Should I remove her wing band?

[BirdieandFifi]

This is Sparkles, my little splash silkie. Her breeder attached a wing band as a form of ID on her. The breeder said I can either remove it or keep it on her.

I’m not sure if I’m looking at it right but it almost looks like it’s punched through her wing, almost like a piercing. Would you remove it? I don’t want one wing to be deformed from it although silkies don’t fly or use their wings anyways and she comes from a reputable breeder so I’m sure it’s safe to leave it. And you can’t really even see it. What would you do?

Pictures included not of her wing band, just of her because she’s so cute!

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

View attachment 1646328 View attachment 1646329 View attachment 1646330 This is Sparkles, my little splash silkie. Her breeder attached a wing band as a form of ID on her. The breeder said I can either remove it or keep it on her.

I’m not sure if I’m looking at it right but it almost looks like it’s punched through her wing, almost like a piercing. Would you remove it? I don’t want one wing to be deformed from it although silkies don’t fly or use their wings anyways and she comes from a reputable breeder so I’m sure it’s safe to leave it. And you can’t really even see it. What would you do?

Pictures included not of her wing band, just of her because she’s so cute!

Um, pics may help....
I’m not experienced in this, but beautiful silkie

 

[Notaneggspurt]

No need to remove the wing band. They are made so there is room for the chick to grow in to it safely. You'd need cutters/snips to get it off and if you aren't skilled at doing this seriously injury to the silkie or person trying to remove it could happen.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I would say it's a personal choice, I use the tiny zip ties to ID my girls. Don't have experience with wing bands, if you decide to remove it perhaps the breeder will or someone at your feed store would be able to help.

Very pretty Silkie

 

[BirdieandFifi]

Thank you for all the feedback. It’s very hard to get a picture of it because it’s under her fluff and she doesn’t like it when you mess with her wings. I guess that’s another reason I’m nervous to remove it. It almost seemed like it was metal but I might be wrong?!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Look up "wing band for chicks" on the internet ... From what I saw it's a metal clip that goes into their wing Maybe there's different varieties, I don't know. Can you check, is it metal or plastic?

EDITED - Saw your last post, you say it's possible metal. If the breeder lives close, I take a drive & have it removed. Maybe someone at the feed store can or you can try, first you need to see the internet info, then you'll see how it's attached & know you need another set of hands...One to hold the chick & wing out, while the other works to pry open the clip with a long nose plier ... Do NOT pull it off. Once you get it off, clean the area with some Veteriyn & a dab of Neosporin w/out the pain relief.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It almost seemed like it was metal but I might be wrong?!

It probably is metal and it is a piercing (there's a specific spot where they insert it), just like you see cows with ear tags.

I believe they're meant to be left in but if you really want it out I'd contact the breeder and see if they can remove it.

 

[BirdieandFifi]

Thank you. This is more or less what I wanted to know. If leaving it seemed like the right route to go. I know her breeder said I could and I trust her breeder. I’m just paranoid and wanted more reassurance by someone who has experience with wing bands.

 

[BirdieandFifi]

https://goo.gl/images/vE4RLB
Yup, pretty sure this is what it is. Hopefully posting that link is okay.

Looks like it is metal and a piercing. Is this a common thing? She was DNA’d so I assume identifying her is partially why she has a wing band but do other show line birds have this done?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Looks like it is metal and a piercing. Is this a common thing? She was DNA’d so I assume identifying her is partially why she has a wing band but do other show line birds have this done?

It's done as a (mostly) permanent form of ID. Unlike leg bands which can snag or tighten wing bands are supposed to be sized for the bird to grow into. Your breeder probably has records for all the birds hatched on their farm and having a unique ID number makes it easy for them to keep records especially with breeding.

I just have ordinary hatchery birds so you wouldn't see bands on birds like mine. I don't show so I don't know if there's any sort of restriction about it?