You must submit either a feather or blood sample to a certified laboratory. There are no personal DNA kits for birds.

Secondly, think about using micro-chips instead of leg bands. They are much more humane on the birds. Bands can constrict the leg if it is not placed on properly, can snag on items in lakes such as fishing line, etc. Leg bands can also be removed if someone should steal the swan and you will no longer have a valid means of identification.

Micro-chips can be administered by a veterinarian through the breast muscle (intramuscular) or in the leg muscle (subcutaneously). This is a valid means to identify the swans and cannot be removed. In the state of Florida, if a swan is micro-chipped and someone steals, harms or kills the swan with this valid means of identification, the perpetrator faces up to 5 years in jail and a $5,000 fine. So, there is more legal standing for an identification system that cannot be removed.

The drawback for the microchips is that the cygnets will not be big enough to place a micro-chip in their breast or their leg until they are 3-4 months of age. But, if you use the leg band, the cygnet's legs are growing and the band can snag on something if it is too big allowing for growth of the leg and can constrict the leg if it is too snug and prevents growth of the leg.

There are also neck bands, but this identification system has shown to constrict the neck, can fall off or be easily removed and in areas where there is freezing weather, these bands have been known to freeze and not hold up in cold climates.

For all of these reasons, our swan veterinarians have been using and promoting the usage of micro-chips for the past 20 years.

Also, there is a relatively new micro-chip that we have been using in swans that allows for the micro-chipping of cygnets at 3-4 months of age which prevents migration of the micro-chip. Cygnets do not have developed breast or leg muscles until they are approximately 3-4 months of age. Therefore, microchips placed in the birds earlier cannot be found because the chips can migrate.

This is why we use the Destron Fearing LifeChip microchip with Bio-Therm because they have a special bonding attribute that causes an animal's normal tissue to bond within 24 hours of micro-chipping. Furthermore, this micro-chip also has another great attribute that allows swan keepers and veterinarians to check on the temperature of the swan. There is a thermometer that allows body temperature to be read when the micro-chip is scanned. If the body temperature shows and abnormal temperature, this can be an early sign that the bird is ill and the avian veterinarian can be contacted and follow-up with a rectal temperature and other supportive care if necessary. We hope that this information is of benefit. The Regal Swan
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