ABA seamless legbands.....

[harvestbreezefarm]

Hi,

I thought about ordering the seamless legbands issued through the ABA. I would like to get some feedback on how they work and if folks like them or not before I take the plunge.

Thanks,
Shari
Harvest Breeze Farm

[Antwerptom03]

They work great! this will be our second year using them. Glad they finally have a proper size for cornish :)
I'm surprised more people don't use them
Tom

[harvestbreezefarm]

Hi Tom,

Thank you for your input. I did see on the ABA website they were discussing the problems with the legbands fitting the corning properly, glad to hear you got a good fit now. I raise bantam cochins, I saw some discussion also on the ABA website about ordering the correct size for those heavily feathered birds like cochins, I just want to make sure I order the right size!! Do you need a special tool to put them on?? I know they are permanent once on.

Thanks!
Shari

[Pathfinders]

I love them, my order for next year arrived the other day.

No tool required to put them on, just good timing. You have to put them on the birds as chicks. They have to be old enough for the bands to not slip back off again, but young enough to be able to get them on over their toes (fold all toes forward and wiggle, using some mineral oil if you need to.) I find if you check the chicks at about four weeks, and then once a week every week thereafter, you can determine when to get them on. It takes diligence, I had one batch I forgot about and then just didn't get any. But once they're on, they're on there for the life of the bird.

This year they're white with gray or black writing (don't remember), and you can actually see the number, which is nice. And having a specific color means you can visually track which birds were born in which year in a pen, which is also nice. They're not cheap, but not too expensive either. Go for it!

[Bob308]

I really like the plastic ABA bands over the aluminum ones, they are so much easier to read. Last year the gray ones reeked havoc with me and my birds that had slate colored legs.
Before the ABA started carrying the larger sizes I use to order the larger ones from the guy in Canada, but now I can order everything from the ABA. I use them on my Large Old English, Guineas and Peacocks.
This time of the year I will cull out about 20 ( from a flock of 50-70) of my free range guineas and it sure makes it easy not to get any of this years hatch in the cull.
For the most part I band about 250-300 Modern Game Bantams which use a #10 for both sex's but I will order a few extra #11's for the ones I miss getting the bands on in time.

By the way the ABA keeps a record of the sales and can track the owner of the band- if the bird still has one on.
I have a feeling that the day is coming where every bird we travel with will have to have some kind of permanent ID. Why not let the ABA make the money off of it?

Bob

[goosedragon]

@ 3/$1 my local silversmith could make them up out of .93 silver if made in bulk. the engraving would however cost a bundle and they would tarnish! (can you think of polishing up all those legbands before a show?) The gray tarnish would be worse than those aluminum ones. Besides the ABA kicks in a additional cash award for winning bantams wearing their bands. All in all, I guess the ABA bands make more sense.~gd

[BAY DOGS]

Would someone post a picture of what these bands look like. Thanks!!

[Antwerptom03]

If you've ever seen the NPA bands for pigeons... The ABA bands are exactly the same. Check out the "super nice young sliver english carrier" fancy pigeon auction. That bird has a grey 08 band exactly like the ABA bands.
I put mine on upside down same as the racing homer guys so that the numbers are easier to read when you pick the bird up. try it... you'll see what i mean

[harvestbreezefarm]

I'm sold!! Just wanted to thank you all that posted your ideas and opinions, it's much appreciated.

Shari

[MattL]

Also an added bonus to using ABA Legbands!
"As a reminder, in addition to the standard awards offered at the annual and semi-annual meets each year, the ABA offers an additional $50 for Champion Bantam and $25 for Reserve Champion if either winner is wearing an appropriately sized seamless ABA leg band. The ABA thanks everyone who has supported this program in the past, as well as our new customers!!"

Remember the ABA Election is coming up and please vote! If you would like to ask questions of prospective candidates Jeff Halbach for President and Matt Lhamon for Vice President you can do so at http://aba2009.blogspot.com/. Rumor has it we will have some competition for President and VP filing late. Deadline to file for office is Dec. 1st and there are several districts with no one in them!
Matt Lhamon

District #3: NJ, PA
Open

District #6 : MI, IN, IL
Open

District #9 – MN, WI, ND, SD, IA
Open

District #10 - KS,NE,OK,MO,AR
Open

District #15: ONTARIO/East Canada
Open

District #16: MANITOBA/West Canada
Open

[Bob308]

[quote="MattL"]
"an appropriately sized seamless ABA leg band. !"

