Microchips

[Hawkmaster]

Tell us anything you know to broaden our knowledge.

How much?
Do you have it done?
Can we do it as a group?

[Darren]

i had my dog chipped, so think i will get my bird done when i get one

[Saker-Clive]

Yes, you can get and I strongly recomend that you get your birds chipped. I paid £29:50.
Any vet will do it BUT check to see how they do it. My local vet said that because it is a raptor they would have to do it under a general anesthetic............ NO WAY.
Take your bird to an avian vet and it should be done wrapped up in a towell, takes a couple of seconds.
Alan Jones has said to me that if we got several birds together as a club he would do the lots at a cheaper rate as it would be as one consultation. £22 per bird.
Once done you know that if your bird goes missing or stolen, you have the knoweledge that when it eventually goes to a vet, they should check to see if it has been chipped and then 'your' details will appear on screen.

[Hawkmaster]

It would be good to check birds at say field meets, and that way the dodgey ones will be roots out too.

[Steve L]

are these microchips the same that they use for dogs?

[Hawkmaster]

Yip I believe so. I think one the vets has a Goshawk that can still be read and it is dead and frozen now for something stupid like 15 years or more?

This is only hear say so someone may be able to give us the whole truth and facts behind this?

[Falcon]

I had my Redtail chipped and it cost just under £20. I would recomend it, I had a load of stickers with the micochip number on them, so you can stick them in a book or record card etc, I'm pretty sure they are the same as the ones they use on dogs, they were too big for my spar! and the redtail bled quite a bit. Make sure you use a vet who understands birds! I used Steve Otty at our local surgery, and he's really good (Paradise Park use him for all their birds, parrots, etc).

[Sparrow Hawker]

Hi,

Am I right in saying there are 2 types of microchip as there are a number of different readers!

[Falcon]

Higly possibly, but I couldn't say for sure! Anybody outthere work in a vets? Prehaps someone can give you the answer to that one HH

[Hawkmaster]

Almost a £10 difference in price I wonder who does the best one off price? Falcon are Steve Otty's detail in the vet section?

[Falcon]

No, because I haven't found that bit yet! When I find it I'll put his details in (he'll like that! He's known me for many, many years! He's a horse vet really, but has a keen interest if birds,)
Falcon

[Steve L]

when i worked at hte rspca i microchipped dogs,cats,rabbits and the microchip company we used was petlog and as far as im aware there is only one other microchip company and all chips are standard size.I take it birds are chipped in the chest??

[Saker-Clive]

NO..... they are chipped in the groin...ouch!

Between the top of the thigh and body; there is a fairly big skin fold, that is where mine are chipped.

[Shaun Byrne]

I always have my birds chipped, its a shame we didnt start this thread earlier, last monthe was national chipping month, my vet did the dog for £15, usually £25.
All my birds dog anfd ferrets (yes ferrets) are done using Petlog chips as this is the most widely used by RSPCA etc.
My birds were all done in the chest, a small incision is made, the chip is inserted and tissue glue is used to seal the wound. It doesn't sound very nice but the birds dont seem to notice and its over very quickly.
Its very risky to give a BOP a general anaesthetic.

[Falcon]

Yeah my Red was done in the chest too!

[Steve L]

so why didnt they use the microchip gun?? this way its done in a second and no need for an incision

[Shaun Byrne]

Think its because the gun has to go too deep, wiyh an incision the chip can go just under the skin.

[North East Harris Hawker]

most places charge around 15quid to do it its such a shame that there are a shortage of the chip readers in circulation

[RabbitHawker]

All microchips used in the UK can be read by the same scanners now, but that was not how things started. Chips in the US may be different, so no international standards. UK chips can be read across europe, so not a problem for must of us.
Chips are usually inserted on the left side, either pectoral muscle or thigh. If pectoral muscle is used the bird may be a bit sore for a day or 2.
The chips are the same ones as used fro cats and dogs, there are several manufacturers, but all read by the same reader.
Some vets anaesthatise the birds first to ensi=ure accurate chip placement, only takes a few minutes to gas down and recover, usually sit on the fist after 2 minutes, I've flown mine later in the day. I anaesthatise my birds for imping and tail mounts, much easier to avoud glue going everywhere when the bird struggles.
Chris

[RabbitHawker]

Sorry I hadn't heard there was a shortage of scanners, all vets have them, as do dog wardens, RSPCA, rescue centres etc., who else do you think should have scanners??
You need to be registered with the database in order to get the details registered with the chip, so ther is no point in evert Tom Dick and Harry having a reader as without being able to access the data it's no use.

[Sprout]

The correct placement is in the left pectoral muscle, not just under the skin. Think our practice charges about £17. No need for GA although I agree there is no need to fear anaesthetics in birds so long as the vet has some experience with birds