Lurker Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 (edited) OK...first newbie-why-does-he-bother-asking question. The local "Bird farm" in town has an avian vet on staff. They're having a "Surgical Sexing And Microchipping" event coming up in the next couple weeks. I did an internet search on surgical sexing and it described it as ACTUAL surgery! I thought they just put a probe into a vent to take a feel and called it a day? Is this still a viable option given the relatively easy access to DNA sexing? If DNA is the way to go then how do I get a feather or blood for the sample? I don't want my Grey to hate me because I plucked a feather from it. Still trying to build trust...know what I mean? By the way...it really doesn't matter to me what the gender of my grey is...I'm just curious. As for the microchipping...is it worth it? What data can be stored? Retrieved? Is it just like a P.I.T. tag? Who holds onto the record and how is it verified if the chip ever needs to be used? For identification purposes I assume? I wonder about irritation or my bird digging it out of its skin. Any thoughts, opinions or advice is greatly appreciated. Ok that's enough rambling for now...whew! Edited August 18, 2015 by Lurker Typo...the scourge of forum banter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 My greys are microchipped and have been since they were 4 months old. One is about 7-8 years old and the other 4-5 years old. They have never done anything to act like the chips bothered them in any way. If I take my greys to the avian vet the vet checks them (chips) for me to see if they are in place. I have my greys registered and if they are ever lost or fly away and taken to an avian vet/vet they can be checked for chipping and ownership. It gives me great peace of mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 That's cool. Where do you have them registered? Is there like a centralized avian chip registry? I'm assuming that is an additional cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 The chip maker records the registration so it is easily retrieved by both any Veterinarian with a chip reader and most shelter organizations like Humane Society and SPCA. Surgical sexing is hard on the bird and the DNA route is much less risky. Pulling one pin feather should be forgiven rather quickly if knowing your birds gender ID is that important to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acappella Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 I'd have the clinic pull a blood feather before I'd try any surgical sexing. That notion scares me a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neoow Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 I can't really answer about the sexing as I've never bothered having Alfie tested so don't know a lot about it. However, I recently got Alfie microchipped. He hasn't shown any signs of irritation after being 'chipped and he wasn't bothered about having it done. your vet will check all the details to be registered are correct (e.g your name, address, contact details etc etc) and then this will be entered on a register with the number from the chip. (I got given a few copies of the barcode with the chip number on it for my records) If your bird is lost and taken to a vet/animal shelter, they can scan the bird for a chip. They'll then cross-check this information against a central register which will match the bird up to your details and allow them to contact you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaileysPapa Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 I had Bailey sexed by the vet cutting his nail a bit short and sending a blood sample to Avian Biotech. It never bothered him a bit. When I volunteered with the SPCA doing hurricane relief, the birds that found their way home first were the ones who were microchipped. It made it easier to find the owners of all the displaced animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 Sweet! Thanks for all the feedback crew! So I'm just going to take my grey down to get chipped and ask the vet to get some blood or feathers to send out. Thanks again! Another thing...is it bad luck to say give a bird a male name and them find out its a female and change the name? Or vice versa? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neoow Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I don't think it makes any difference. There are several members here who have birds with male names who are actually female and vice versa. The bird won't know any difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acappella Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Our most famous mis-named member is Gilbert, or Gilly, Gil Girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I wouldn't worry about the name at all. Your bird certainly won't care! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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