The Available Methods For Parrot Gender Determination

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