DNA sexing vs Surgical Sexing

[Lupa]

Hi everyone

 

I'm really interested to know if Shani is really a girl, I have no interest in breeding with her, just kinda want to know.

 

I searched the forums and cant seem to find anything about surgical sexing (which my vet wants to do) vs DNA sexing.

 

He says surgical sexing is easiest and cheapest, anyone know the procedure involved? is it 100% safe? have you had your bird surgically sexed? He says there is no real surgery involved just the sticking of a microscope up her bum :blush: don't know about anyone else but this sounds like a horrible option to me, i was kinda concerned that he even offered it as an option.

 

I'm leaning toward DNA sexing, seems like less/no stress for the bird. Was just interested to know if I'm being silly and its really not a big thing having your bird surgically sexed

[Lupa]

Oh and I put this in the Nursery forum cause she is still a baby about 7 months old...

[lovemyGreys]

Lupa i would be concerned he offered you the option of surgical sexing too.Feather sexing and blood sexing are so reliable these days that i know of no breeders who choose the surgical option. At the end of the day surgical sexing is surgery, involving anesthesia (although a small amount) & still carries risks as with any surgery.

 

Avian Biotech has a good informative website..

 

http://www.avianbiotech.com/SexingCenter.htm

[Lupa]

Thanks LMG I looked at that link but they wont accept samples from South Africa without special permits.

 

It seems like we are still behind in the world with our avian veterinarians here in South Africa, since posting this I found a company in SA that does DNA sexing to http://www.mdsafrica.net/site/default.asp

 

They said they don't recommend sending a feather and prefer a drop of blood :unsure: not really sure how I would even attempt getting that right, or that I have the heart to prick her toe.

 

I think I'm going to send them a feather anyways and see what they come up with and if they cant determine her sex from the feather then I will abandon my quest.

 

It doesn't really make a difference anyways, still will love her just as much.

[lovemyGreys]

They should be able to determine sex from a newly plucked chest feather, it's the tissue cells that confirms the sex. good luck, keep updated if you have any luck

[siobha9]

I got the kit in the post form avian biotech today. I am not sure if I actually want to know. I dont know the sexes of Liath, Oisin or even Beaker the caique....

 

Oh what to do... what if my baby girl is a..... BOY???

 

:ohmy:

[casper]

I used Avian Biotech a few weeks a go when I tested Keeko. I am a big softie though and got the vet to pluck the feathers for me! I had the result back within 5 days. Its funny Siobhan,even though I only had keeko a week I thought he was a she and kept calling her my little girl. Yes turns out Keeko is a boy. I wouldnt have had the surgical option though, would not have been worth the risks even though they may be small.

[Big_Squishy]

When we got BoBo sexed the bird store staff used blood from his toe nails. I watched them shave ever so little off until they got it to bleed. Had a card with a spot for the blood sample. Rubbed the blood on it and sent it off. I got the results back in just over a week.

 

BoBo did not show any signs of being bothered. He did not favor his foot or show any other signs of being irritated. I would go with the DNA sexing. Just my input.

 

 

JC

[judygram]

Oh come on Siobhan, you want to know, you know you do, heck I want to know now that you have gone and got the kit, so bite the bullit and do it, so what if she is a he, at least you will know.

 

Yep JC the DNA sexing is the only way to go in my opinion, and thats just my input. :whistle: :cheer:<br><br>Post edited by: judygram, at: 2008/06/12 17:24