Paper "straws"

jbail1026 · Nov 12, 2014

Hi All! My Olly turned one year old in December. He has not been DNA sexed. He recently started the paper shredding and stuffing them in his back/tail feathers behavior. Is this solely a female lovebird thing to do? Or do males sometimes display this, too? Just wondering if I have an Oliver or an Olivia without the trauma of a blood draw at the a-vet.

Thanks!

EAI · Nov 12, 2014

Females are the only ones who can perfectly strip paper nest making. Males are known for trying but don't have enough skills compared to the females. Avian Biotech does DNA sexing at a very reasonable price. Instead of drawing blood, you can send in molted feather samples.

jbail1026 · Nov 14, 2014

Awesome! I'll definitely do the feather testing...but all signs are pointing toward female. Thanks!

4dugnlee · Nov 14, 2014

EAI said:
Females are the only ones who can perfectly strip paper nest making. Males are known for trying but don't have enough skills compared to the females. Avian Biotech does DNA sexing at a very reasonable price. Instead of drawing blood, you can send in molted feather samples.

So you can use the molt feathers and not have to pluck one to send in? Hey, I might do that...I just didn't want to pluck one from my fids. It would just be for curiosity really...it doesn't matter to me male or female.

Sunset_Chaser · Nov 14, 2014

You can't send in the molted feathers and get an accurate result. Avianbiotech.com - Feather Sexing Q&A Check out this link, they tell you how to collect the samples on there and state that feathers should be freshly plucked from the breast.

4dugnlee · Nov 14, 2014

featheredfriendsnmore said:
You can't send in the molted feathers and get an accurate result. Avianbiotech.com - Feather Sexing Q&A Check out this link, they tell you how to collect the samples on there and state that feathers should be freshly plucked from the breast.

Oh ok...thanks for the info. I will check it out and go from there.

jbail1026 · Nov 14, 2014

OK. Good to know. I ordered a testing kit (they are free) and will decide what to do after I receive it. I hate the idea of grabbing and plucking Olly, but I bet he/she would forgive me.

Oh, this is purely out of curiosity for me, too. I don't need Olly to be one or the other. I would just like to know.

WannaBeAParrot · Nov 14, 2014

Also can be done with a blood sample next time she has blood drawn at a-vets office. They told me it is just a tiny amount for the test, about $60 for test through my vet.

EAI · Nov 15, 2014

featheredfriendsnmore said:
You can't send in the molted feathers and get an accurate result. Avianbiotech.com - Feather Sexing Q&A Check out this link, they tell you how to collect the samples on there and state that feathers should be freshly plucked from the breast.

Thank you for catching and clearing that up! Sorry, I tried my best to remember what it said a while back (I should have reread it).

jbail1026 · Nov 16, 2014

Well, no need for the test for Olly. She laid an egg. [emoji15]

EAI · Nov 16, 2014

Well the upside is that it was a free DNA testing! Make sure to have cuttlebones for calcium to prevent Olivia (I assume that's her name now? Please correct me if im wrong

) from being egg bounded.

jbail1026 · Nov 16, 2014

Right! Cuttlebone is present. I always have that for my female turtle, too. [emoji4]

RavensGryf · Nov 16, 2014

EAI said:
Avian Biotech does DNA sexing at a very reasonable price. Instead of drawing blood, you can send in molted feather samples.

I remember they needed freshly plucked feathers (around 5) from the breast region. They have to be plucked in order to have "fresh" DNA on them. Not old feathers that were ready to fall out. I did it about 9 years ago, and a surgery confirmed the tests accuracy.

Paper "straws"

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What's this behaviour?

My lone lovebird laid an egg...now what?

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