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