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PAGE 2 - Continued


leg bands placed around the chick's foot. Leg bands offer permanent proof of identification and usually
include the breeder's code if the bands are registered with a national specialty organization.


The Cockatiel Foundation (CF) sells closed, coded bands to its members. A band includes a personally assigned
band code with one or more numbers and letters, the society's
initials, the number chick, and the current year stamped on each band. For example, CF-3R-77-99 would stand for
the organization's name, Cockatiel Foundation, the breeder's code 1R, the identification number of the chick #77,
and the year the chick was bred, 2007.


The breeder's code is kept on file with the Membership/Band Coordinator who can trace the code back to the
breeder. The breeder would then be able to inform the purchaser about the bird's background, according to records
kept. This is an excellent safety back up should the bird ever escape, or change hands to a new owner.


Closed banding also offers proof of pedigree. Professional breeders and exhibitors typically breed one pair of
cockatiels to a cage, to be certain that the birds they produce belong to the parent pair. The birds are usually
banded between 10 and 14 days of age with a closed, seamless leg band carrying the breeder's code described
above, which provides lifetime
identification. Larger babies may be banded even earlier.


After the age of 2 to 3 weeks, it is close to impossible to slip a seamless band onto a bird's leg since the foot has
grown beyond banding size. If a cockatiel is exhibited at a show, the breeder lists the bird's band number on the
entry form, because only closed-banded birds are eligible to receive points towards their championships for the top
10 placements at cockatiel shows.


If the breeder wishes to sell the bird, a pedigree card will include a place for the breeder to list the bird's band code.
Many hobby breeders who keep records of their birds often offer birth certificates which include the bird's band
code, color variety, date of birth, gender, family tree, and other pertinent information. CF will soon offer its members
the opportunity to purchase pedigree records and birth certificates. Qualifying exhibitors may also earn their
champion and grand champion certificates.


Closed-banded birds are definitely the way to go to assure your bird will carry permanent identification, throughout
its life, should you ever need to prove it's yours.
"Providing Resources
to the
Cockatiel Community"

The Cockatiel Foundation,
founded in June 2007,
began out of a growing
need in the avicultural
community to offer its
members programs for pet
owners, breeders and
exhibitors, in addition to
services never before
addressed in the cockatiel  
community.


CF is establishing a
Cockatiel Adoption &
Placement Program to hrlp
in the placement and  
rehoming of cockatiels to
new, permanent
"forever" homes.


CF offers a wealth of
information on color
genetics, mutations, and
breeding research.


CF is addressing the
needs of our Youth
Members in the CF Youth
& Education Program
developed for tomorrows'
next generation of
cockatiel afficionados.


Please visit our unique
LOST & FOUND Center
to report and reunite birds
with their owners!


Joining the Foundation
When you join the
Foundation as a Member,
you will receive many
benefits, including the
Cockatiel Chronicle and
have access to the
Members' Only Yahoo
Group for chat, PHOTO
CONTEST, Members'
Articles & more!
Please read about our
Membership  benefits  and
peruse the website.
COME JOIN US!
Let us know you were here!
Cockatiel Foundation, Inc.
Linda S. Rubin is an aviculturist, lecturer and avian educator of 30 years, with an international byline in avicultural magazines around
the world and author of several books at www.CockatielsPlusParrots.com. She is the cockatiel expert columnist for Bird Talk’s
website, BirdChannel.com, writes as an overseas columnist for Cage & Aviary Birds (United kingdom), and she serves on the board of
directors as National Specialty Vice President for the American Federation of Aviculture, Inc. She is the founding president and
genetics consultant of the Cockatiel Foundation, Inc.  Linda is a certified panel judge for the Cockatiel Foundation, and the Society of
Parrot Breeders & Exhibitors, judging shows throughout the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada since 1984.
INTRODUCTION TO  COCKATIELS
© 1999 LINDA S. RUBIN
Originally published in June 1999 issue of  BIRD TIMES magazine
"All Rights Reserved"
c. 2008 Jane Gillespie