Ask Lafeber

Microchipping

What exactly is microchipping and is it good or bad ( should we do it to our birds?)

Hi Taymia,

A microchip is a means of identifying a pet’s owner if the pet is lost or stolen and recovered. There are a few companies that make these and it’s up to your Vet as to which one they use. They are generally safe, and injected with a syringe into the breast muscle on birds. The Vet may or may not use a local or general anesthetic. The Vet and most animal shelters have scanners which can read the code on the chip and locate the owner’s information.  There have been cases where a microchip has caused local irritation or was suspected to be the cause of feather plucking. You can discuss the pros and cons with your Vet to make a decision on whether this is a good option for your pet birds. I recommend that all cats and dogs have these chips, because they are more likely to slip out of a door and get lost. It’s different with pet birds – if yours are kept clipped and in cages when any doors are open, then chances of being lost are slim. If your birds are stolen, it’s hard to know if they would be recovered, but if they were, the chip would help them get back to you. Most animal shelters scan all animals when they are brought into a shelter, as do most Vets.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda