rationalreasonz Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Is there any way besides paying 300 dollars to find out the sex of my grey? I hear that females are lighter and their eyes are closer and they are smaller, but what can I compare her too? Everyone at my job thinks she is a female but I want to know for sure. I asked around in my area and everyone said its about 300 dollars for the test. Is there a cheaper way? Or can someone who has a male that has been tested send me a picture to compare if in fact those above statements are true. I have also heard something brief about an at home mail away test of some kind but I hear you have to draw blood and that makes me nervous. Thank you in advance for your help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronda477 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I'm sure there is! I know for a fact it didn't cost that much for the breeders or the birds themselves would be much higher than what they already cost. Let me look into it for you and I'll try to be back with some answers for you! Oh and let me add, I do know there is a at home test you can do with clipping a toe nail and getting a little drop of blood from that and than sending that in. But I'll be back!<br><br>Post edited by: Ronda477, at: 2008/02/28 02:21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 A DNA test does not cost $300 and there are mail in tests you can get that only cost around $25 or so, I believe one of them is found at www.avianconnection.com It usually requires a drop of blood from one of the talons clipped a mite too short or it can be done from a few feathers plucked from the breast. You can also have it done at your vet's office but I imagine it will cost more, but certainly not $300. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 A DNA test does not cost $300 and there are mail in tests you can get that only cost around $25 or so, I believe one of them is found at www.avianconnection.com It usually requires a drop of blood from one of the talons clipped a mite too short or it can be done from a few feathers plucked from the breast. You can also have it done at your vet's office but I imagine it will cost more, but certainly not $300. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rationalreasonz Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Thank you for your help. I didn't think it would be $300 but that's what I have been told. The mail in test sounds good but I am scared to make her bleed or pluck feathers and have her be mighty upset with me. I am just afraid I will mess up and hurt her really bad, and no one wants to do that to their baby! Maybe I can find someone who knows how to do it and have them help me with the at home test. But thank you everyone for being so helpful I love this little community! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronda477 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Well Judy beat me to it lol She is always on top of things here! Very glad she found that for you! I knew there weren't that expensive! Like I said the prices for Gray's would be out the roof. They're already pricey lol. But for as long as we get to be with them, who cares about price! Yes see if your local pet shop that has birds would know, or if your breeder is near. And of course the vet. I'm sure any one of them could help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFeatherHut Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I use DNA Vet Center and it costs me $19 to DNA test a bird. If I send in 5 or more samples at a time, it is only $17. A lot of breeders use Avian Biotech and their cost is about the same. It just takes a small drop of blood from a toenail like judy said. My vet charges $30 to do the same test. Both places also do the feather testing and it is only a couple of dollars more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronda477 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I knew you would be around soon Janice! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rationalreasonz Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Thank you all I just ordered two of the kits from the DNA vet center. How long will it take to get the results once I mail it back to them? and can anyone tell me how to tell how short to go on the nail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronda477 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I will e-mail Janice again for you lol. I do know that it takes about a week for the results. She did our test on our baby at the beginning of the week and had it back by the end of that week. Janice is my breeder I am going through right now for our Cockatoo who also breeds Grey's. I'll e-mail her and ask her to come back and answer how far you should go on the nail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rationalreasonz Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Thank you. I want to get another gray where is your breeder located? How much does she charge...My gray is still young so maybe I can get her a friend to keep her company during the day while I'm gone I live in NY but I would travel for a birdie maybe I should talk to your breeder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronda477 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Well the woman that is known as The Feather Hut is my breeder. She is located in Ohio. She will actually have a baby TAG available in the beginning of April. She does ship too. For a TAG she charges $850 and a CAG she charges $1,000 I believe. Her website is www.thefeatherhut.com But right now she only has a male TAG available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMustee Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Here is an image of the internal working of the nail. Don't start going to short, clip more than just the tip, but don't hack at it. Once you get blood wipe the first little bit off and the squeeze the toe to get a droplet. smire the blood onto the card and then use ether the setic powder they sell for cuts or corstarch or flower works too...I use cornstarch at home. Apply pressure to the nail tip with the powder till the bleeding has stopped. The nail will be sore for a few hours or so, and don't let him sit on ruff surfaces or chew at the nail, this could cause it to start bleeding again. I just did the DNA test on my Elmo the other day and he was fine, he didn't look like he was bothered by it after about 20 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronda477 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 That was an awesome Pic Berna! Great advice! Karma girl! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rationalreasonz Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Thank you soo much BMustee that is very helpful! I will just start slow clip a little at a time till I get it. I will buy some of that powder from my job to take care of the bleeding. But thank you SOO much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMustee Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 No problem. I trim nails all day at work...from Macaws to finches...and I do the DNA tests there too. Figured this was right up my ally. Thanks for the karma! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFeatherHut Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I have done so many tests that I can now cut off just enough to squeeze out enough to do the test and then the toenail stops bleeding by itself. It's harder to do on the greys because their toenails are black and you can't actually see the "quick". When trimming nails, I use a dremmel. Just one little touch and it takes the points off without cutting them too short. (Sorry, Ronda, I wasn't able to make it back on last night - had a daughter to pick up at cheerleading and then had to watch American Idol!, then babies to feed.....) I want your job Berna! Email me privately, rational, if you would like more info on the baby timneh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjaide Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 i recently had my grey dna tested if you got to avaian biotech website you can order some parework and bags it isnt much im in uk and i paid i think it was £14 but its worldwide,you have to get 3/4 freshly plucked feathers wich my grey didnt like but she soon got over it after been given a treat,it turned out she was female which was wat i expected Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 This a great link on DNA testing with the information everyone has provided. Thanks to you all for posting the good links and advice. Also, welcome featherhut, we have heard a lot about you through Ronda and even have a photo or two or you with Sweetheart before she got to her final home at Rondas. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFeatherHut Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 danmcq, I'm not the breeder Ronda got Sweetheart from. I'm the one she is getting the baby Goffin from. LOL! No offense to the other breeder, but I do not want to be confused with her. :ohmy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Janice I just love the picture of the Tag in your avatar, that is so cute and no you wouldn't want to be confused with that other breeder, its just too bad Ronda didn't find you first, but then she wouldn't have Sweetheart would she. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Whoops, sorry featherhut, I didn't even think to wonder which breeder. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMustee Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Featherhut - I love my job! I work at a local pet store part time Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon (I work a Mon-Fri job too) and even though I have to clean up poop and change about a MILLION water bowls a day It's so much fun when I get a few minutes and can work one-on-one with a "difficult" bird and really get them to become sweethearts with me. It's a really cool store, we have a huge bird department and have everything from Caninde, Buffons, and Hyacinth macaws down to Canaries and exotic finches. The website is www.petkingdom.org. There are live cameras where you can watch the departments online and another section where you can see the animals that have gone home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFeatherHut Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Please call me Janice. If could work outside the home, that's what I'd do, unless, of course, I opened my own bird store!:cheer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMustee Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Thats what I would love to do one day...Janice...but being a stay at home breeder would be awesome too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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