I like this disclaimer, I figure it is to keep someone from slipping a larger sized one on a winning bird? I know this prize has been in place for some time, but has anybody ever won it?

[Evy]

I know this prize has been in place for some time, but has anybody ever won it?

Cheryl Barnaba, CT, won it at Delmarva a few years back. I think it was only the 2nd or 3rd year the program had been in effect.

[Bob308]

I was going to say Cheryl but wasn't sure, I even looked at the 2006 year book cover but couldn't tell if it was an ABA legband.

[MattL]

Got my legband order and one quick note. Size 18mm will work well for most Large Fowl. Size 20MM will work for most Large Ducks and Small & Medium Geese. I put my first batch on a 8 week hatch of SC White Leghorn bantams and they went on easy and stayed on so far. I am sold, great way to identify your bird and a super record keeping tool.
MattL

[Antwerptom03]

With Japanese bantams 6 weeks of age seem to be about right for banding with the ABA bands. I love them!!!!

[HeadmUP]

Size 20MM will work for most Large Ducks and Small & Medium Geese

I wondered about that. That's great to know, thanks Matt. I like them too. Better than bandettes or metal bands. When I first got mine, I was baffled by why the ABA dated them all November 2009...Then I realized "11" was the size, not the date. duh... :oops:

[Bob308]

I have used ABA leg bands for years and one of the things I have learned is to by a few of the next size up bands for when you forget to band them on time there will be a few that will be too large to accept the right size.

I mostly raise Modern game bantams which is nice that they should only take a # 10 for both sexes but some males grow quicker than others and I had a problem with them fitting. Now I order about 25 extra #11's just for the ones I may have missed.

I know a few breeders that have also used these bands for a while and they will put last years bands on this years birds just to use up the bands. The first time I heard about this I wrote it off as a one time situation but when I learned another person did this I just shook my head. Why? doesn't this defeat the purpose of permanent leg bands? They said they just keep good records ( and I believe them ) and they just wanted to use up the bands. Both of these people are good honest Master Breeders but it just puzzles me as to Why?
I noticed this because once we went to colored bands I would see pullets banded with what would be hen bands. It just baffles me.

Bob

[Evy]

I've known people that used them up, too. Being plastic, they're also easily removed. A snip with small wire cutters does the job.

[HeadmUP]

Anyone know if there is a shortage? Seems like I ordered them a while ago. It was my 2nd order and it was for the bigger sizes.

[Bob308]

Anyone know if there is a shortage? Seems like I ordered them a while ago. It was my 2nd order and it was for the bigger sizes.

At the directors meeting at Lake City Karen mentioned that the larger sizes went fast and they had to reorder. Apparently everyone is jumping on the ABA leg band bandwagon. There was even talk of offering sizes for all large fowl since the APA doesn't seem interested.

[goosedragon]

Cut and paste from the ABA website:
Since ABA leg bands are manufactured in Europe, we can not restock during the year. In 2008, we sold out in the mid-summer months. For 2009, we have ordered extra bands, but they do sell fast. Bands may be ordered by using the order form in the located in The Quarterly or by placing your order on the ABA store within the ABA web site: ~gd

[Bob308]

Well, I guess that settles that.
I know when I use to order them from the guy in Canada he use to make me place my order in July for the next year.

[MattL]

They were able to reorder another set for this year becasue they ran out of a few sizes rather quickly. We get a better deal on the intial order because of the quanity so a reoder will cost more. Next year we plan to up the initial order once we calibrate how many we sell this year.
MattL

[goosedragon]

I thought from the discussion that the reorder might be in the works, thats why I made a point of saying the red post was a cut and paste from the website (errors and all) Need I state the importance of keeping the website up to date? (Boy does that sound Iike I made a resolve to be kind and gentle in 2009? :oops: ) ~gd

[MattL]

[quote="Need I state the importance of keeping the website up to date? (Boy does that sound Iike I made a resolve to be kind and gentle in 2009? :oops: ) ~gd[/quote]
We are working on it, GD?!By the way, I prefer the old GD to the kinder and gentler version!
MattL

[goosedragon]

[quote="Need I state the importance of keeping the website up to date? (Boy does that sound Iike I made a resolve to be kind and gentle in 2009? :oops: ) ~gd
We are working on it, GD?!By the way, I prefer the old GD to the kinder and gentler version!
MattL[/quote]
Well sooner or later someone will get the dragon flaming again, how long do your resolutions usually last? ~gd

[MattL]

Not very, so I resolved to quit making them:)
MattL