Currently, pigeon racing worldwide has almost entirely adopted rewritable electronic leg rings. Although a few manufacturers still use read-only electronic rings due to their lower cost (only half the price of rewritable ones), the key reason is that the entire electronic scanning timing system becomes significantly cheaper, allowing for greater profit margins.
As the most advanced product in pigeon racing, electronic leg rings serve as the sole identification markers for recording pigeon characteristics during training and competitions. Before training or races, fanciers program the pigeon's information into the electronic rings at home and attach them to corresponding birds. The pigeons' electronic data is then detected by the club's RFID readers and loft scanning pads for accurate race timing.
Existing electronic leg rings come in two types: split rings and solid rings. Solid rings are customized for young bird special derbies and must be fitted when the pigeons are squabs, remaining non-replaceable thereafter. Regardless of type, all rings must be worn with the black end facing upward, as the electronic chip is inserted afterwards and sealed with black adhesive to prevent accidental chip loss.
Since the chips in electronic rings are low-voltage devices, they should be kept away from strong electromagnetic environments like microwaves or induction cooktops to avoid chip damage. Some fanciers have experienced situations where returning race pigeons fail to scan - this can occur when pigeons pass through high magnetic fields like power lines, substations, or high-power radar stations during flight, which may damage the chips.
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