In most cases, where limited numbers of parrot chicks are hand reared, it will be unnecessary to identify chicks, as this information will be readily contained in the breeder’s head. In larger more commercial operations, it will be necessary to identify chicks for blood line. This can be done by felt pen in different colours and the use of plastic leg rings, which are expandable throughout the life of the chick. Once independent, these leg rings can be removed. Parrot chicks can be close rung at between 2/3 weeks and these rings can be obtained from the Parrot Society or commercial organisations. Parrots because of the variety in size have numerous leg rings available. It is obviously critical that only the appropriate leg ring should be placed on the bird. If an incorrect steel leg ring were to be placed on a chick then at a later stage in life when the leg grows it could cause to stop the circulation to the foot and therefore require removal. The following is the UK Parrot Society recommended size for various parrots.

Variety of Bird & Close ring size

Ring - L/M

• Grass parrots
• Parakeets
• Love birds
• Kakariki
• Many coloured
• Red Rump
• Stanley
• Rosella

Ring - N

• Cockateels
• Larger Rosellas
• Pileated
• Smaller Conures
• Smaller Lorys

Ring - P

• Port Lincolns
• POWs
• Barrabands
• Cloncurries
• Pennants
• Dusky and Perfect Lorrikeets
• Slatey Headed Conures
• Sun
• Red Bellied
• Nanday
• Jendaya
• Blue Throated Conures
• Quakers

Ring - R

• Crimson Wings
• Chattering Lorys
• Mayers
• Plum Heads
• Red Throated Conures
• Red Bellied
• Rock Pebblers
• Senegals

Ring - S

• Ring necks
• Moustached
• Black Headed Caiques
• Australian and Green Winged Kings
• Hahn’s and Noble Macaws
• Lesser Patagonian Conures

Ring - T

• Roseate Cockatoos
• Blue Naped Parrots
• Blue Headed and Bronze winged Pinonus
• Yellow Naped Macaws
• Queen of Bavarias and
• Greater Patagonia Conures
• Alexandrians
• Jardines

Ring - U

• Citron and Lesser Sulphur Crested
• Great Billed and Hawk head Parrots
• Yellow Billed
• Cuban
• Hispaniolian
• Green Cheat and Orange Winged Amazons

Ring - V

• Black Palm
• Medium Sulphur Crested and Umbrella Cockatoos
• Eclectus
• African Greys
• Chestnut fronted Macaws
• Yellow naped St Vincent
• Blue fronted
• Panama and Double Yellow headed Amazons

Ring - W

• Greater Sulphur and Moluccan Cockatoos
• Military Caninde
• Green wing and Scarlet Macaws

Ring - Y

• Hyancine Macaws

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THE TEXT ABOVE IS FROM "PARROT INCUBATION PROCEDURE AND HAND FEEDING" A PARROTCARE PUBLICATION FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE