Racing pigeons need to be banded with a unique seamless band at about the age of 6 days. While some birds may need to be banded a day earlier due to rapidly growing feet, others' banding may have to be delayed a day due to small feet. There is therefore variation in the optimum time for banding. Should one wait too long, one may not be able to get the band on, should one band too early, the little guy may lose the band and catch ones attention as an unbanded bird later on when it already is much too late for banding. While different chicks grow at different rates, fanciers don't like to band late due to the youngster being developmentally challenged. Such a bird will very likely not grow into a good racing pigeon and is often culled at this stage.
A good way of banding is to have the youngster face the fancier who extends the bird's right leg to the back, slips the band over the 3 large toes and pulls the 4^th toe out from under the band and the job is finished.

A primary flight feather as well as some surgical lubricant gel may make the job easier. One can read the band number in this position if all was done well.