ranaz Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 (edited) My baby Pookie will turn 2 years on March 9 and I was thinking of getting it sexed. Here in france, there are 2 ways, either they gaz the bird to withdraw some blood, which I dont want to put him through. Or to pluck 2-3 live feathers and send to the lab for testing. I feel bad and Im not sure I have the heart to pluck feathers. Has anyone done it? Which are could be less painful? how did you do it. Edited February 17, 2015 by ranaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 When I first got each grey they had a "wellness" check and I had the avian vet get feathers under the wing. I was just the good "guy" who saved them from the evil Dr. and took them home to safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave007 Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 (edited) My baby Pookie will turn 2 years on March 9 and I was thinking of getting it sexed. Here in france, there are 2 ways, either they gaz the bird to withdraw some blood, which I dont want to put him through. Or to pluck 2-3 live feathers and send to the lab for testing. I feel bad and Im not sure I have the heart to pluck feathers. Has anyone done it? Which are could be less painful? how did you do it. Using sedation for any reason unless absolutely neccessay ( serious health issues) is a very bad idea. There's 2 common ways that sexing is done----- 1--as you mentioned, removal of a few feathers which won't bother a bird at all. It's the person who's more frightened. The feathers are sent in by mail or the vet or vet tech does the sexing. 2---the other method is to clip a claw a bit shorter so that a very little bit of blood comes out. The bolood is stored in a tiny container after being put on a Quik Tip or a cotton swab. That too can be mailed in or a vet tech can do it. Neigther method is done by a vet. A vet tech is usually the one that does it. If the claw is clipped, the only thing a person has to is put some cornstarch or Quick Stop in the claw area and press it in for about 2 minutes. The area immediately clots. Be brave. Your bird won't even know you're doing either method. At the end of either method, give your bird a little treat that he/she likes. PS--you asked if others have done plucking----loads of people have done it. Edited February 17, 2015 by Dave007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Others have already addressed your question, but I wanted to say... what beautiful pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranaz Posted February 17, 2015 Author Share Posted February 17, 2015 Using sedation for any reason unless absolutely neccessay ( serious health issues) is a very bad idea. There's 2 common ways that sexing is done-----1--as you mentioned, removal of a few feathers which won't bother a bird at all. It's the person who's more frightened. The feathers are sent in by mail or the vet or vet tech does the sexing. Dave can you give me few more details on the feather method? How to choose the feathers, to pluck each separately, any advise of how to do it? I can post them to the lab tp get it sexed but its the plucking Im not sure how to do. Any help is appreciated. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave007 Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 (edited) Dave can you give me few more details on the feather method? How to choose the feathers, to pluck each separately, any advise of how to do it? I can post them to the lab tp get it sexed but its the plucking Im not sure how to do. Any help is appreciated.Thank you Look at the black circle----put you hand around the bird leaving the breast exposed. Keep the bird horosontal. Grab 2 or 3 feathers from the breast area. Keep your fingers next to his skin. Give a quick pull and the feathers are out. These are the same feathers that a bird molts 1 or 2x a year. OR if you're more brave, have a person hold the bird, go to the tail feathers, focus in on one feather. Put your fingers around that one feather, keep finger next to the skin, pull quickly and the feather will come out. There may be a little blood which isn't unusual. Put a little cornstarch or talcum powder on the area, press for 30 seconds and clotting will happen. OR get a person to hold the bird. Have a tiny nailclipper there. Take the clipper and clip a bit of nail off. If there's no blood, repeat until you see a little blood. Have a baggy there. Put blood on a q--tip or cotton ball and put it in a baggy. Bring it to the vet or mail it out to get the test done. Just remember one major thing No matter what method you use, your bird will squawk. That's not unusual and the only thing that's happening is that the bird is not in pain, just irritated. The squawking stops immediately. Put him/her in the cage on a perch. Give a treat, tell him that he's a good boy/girl. THE END Edited February 17, 2015 by Dave007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 ranaz Good luck! Dave has been so helpful! I was lucky Sophie came here at age two already DNA sexed. It was done the feather way Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranaz Posted February 18, 2015 Author Share Posted February 18, 2015 Thank you so much Dave for the detailed description. I will do the first way with breast feathers. I will let you know what happens. I hope he doesnt hate me for this. Thanks again for the tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 I just want to say you have a beautiful grey, love that flight picture, thanks for sharing them with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brat Birds Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 I, too, wanted to say how wonderful those pictures are. Beautiful bird - male or female! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muse Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 I agree with what Dave said, except I advise not using talcum around birds. It's not good for lungs if the dust gets breathed in. Cornstarch is safer and works every bit as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytness Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 We did the nail method with our Miligold Macaw, and used Kwik Stop immediately afterwards, Shaylor didn't even let out a squawk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 I like the idea of cornstarch as well! Good point regarding their lungs! I think everyone should get a prescription for " dermabond". Its amazing! Its a glue with no side effects. Your bird may be a little purple.... but it looks good with grey Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerial.2000 Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 beautiful pictures indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inara Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Gorgeous photos of a beautiful bird. Great description from Dave to file away for future use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chezron Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Bel oiseau! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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