I got Piper, Zuri and Petey sexed recently

[Natacha]

Mostly because I wanted to know.

About three weeks ago I had called HealthGene to get some cards to take blood myself at home (and cut the on the price, since it's rather expensive to get sexing done by the vet). Two week-ends ago, I proceeded to take blood by means of cutting a nail a bit shorter in order to make it bleed. I did Piper and Zuri at home, since they let me handle them reasonably well (Zuri actually impressed me, I was expecting a bit of a fight but it was not the case) and I had someone at the Parrot Club meeting, which was held that Sunday, do Petey as if I had attempted to do it myself, I would have been the one to bleed.

Anyways, before sending the cards in, this is what I thought the results would be:
Piper (Lovebird) - Male
Zuri (Meyer's) - Male
Petey (Meyer's) - Female

I know I referred to Piper and Zuri as females; this was mostly out of habit. I didn't know better when I got Piper and "she/her" came out more naturally and it stucked; as I interacted more and more with people online and hearing some "horror" stories about how a female Lovebird will turn "evil" when hormones kick in and since Piper is pretty much always a sweetheart, I started to assume this was because Piper was a male...but since I was so used to using female pronouns, I continued to use them.
When I initially got Zuri, head shape and size let me to believe female. As Zuri matured...well I started thinking male. Again, used to saying "she/her" and couldn't be bothered to change.

Petey...well Petey's disposition, the way "she" acts when hormones kick in..I couldn't help to think "she" was a female...so did my boyfriend, mother, ex-owner that had "her" for a little bit and even my vet...everyone had the belief Petey was a female.

The actual results:

Piper - Male
Zuri - Male
Petey - Male

Yup..all males. So anyone who wondered if I would ever be concerned about having babies between Zuri and Petey, it's not going to happen (not that I thought they ever liked each other enough to even consider this).

So, in total, I have 4 male birds (let's not forget Joey) and one female (Shade).

Guess I don't have to worry too much about egg binding...

[Michael]

Well you got 2 out of 3 At least these test put the curiosity to rest.

Now you're going to have to start getting used to calling all your guys "he"

[Natacha]

It's going pretty well with Piper and Zuri.
Petey's the hardest to change for...

[lzver]

Jessie is going to the vet on Saturday for a checkup and I'm going to ask what they charge to do the DNA sexing. I've always thought he was a male, but it would be nice to know. If they charge to much, I may go the same route you did Natacha ... only thing is I've never cut their nails myself. Not sure I'm comfortable holding them down to get the sample.

[Natacha]

Jessie is going to the vet on Saturday for a checkup and I'm going to ask what they charge to do the DNA sexing. I've always thought he was a male, but it would be nice to know. If they charge to much, I may go the same route you did Natacha ... only thing is I've never cut their nails myself. Not sure I'm comfortable holding them down to get the sample.

I had Shade done by my vet and it was around $60...which is what it cost me to do 3 birds myself.
I had help from my boyfriend when I did Zuri and Piper. I held them and clipped them, he just help hold the toe out so it was easier for me to clip the nail.

[Michael]

If you've cut nails before it's fairly easy but I would NOT recommend someone to do it if you've never cut nails before. Also, don't traumatize your bird by doing it yourself or you could lose their trust (once again unless you're gentle and know exactly what you're doing). I know I could easily take the sample on Kili now if I had to, but back when I got her, I'm glad I had someone else do it cause I would not have known how to do it right.

[lzver]

I don't have it in me to hold them down to trim their nails, so I won't be doing it myself. I'm too afraid of hurting them or loosing their trust. I'll discuss with the vet on the weekend and may get it done through them. Then again, its not the most important thing in the world ... it won't make me love him any less whether he's male for female. He's always going to be my little buddy.

[Natacha]

If you've cut nails before it's fairly easy but I would NOT recommend someone to do it if you've never cut nails before. Also, don't traumatize your bird by doing it yourself or you could lose their trust (once again unless you're gentle and know exactly what you're doing).

That is basically why I didn't do Petey (other than being convince I would have been bleeding before him).
We are still working on trust and there's no way I was going to be the "bad" guy there....

[Natacha]

I don't have it in me to hold them down to trim their nails, so I won't be doing it myself. I'm too afraid of hurting them or loosing their trust. I'll discuss with the vet on the weekend and may get it done through them. Then again, its not the most important thing in the world ... it won't make me love him any less whether he's male for female. He's always going to be my little buddy.

Then I would have it done by the vet.
But, while you are at the vet, you might want to consider having other blood tests tone while they will be taking blood. I know my vet took blood by syringe for the DNA test. I could have had more blood work done for the same fee (of taking blood that is), but we had had Shade's blood work done a few months prior (my boyfriend went with her since I couldn't get out of work but didn't ask to have the DNA test done at the time).