Sex

[Breeder]

I know that i can understand if a bird is female or male by just touching their pelvic area. There are two little bonuses there. If the two bonuses are away from each other, then it's female. If those bonuses are touching each other then it's a male. But having a proplem. When touching at one of my lovebirds, i can tell it's a male because he is having his bonuses touching each other. But if i try seperate those bonuses, i can open them but not much far as the females. What is that?

[birdlover912]

I have a friend who thought her bird was a female because of the gap between the pelvic bones...the dna test came back male. Sexing by the pelvic bones is not very accurate--a dna test is the only sure way to determine gender besides observing obvious gender related behaviors. :)

[mayaexquisite]

I agree. Pelvic sexing is unreliable, although I had been "right" about all my previous birds except for Mika and Kano. Both of my birds are boys and they both have gaps between their bones where I can stick a little of my pinky between.

One of the problems with pelvic sexing is that bones can stay close together on a female until she's ready to lay eggs and then they'll spread.

DNA sexing, a bird laying an egg, or sex-linked mutations are the only way to definitely tell sex.

[Breeder]

How to do that DNA sexing? Where i must go?

[mayaexquisite]

Your vet can do it or you can do it yourself by getting a DNA kit from an online site like avianbiotech.com. They'll send you a kit where you either have to give a tiny blood sample (by cutting a nail) or a feather sample (you have to pluck 6-8 FRESH feathers). Most people prefer doing the blood sample because it's quicker. Then you send the kit back to the company and they'll give you the results.

[Breeder]

Hmmm, seems troublesome.

[mayaexquisite]

If you think that's troublesome, then I don't know what to tell you... it's not "easy" having pets in general and breeding (since your username is "Breeder") is extremely time consuming and is expensive. And it's definitely better to know the sex of your birds rather than not.

[Breeder]

I didn't meant troublesome the procedure to prove the DNA, but ordering that DNA kit from internet. I never did that. I don't even have a bank account, ha ha. I was searching something that i could find in my country. If i take a blood sample to a "doctor", can't he do the same thing?

[mayaexquisite]

Ah, I see. Yes, the other option I said is that your vet can do it. You can take your bird(s) to the vet and they will take the blood sample. If cost isn't an issue for you, this method is fine. A lot of others rather do it themselves because the online DNA kit is free and the test result is roughly $20. A vet seems to charge much more, some having quoting $50-80.

[Breeder]

Hmmm, i am checking the site you gave me again. It doesn't say anything about money for sending the kit. Is that true? I will pay when i send the samples? I'm ready to open a bank account for this