Microchipping Parrots

[mesmerred]

Does anyone have any experience of microchipping birds. I have my larger animals chipped but I am not sure of my parrots. I have heard of a parrot picking it back out. i know the chip is small but there's a lot of difference in the size of a dog or cat comparted to a parrot. Would it cause pain?

[lankeela]

It would be painless, I doubt very much if the parrot would even know it had been done, I have chipped kittens and puppies and they are smaller than some parrots.

As for picking it out, it would have to pick its flesh off to get to it, as they are inserted under the top layer of skin.

[clair3934]

Like lankeela says it should be fine you can micro chip something as small as a mouse these days with no trouble and microchipping parrots is recomended these days

[Noweia]

I can't guarantee it wouldn't cause pain as it is quite a large needle!

This site explains a bit more about it (although obviously in the UK we don't use the Australian Animal Registry but one a bit closer to home!):

http://www.birdvet.com.au/birdcare/Bird%20Fact s%2038%20microchipping%20birds.htm

[lankeela]

My microchips are not inserted with a needle as such it is more like a flat scalpel which is very sharp and slides into the animal and back out in one movement, which they are usually not even aware of. I think the owners suffer more than the animals!

[Noweia]

It's technically a large needle, and from the dogs I've chipped most find it quite painful as the needle is much larger in diameter than the standard vaccination or medication needles!

But a neccessary procedure - reunites many lost pets!

[mesmerred]

Hmm, there seems to be opposite opinions between lankeela and Noweia. I have always been thinking like Noweia, that the needle is big relative to the animal and if needles hurt us, well.... I can see how it might not hurt a cat or dog, however small because it goes in the scruff of the neck and they don't seem to have much feeling there. But isn't it put under the breast skin of a bird? which sounds more painful. Has anyone actually chipped a bird and did it seem distessed? Mine are African Greys so not that big. Lankeela, you are saying your method is not like a needle so does that mean there are different ways it can be inserted? I think I will speak to my vet about it and with the information you have all given me I can ask some questions about how he does it. Thanks everyone and if you have any more comments they are gratefully received.

[Noweia]

Hi mesmerred,

A microchip is usually the size of a rice grain. To chip an animal, the chip sits inside a special needle which it then inserted under the skin. The microchip is pushed out and the needle withdrawn.

Animals may find the chipping process more painful than a standard vaccination, simply because of the larger needle size - many puppiers I've done tend to yelp and squirm a bit (and to be honest I can't blame them!). Once the chip is in, however, they shouldn't feel anything.

I would have thought an intramuscular injection would be more painful than one under the skin - the site below states that due to the size of the chip compared to that of the bird an anaesthetic is used:

http://www.penninevets.co.uk/birdchips.php

However once the chip is in, the bird shouldn't feel it, so I don't think it would try to peck it out. That said, I haven't any experience in chipping birds so I'm not entirely sure.

The best thing to do if you are worried is to phone your vet and ask them - they will best be able to advise you.

[icemaiden]

I have had my African Grey chipped. She has hers in her leg, yes the hollow needle that held the chip was large, but she was not stressed when it was implanted. (it was done by a very experienced vet). It hasnt bothered her at all since.

She was not English bred so she does not have a leg ring or papers for identification. I decided to have her chipped for the simple reason that if she ever escaped or god forbid, stolen, I would hope that if she were found and taken to a vet, then atleast there is a good chance she will be scanned and my name and address will come up.

I can't comment if it was painful for her, I hope not, but as Parrots are known to pine for their owners when seperated I feel better for doing it.

She has been my constant companion for 17 years and I would be devastated if I lost her for ever.

[mesmerred]

Thanks for these answers. More food for thought. I think then I would like to know what experience my vet has with birds. I have never taken them to him. Like you Icemaiden, I would be devasted to lose them. Neither of them were British bred either.

[ladybugbabybug]

I have a ten year old Timneh grey who has been with me since he was six months old. When I first had him I knew little about birds and someone recommended that I had him microchipped. I took him to a regular vet and the microchip was inserted by his breast bone. It was an awful experience!! He was wrapped in a towel and made the most horrific noises I have ever heard him make. I was in no doubt that he felt pain having it inserted. I felt absolutely awful and wished I had not put him through it. However a few years later Spike made a great escape, he was missing for a few days and I was heartbroken. But luckily, someone had found him and taken him to the local RSPCA, who had scanned him, phoned me and we were reunited. So even though it was an awful experience, had it not have been done I would have lost my lovely Timneh forever. I have just bought a new 12 week old CAG, andam in two minds whether to go through the process again. However ten years on, maybe the chips are smaller and I would take him to a proper avian vet. I am going to read up some more I think.