| Usually, a bird's gender is unknown to other | | | | metal tube with a light attached on, called |
| species of beings; it is a well kept secret | | | | the endoscope. This way, the bird's sexual |
| for the bird itself and its kind. When nature | | | | organs can be seen and, along with the |
| created the birds, it never took into | | | | gender, the veterinarian can determine the |
| consideration the human specie and the | | | | sexual maturity, any abnormalities and the |
| knowledge that this last one needs. | | | | possibility of reproduction. |
| | | | |
| In some birds, the gender can be identified | | | | Even though this method is very accurate and |
| by the individual's colors, wither | | | | quick, it may put the bird under a lot of |
| completely, or, in some cases, only when they | | | | stress. Unlike the DNA sexing method, this |
| reach maturity. The eclectus male for | | | | one provides immediate results for the owner, |
| instance is green, while the female is red. | | | | in case this one is interested in breeding |
| At maturity, the nasal area (cere) of a | | | | the bird. The procedure is quite safe, but, |
| parakeet male is blue and the female's one is | | | | on some occasions, it may generate some post |
| brow. However, there are still many species | | | | - operative or anesthesia complications. The |
| of birds that don't have different colors | | | | primary concern was the injected anesthesia |
| depending on the gender. | | | | because it induced a long period of sleep and |
| | | | vomiting. Researchers have discovered new |
| The importance of knowing a pet's gender is | | | | anesthetics for the birds, gases that |
| represented by their owners' desire to give | | | | eliminate the side effects caused by the |
| them proper names or to know what pronouns to | | | | injected ones. Those new anesthetics are |
| use when they are addressing or referring to | | | | considered by the experts to have negligible |
| the animals. It also matters for the breeding | | | | risks and the bird will wake up in a matter |
| of the animals because some people know not | | | | of minutes after the gas mask is removed. |
| to expect babies from a pair of birds of the | | | | |
| same sex. | | | | In the past, veterinarians used to tattoo |
| | | | birds after their genders were determined |
| Many methods were discovered so far to | | | | through surgery. Males were tattooed under |
| determine the birds' gender, some of them | | | | the right wing and females under the left |
| scientific and some of them, most of them, | | | | one. More recently, microchips or leg bands |
| non - scientific, discovered by common people | | | | were used for marking them. |
| in their own houses. We will show and | | | | |
| overview of the scientific methods of | | | | The Blood Feather Analysis (BFA) method: |
| discovering the birds' sex: DNA Sexing, | | | | |
| Surgical Sexing, Blood Feather Testing and | | | | This method requires a blood chromosome test. |
| Fecal Analysis. | | | | This test is performed on cultured tissue |
| | | | from the bird's blood feathers. If the bird |
| Every method of testing has both negative and | | | | has no blood feathers, some will be pulled |
| positive sides and the best one is the one | | | | out and in their place new ones will grow in |
| that fits the owner's needs and the | | | | two or three weeks. Those feathers are put in |
| situation. | | | | a special container with cold packs and sent |
| | | | via priority mail to the laboratory where |
| The DNA Sexing method: | | | | their tissue is grown and researched under a |
| | | | microscope. The results will appear in around |
| In this procedure, a drop of the bird's blood | | | | two weeks. |
| is required for a DNA testing. The DNA will | | | | |
| show an image that will provide reliable | | | | As in the case of DNA sexing of the birds, |
| information about the bird's gender. This | | | | this method is accurate and safe; and it |
| method is very accurate but it takes up to | | | | works on any bird regardless the age but the |
| four weeks to be processed. | | | | results are not prompt. As negative sides of |
| | | | this testing method are the higher costs for |
| The blood is collected from a vein or a | | | | priority mail and the impossibility of |
| toenail by the owner and placed in a prepared | | | | checking the sexual organs of the birds in |
| collection of vial. This way it can be sent | | | | the cases of breeders. |
| to a lab even by using regular mail. This | | | | |
| method is very easy to be performed and it is | | | | The Fecal Method of gender determination: |
| not stressful. | | | | |
| | | | This method is not as accurate as the others |
| A bird's DNA is unique and cannot be | | | | and it depends on more than one factor. It |
| modified. So, as in human DNA, a bird's one | | | | consists in collecting fresh fecal samples |
| is the same since the moment of birth until | | | | from the bird in special conditions and |
| death. Those tests performed on birds DNA can | | | | mailing them to the lab. The specialists will |
| also be stored by the labs that own a data | | | | determine the gender by the hormones |
| bank and can be later used for identification | | | | (estrogen and testosterone) level from the |
| or matching. | | | | fecal sample. This method can only be applied |
| | | | on mature birds and it depends on the health |
| This method is thus, very easy to be done, it | | | | of the birds and on the conditions of the |
| is not expensive and if the period of waiting | | | | sample's collection. |
| for the results is not a problem, it may be | | | | |
| the best choice. This DNA test will show a | | | | The fecal method is not expensive, is safe |
| bird's gender and not its capability of | | | | and should bring the results in one week. |
| reproducing. | | | | |
| | | | Every person will choose the sexing method |
| The surgical sexing method: | | | | for his or her bird as it best fits his or |
| | | | her needs. Probably, the breeders will choose |
| The second method of discovering a bird's | | | | the surgical method because of it's |
| gender is the surgical sexing. This can be | | | | advantages, while those who own a pet bird |
| done only by a veterinarian, through | | | | will choose DNA or BFA methods. |
| endoscopic surgery. The bird is put under | | | | |
| anesthesia and through a small cut in the | | | | Read about amazon parrot , parrot care and |
| bird's skin, the veterinarian inserts a small | | | | parrot cages . |