leg band

[Russ]

I was trying to find some more information about our parrot but cant seem to find anything concise about leg bands. The leg band reads PJ FL 28. From what I've read the PJ is the breeders initials, the FL is the port of import and the 28 is the hatching date? Just doesn't seem right. If anyone has some guidance it would be really helpful. I have photos if they would be helpful.

[Greytness]

Hi Russ,

Unfortunately much of the info on tracing leg bands is disappearing, making it harder to track down breeders. The number on his band is likely the breeder's ID number for your bird.

[neoow]

I'm not sure that there is a "standard" for leg bands. Certainly over here in the UK it's very difficult to find any useful information to help decipher or trace them. I don't think there's any specific information that needs to go on a leg band or any particular order so a lot of breeders tend to make up their own systems, making it harder to track where a bird has come from or how old they might be.

The numbers/letters on Alfie's leg band were pretty much unreadable as time went on. I have a record from his 'hatch certificate' which says what was originally on it but I wouldn't have been able to tell you otherwise. I ended up having to have it cut off after several years because it was starting to irritate him and was making his leg sore. So I had it cut off and had him microchipped instead. I did keep it in my purse for the longest time but unfortunately I think it must have fallen out at some point as I no longer have it.