Furious

[petiel]

This year I got my birds DNA blood sexed. From Molecular Diagnostic Services(Pty) Ltd. Web Site www.mdsafrica.net they are in South Africa. You send away for the kits which cost 50c and you prick the bottom of the foot. You can sex the birds at 1 day old if you like and you dont have to wait for the birds to feather. I did a nest of Alexandrines at 9 days. The price is 1-9 birds $11.90 or 10-19 birds $10.70. I sent the blood samples by post on the Thursday and I had the results the next Thursday in a email. It is 99% accurate. I will be using them again next time.

[Catbird]

Just a bit on DNA sexing:

Its not 100% either, as unfortunately there is 'human error' and contamination. Its best to get your samples done in triplicate - three samples from the same bird. Also if you can aford it to include a 'control' sample where you know the definate sex of the bird but don't tell the analytical lab. Take it from me, I've been in the lab/analytical industry for 5 years now and even in the most highly accredited laboratories mix-ups/contamination can be common, and so are accidents. Clients would often include samples of deionised water as a water sample to check the validity of our results from the labs.

Also remember to always take the feather straight from the bird, not the aviary/cage floor where it could be from a neighbouring bird or contaminated. Touch the sample as little as possible, ie wear gloves, and place the sample straight into a clean, unused container and seal and label the container.

I've heard of people getting two or more DNA certificates from different places with birds coming back as both males and females.

Wish there was 'one' definate way. Although to me it seems to me we have more confusion now over what sex a bird is than we used to with the 'old' methods (visual, behavioural and pelvic - where applicable)?

- Claire

[kimallen]

all of my maleringies are displaying by 7 months old, is this usual? and I have also had this problem with a green hen being sold to me only to find out it was a young male, turned out to be a simple mix up at the breeders and he was very appologetic.

[billspets]

hello kim
in what way are they displaying and how do you know they are males as some indians do get a black ring around there necks at around 7 to 12 months butit goesnt meant they are males is it possable to get a pic of the birds in question
regards
bill

[kimallen]

they are hoping and bowing and their eyes are flashing white and black and they are going asfar as standing on my yellow hens back but they don't know what to do after that, 3 of them are 15 mths old the others are 6mths or so{ hatched end of july}, I ts fascinating to watch, they also try to feed the hen. they are all handraised so I don't even know if they will ever be bred from so I'm thinking I should take Daisy my hen right away so as they don't get frustrated. Should I do this?

[kimallen]

oh I forgot to mention they will also display to me when I put them on my shoulder, they do all the same motions as well as lean around and rub their beaks on my cheek and mouth. they are all extreamly freindly boys and I really think they are boys, ollie and ziggy had the neck feather pluck treatment and there are somepink feathers after this moult as well as the dark ring starting to show, its only a couple of pink feathers but defanantly pink.

[jeremy]

Some young hens to act like cock sometimes and display but those pink feathers you see are a dead giveaway that you have cock birds