the bird. It can not break and it doesn’t have any toxins that can make your bird ill. Even birds that are feather pluckers do not have a problem with being microchipped. Nobody, but you and your vet knows its there.

Microchipping is safe when done by an experienced vet who is used to microchipping birds.

 There are two main companies that produce the microchips and supply the readers. These are AVID and HomeAgain. The most common scanners used in pet birds are from AVID. This unique number is sent to AVID where, for a one time fee, they store it on a data base. You will need to keep this information updated. There are usually special rates for people with multiple pet birds or breeders.

If your bird can handle an injection they won’t have any problems with microchipping.

 Not all birds can be microchipped however. Birds that are the size of a budgie or a cockatiel are usually considered too small. Normally birds that are less than 100 grams can’t be microchipped. There are some vets who will surgically implant chips in smaller birds but this is not usually the case.

 Most avian veterinarians prefer the bird be a certain age before they will implant them, but this also varies from vet to vet. 

It is inexpensive, though prices may vary from vet to vet. Some bird clubs will also offer microchipping at special events and this is usually even cheaper.

 Is it worth it? Definitely! Many birds have been reunited with their owners because of these microchips. So do you and your bird a favor, get them chipped.  

All of my birds have been microchipped and I feel safer for it.