International Gloster Breeders Association
Affiliated to
Ring Scheme
To those who are new to the fancy and confronted with the task of fitting leg rings for the first time
Ring Scheme
To those who are new to the fancy and confronted with the task of fitting leg rings for the first time
What does all the information on a identification ring mean?
Hover over the tooltips to learn about what is shown on a Gloster canary’s identification ring
What does all the information on a identification ring mean?
Gloster Ring Size: Aluminium “E” int. dia. 3.10mm
Types:
Closed and Split Rings
Year Bred:
The year in which the bird was bred
Year Colour:
2018 Red, 2019 Black, 2020 Green,
2021 Violet, 2022 Brown, 2023 Dark Blue,
2024 Red, 2025 Black, 2026 Green
Consignment
Breeder Sequential Ring Number
IGBA Breeder Ref
Identification of IGBA breeder member
details in yearbook
Identification Ring Variations
Identification Ring Variations
Closed Identification Rings
Most clubs and specialist societies recommend using only closed rings to avoid any
misrepresentation, and the potential of “changing of rings”.
Please be aware that impending changes to Bird Movement after leaving the EU require birds to be closed rung if exported from UK (See Blogs). Â
Closed rings must be fitted at the optimum time when the chick is of a certain age or size, generally between 6 and 8 days.
It is better to put the ring on early and risk having it come off and need to be put back on again, than to leave it until the
foot is too big for the ring to slip over the foot and thus risk hurting the chick.
Most clubs and specialist societies recommend using only closed rings to avoid any misrepresentation, and the potential of “changing of rings”.
Please be aware that impending changes to Bird Movement after leaving the EU require birds to be closed rung if exported from UK (See Blogs).
Closed rings must be fitted at the optimum time when the chick is of a certain age or size, generally between 6 and 8 days.
It is better to put the ring on early and risk having it come off and need to be put back on again, than to leave it until the foot is too big for the ring to slip over the foot and thus risk hurting the chick.
Split Identification Rings
For the inexperienced and Novices, We would suggest that these should be the preferred ones that
you fit, until you are more experienced and feel able to progress to fitting closed rings. They allow greater flexibility
when fitting, are very simple to apply only needing to be closed using a closing tool.
For the inexperienced and Novices, We would suggest that these should be the preferred ones that you fit,  until you are more experienced and feel able to progress to fitting closed rings.
They allow greater flexibility when fitting, are very simple to apply only needing to be closed using a closing tool.
Best Time to Fit Closed Rings?
Best Time to Fit Closed Rings?
The best time to fit the ring is just before the birds roost for the night allowing the
ring to be put on just before the hen returns to her nest and the young.
The ring is therefore not as noticeable to those parents who have a habit of removing their
young on a whim just because they have a bright band on their leg.
If you normally fit rings to the bird’s right leg you can change this, to identify the offspring as a cinnamon
carrier cock or having been bred from yellow parentage or any other reason meaningful to you.
The best time to fit the ring is just before the birds roost for the night allowing the ring to be put on just before the hen returns to her nest and the young.
The ring is therefore not as noticeable to those parents who have a habit of removing their young on a whim just because they have a bright band on their leg.
If you normally fit rings to the bird’s right leg you can change this, to identify the offspring as a cinnamon carrier cock or having been bred from yellow parentage or any other reason meaningful to you.
It may be necessary to try to disguise the ring on the chicks’ leg to prevent ejection from the nest or rejection by the
parents. There are various methods that can be used one being covering the ring with flesh coloured sticky plaster.
It may be necessary to try to disguise the ring on the chicks’ leg to prevent ejection from the nest or rejection by the parents. There are various methods that can be used one being covering the ring with flesh coloured sticky plaster.
How to Fit Closed Rings
How to Fit Closed Rings
Closed Ringing a Chick
Before attempting to ring a chick wash your hands to ensure that all foreign smells have been removed e.g. soap, aftershave, perfume.
