Sexing Lovebirds

[MokeyBird]

I think I have one male and one female peachfaced lovebird but I'm not sure. Is there anyway besides a bloodtest that could help me determine thier sex? My sister, who I got the birds from, said she read in a lovebird book that sometimes you could tell by the shape of their tail. A square tail is one, while a pointed tail is the other. If that is the case, I have one of each.

[Monica]

Females may have a heavier body than a male, may sit with a wider stance than a male, a females tail may be more square as the male has a more rounded tail, and a females pelvis bones may be spread further apart than a males. It's no sure way, and some birds may actually appear to be the other sex, so it's not 100% certain unless the pair raise a clutch of chicks (not the actual laying part, but of fertile eggs hatching), or you get them DNA sexed via blood or feather...

[Mr Five]

There are a few ways that you can sex a lovebird without the DNA testings. One is the pelvic. This is done by holding the bird on it's back and then press to feel the gap between the pelvic bones. The male will be closer than the female. Now this is not 100% because the gap is about the same until the hen matures. Another way to somewhat tell is how they perch. Normally the male will perch with it's feel closer together. Another way is to give them something to shred. Normally only females will tuck what they have shredded under their feathers on their backs.

Now if you do go and have them DNAed please remember that you can get a false positive for a male. This is that you're told that you have a male when in fact it's a female. When you find this out is about the time they start laying eggs and can't figure out why you have 10-12 eggs in just a week or so. Lovebirds will normally lay an egg every other day when they are laying.

The only 100% way to tell the sex of a lovebird is to have it surgically sexed. (SS) This is done to a mature bird normally when they are no younger than 11 months. It is done by most avian vet for a fee. What they do is cut the abdomen open and see the sexual organs.

Mr. Five

[Monica]

From what I heard, DNA testing via blood or feather sample is more accurate that SS. Surgical sexing is of course best done on mature birds, however it can still be hard to see. However, as far as SS went, I heard that they made a small incision on the side of the abdomen and insert a camera to view inside... I could be wrong however, though SS is probably much more expensive that DNA. DNA sexing can be done at any age, even right after the chick is hatched using it's eggshell to DNA sex that particular bird.

[Adi]

If you're going to have them sexed, I'd go with DNA anyday over SS

Why go through surgery just to know if you have a male or female? If there isn't a very important reason to have your bird under anesthesia, I wouldn't risk it. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone having wrongfull results when doing the DNA testing...

As Monica also mentioned, DNA testing is very well priced, especially if you get those kits over internet.

[Mr Five]

Here are two links to different site that you can have the DNA test done. You can also have then send you the free kits.

http://www.avianbiotech.com/
http://www.dnasexing.com/


Here is another site that might be of good info for you to read it gives you a lot of information regarding sexing a bird

http://www.parrotpro.com/sexing.htm

[Mr Five]

Surgical sexing
The ovaries and testicles (gonads) of birds are found inside their body. The sex can be determined by examining these gonads with an endoscope. This is done under a general anaesthetic. A small hole (2~3 mm) is made in the side, the endoscope inserted and the gonads found and identified. Usually no stitches are required, as the hole closes up almost immediately. The whole process takes only 1~2 minutes. The accuracy of this procedure is very high – above 98% – and birds can be sexed almost as soon as they have fledged. Although there is a risk involving anaesthesia and surgery, it is very low – less than 0.5%.

DNA sexing
Although DNA sexing is safe, there are often long delays between the collection of the sample and notification of results. Because of the amount of handling involved, there is more margin for human error. Additionally, DNA sexing can only tell the sex of the bird – it can make no comment on the bird's maturity, health, body condition, etc. DNA sexing is usually between $5~$10 per bird less expensive than surgical sexing.

DNA sexing plays a valuable role in the sexing of rare or valuable birds, or if you cannot take your bird to a vet experienced in surgical sexing. Otherwise, surgical sexing is more efficient, just as accurate, gives you more information, and gives you same–day results.

Information taken from www.petalia.com.au

[Monica]

SS may have same day results, though I don't feel the risks of anaesthesia are worth it, especially in a smaller bird where problems could more easily go wrong.

[CrazyBirdLady]

My two cents on surgical sexing is that it is very accurate in larger birds, but in smaller birds, the sexing is only as good as the person doing it. Case in point, one of our surgically sexed hens is now the proud father of six chicks!

[Freedomoflight]

SS can actually be wong in some cases. In juvenile birds, a young male can look like a female. DNA sexing is very accurate, and much safer. As far as the pelivic way of telling, that too can be wrong, because you can only tell a female from a male when you have a mautre female. Otherwise, a juvenile females body will not be ready to lay, therfore her pelivis will not be spread yet. Cases on being wrong on that have been mentioned in plenty of texts.
Best way to go IMO is DNA. Accurate (only males have the y chromosome, or w/e, little rusty on my science, heh) and wont put the bird at risk of death or paralysis by anaesthesia. The delays are not that long, where most of the breeders I know get their birds sexed, (specialty store in my area) it only takes about 3-4 days to get results, and no recovery time for the birds! And of course, any vet checkup can tell you if your bird is healthy, give you a ballpark figure of how old your bird is (if you dont know your birds age) etc. You dont need surgical sexing for all that! And, with the technology we have today, DNA is 99 percent accurate!