I've not done any banding so far but probably should be. At what age should it be done? What is the oldest age it can be done? Do the colours reflect the year of birth and if so, is this universal? What other information is on the band and how do you get it on there? Can the age of a chick be traced by the band down to the month or just the year? How do you get it on the chick and not make it too tight for when they are older?

I can only answer a couple of your questions, based on what I've learned so far.

 

In Canada, the ring colors will be different than in Australia, and also from the U.S., I think.

 

That only matters for exhibition budgies.

 

If you want to put rings on pet budgies, you can use any color and info on them that you want.

 

The only source of leg bands I could find in the U.S. is L&M Leg Bands Inc. in California. You can google them. They probably ship to Canada. The lady on the phone was really nice and helpful.

 

Metal bands have to be put on while the chick's foot can still fit through. Split plastic bands come with a tool that spreads them open, and any age bird can then cooperatively lay their leg in the opening, for you to slide the band off the tool and up their leg.

 

Oh, and one more thing, when they sell you the right size band for your species of bird, it is the size that will fit an adult bird. It is loose on the baby, but the baby's big foot keeps it on.

 

Somewhere on here Kaz has posted what Aussie colors mean what years. I don't know anything about that, though.

 

Hope this helps.