Sex determination parrots

[Kim S]

I've come across a couple of breeders who swear they can sexe the birds by feeling the shape of their pelvis. So I did a bit more research and found out how you should be able to do this. I have tried this with my own birds and my friends birds (mainly cockatiels) and I can definately feel a diference!

The way to do this: You need to feel on your parrots belly, just in front of the cloaca (poo-hole). There you should feel a little hipbone portruding. Don't press too hard. You should be able to feel it just fine without putting pressure on.
When you can feel an opening between the two, it's suppose o be female. With a male you should feel only one portrusion, a rounded bone or two bones very close together (less than 0.1in).

So, I would like to ask you to try this. Especially people who have dna tested birds. I would like to know wether you are able to feel the difference.
Ofcourse only if you and your parrot are willing and able to do this!

[HyperD]

So you have birds that you already know the sex of and you tried to use this method to confirm it?

Whilst there may well be some validaty to this method, I do not think it will be 100%... Don't forget, if you already know the sex of the bird then you will perceive the hip to be different just to fit the rule

It's just the same with humans, women more often that not have curvier hips but it is not always...

[bmsweb]

I was speaking to a large parrot breeder here in Australia and he uses this method and claims to be 90% accurate but he still uses surgical sexing to confirm. I plan on using Blood DNA testing for our birds when they hatch

Our cockatiel is a male (based on color etc) and we also have two DNA tested Conures who are sitting on eggs now. I will try this out on them once their chick are old enough.

I've never tried this method, I might give it a go, it couldn't hurt. Thanks for posting.

[jhuff]

I have not had my bird tested. However, by this test, Binx would be a Girl.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I was speaking to a large parrot breeder here in Australia and he uses this method and claims to be 90% accurate but he still uses surgical sexing to confirm.

I guess it surprises me anyone would still use surgical sexing now that we can do DNA testing. Is this really the case?

[bmsweb]

And in answer to your question yes this is still the case here with some of the breeders that I spoke with at a recent Bird Show.

I know I'm in total agreement with you. I'm not 100% sure but I was told large breeders do this because it costs less. I can't image why it would cost less, unless they have 100+ birds to do or something like that.

I know I will be getting my Green Cheek Chicks Blood DNA sexed and this will cost me $16.90AUD ($15USD) per bird. I don't understand how an avian vet can do it cheaper than that, then again I'm not a vet.

The recent bird show I went to DNA Solutions had a stand and I got to speak to them in detail about the test etc and it all seems very hassle free. They offer both Blood and Feather Testing.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I can't imagine it could be cheaper to anesthetize and cut into a bird rather than to pull a feather or clip a toenail and analyze the results. Especially when you take into account the extra risk. Unless the breeder is a vet and is doing the surgical stuff themselves and not overly worried about losing a bird in the process. But what do I know? Just doesn't seem to pass the smell test!

[Brittanyv326]

My vet felt Sadie's hips when we went in and said as if it was a matter of fact, "It's a girl." And I asked, "are you sure?" He was pretty sure just by feeling the hips. Then my neighbor came over who has a male Quaker and felt her hips and said the same thing. I don't know what experience she has other than her own parrot, but she knew the method well! Anyway, the vet said, "to make sure, we can do the DNA test today." And I asked if there was any practical reasons to do so. He said no. So the $30 estimate I got from him and the seller could be spent in better places, like buying her toys and things. Maybe eventually I'll do it, but with 2 people who are pretty sure from this hip-feeling-method, I'm just going with it and thinking she's a girl. I checked the theoretical, not 100% accurate markings on Senegals that are supposed to tell between sexes and she perfectly matched every female description. At this point, I'm 99% sure she's a girl.

[bmsweb]

I can't imagine it could be cheaper to anesthetize and cut into a bird rather than to pull a feather or clip a toenail and analyze the results. Especially when you take into account the extra risk.

Funny you say that because you sound exactly like me when I was discussing surgical sexing with my wife. Well the Avian Vet that heads up Vetafarm.com Pet Supplies, Dr Tony Gestier, is one vet that does a lot of surgical sexing. So irrespective of our thoughts on the subject, Breeders and Vets are still using surgical sexing today.

You say cut? Do they have to cut? . . I don't know, I'm just asking. I know they have to Anesthetize the bird for sure as I have photographs of conures getting surgically sexed in one of my books.

The only possible scenario that could possibly make it more cost effective is if you did a large number of bird. Even then I find it hard to believe it would in fact be that much cheaper. I'm only guessing as I really don't know much about it.

When our chicks are old enough, I will let my wife do the toe brick and get the blood samples! She's the one with the medical background LOL

[antocastanheira]

Hello,

Sorry, but i have to say that determination a Parrot sex by the pelvis bones is totally wrong, it´s impossible to be accurate. A vet that do this is not a good Doctor.
By DNA you don´t need surgical, and other invasive sexing methods. Only a few feather and it´s done.
If you what to sex your bird, there is a Clinic in Brazil that made the tests economical. I worked with them, i live in Portugal, and their really friendly and professional.
http://www.exon.com.br

Beast Reguards
António Castanheira
http://www.forpus.webnode.com