It is important that your hands are kept warm when ringing chicks because they have been taken from beneath a hen in a warm
nest box and the shock of being held in freezing cold hands could be fatal. Those who suffer from cold hands should have hot water,
a hot radiator or even a hot water bottle available for warming their hands before beginning to carry out the task of ringing chicks.
Before attempting to ring a chick wash your hands to ensure that all foreign smells have been removed e.g. soap, aftershave, perfume.
It is important that your hands are kept warm when ringing chicks because they have been taken from beneath a hen in a warm nest box and the shock of being held in freezing cold hands could be fatal. Those who suffer from cold hands should have hot water, a hot radiator or even a hot water bottle available for warming their hands before beginning to carry out the task of ringing chicks.
Three toes facing forward and one facing back
Gather the three front toes together.
Place the ring over the three front toes and gently push the ring over the ball of the foot, towards the hock.
Carefully pull the long rear toe through to clear the ring. You may find it helpful to insert a pointed matchstick or
toothpick between the toe and leg to help you ease it from the ring.
Carefully pull the short rear toe through to clear the ring. The ring is now in position
Check the following day to see if the ring is still in place.
Gather the three front toes together.
Place the ring over the three front toes and gently push the ring over the ball of the foot, towards the hock.
Carefully pull the long rear toe through to clear the ring. You may find it helpful to insert a pointed matchstick or toothpick between the toe and leg to help you ease it from the ring.
Carefully pull the short rear toe through to clear the ring. The ring is now in position.
Check the following day to see if the ring is still in place.
How to Fit Split Rings
How to Fit Split Rings
Split rings can be fitted to any bird at any age, and are purely used as a means of easy identification of birds In breeding records.
Aluminium split rings should be closed with the correct size of ringing pliers (available from all good ring manufacturers) –
this will ensure that the ring remains round and does not create an oval shaped ring thus hurting the bird’s leg.
Care should be taken at all stages to ensure that the correct size of ring is applied to the bird’s leg – different sizes are listed
by the ring manufacturers and the Glosters should always have “E” size rings applied to the leg. If this is not the case, leg sores
or other problems may occur – some birds have even been known to lose a leg if the band is not correct for the species.
If the split ring is too large, there is also a risk that the over size ring may be caught in protrusions, causing the bird to die through stress
A golden rule of ringing is “If you don’t know the size – ASK!!“
Split rings can be fitted to any bird at any age, and are purely used as a means of easy identification of birds In breeding records.
Aluminium split rings should be closed with the correct size of ringing pliers (available from all good ring manufacturers) –
this will ensure that the ring remains round and does not create an oval shaped ring thus hurting the bird’s leg.
Care should be taken at all stages to ensure that the correct size of ring is applied to the bird’s leg – different sizes are listed by the ring manufacturers and the Glosters should always have “E” size rings applied to the leg. If this is not the case, leg sores or other problems may occur – some birds have even been known to lose a leg if the band is not correct for the species.
If the split ring is too large, there is also a risk that the oversize ring may be caught in protrusions, causing the bird to die through stress
A golden rule of ringing is “If you don’t know the size – ASK!!“
2027 - Ring Ordering for Current Member
A paper Ring Order form comes with the yearbook. You can order
and pay online. All paper orders to be sent to the address
on the Ring Order form. Â
IGBA Closed Rings are Internationally Recognised by IOA
and supplied by Coditech -Belgium
Split Rings are supplied by Bird Ring – UK
Enquiries about the order system should go to Keith Baker:
Telephone +44 (0)1732 669590
2027 - Ring Ordering for Current Members
A paper Ring Order form comes with the yearbook. You can order and pay online. All paper orders to be sent to the address on the Ring Order form. Â
Closed Rings are currently supplied by Coditech – Belgium
Split Rings are currently supplied by Bird Ring – UK
Enquiries about the order system should go to Keith Baker:
Telephone +44 (0)1732 669590