Chips also enable them to differentiate among similar birds in an aviary. Getting a permit involves being able to uniquely identify a bird. Currently leg bands are the accepted method. However, chips are slowly gaining in acceptance. Sometimes a leg band is removed for health reasons or because an owner fears possible injury to the bird.
Veterinarians often supply certificates verifying leg band removal.
If the certificate is coupled with a chip ID, this provides a continuing identification of the bird, both for legal and resale purposes. Inserting the Microchip Microchipping can be done by a veterinarian, clinic, zoo or other qualified person. The main consideration should be the brand of microchip used. There are several companies offering microchips, each using different ID numbers and chip encoding techniques. These companies also manufacture scanners to read their chips.