Dna testing

[kobe629]

Not sure if this is the right place on the forum but I was wondering if you guys thing $150 for dna testing for sexing is too much? To me it sounds like a lot but that is what my local vet is charging and wondering if that is the norm..I wasn't planning on sexing my bird but now I am going to pick up a second bird a male alexandrine and now I want to check the sex out of my golden conure..

 

[Molcan2]

Every vet is going to have different pricing, pricing may vary depending on what lab they use and what it costs for them to get it there. Mine charges $55, he said he sends his DNA testing to a facility out in California. It may be a little pricey, but you only do it once. I would be willing to pay that price to have piece of mind, if it were my bird.

 

[kobe629]

I live in California too..I'll call around and see what is the going rate because I had a option before when I first purchased my bird for $50 but I passed on it because I really didn't care then..I was just going to wait and see if she or he ever lays a egg..

 

[Molcan2]

I would think then that the price should be about the same if not cheaper, since you are in the state that mine had to be sent too. I do think it is very important to know whether you have a male or female. With males you don't have to worry about egg laying, if you have a female then you don't want to encourage the behavior because of the serious health risks involved with egg laying.

 

[Echo]

Well Avian Biotech charges $19.50 for DNA testing. My vet charges around $55.00. I have done it both way. For smaller birds like Lovebirds, Conures, Cockatiels etc. I don't mind clipping the tip of a toe nail to get a drop of blood and send it myself. However, for my Grey or Pionus, I let the vet or the breeder (if I get the bird from one) do it, their nails are harder and black so it is hard to see the quick. Breeders usually charge around $25-35.

$150 for a DNA test is crazy!!!! WAY overpriced!

 

[kobe629]

I'll shop around at some local vets because $150 sound like a lot at this first place I called. I'm guessing because it is located in a upscale location. The place that was going to charge me $50 was at a pet store and I'm not sure where they get it done at but that is 2 hours away from me..Will see I'll pay no problem I just don't want to over pay..

 

[Mayden]

Goodness I'd never do the blood sample! Haha. There's websites that you can send off some feathers too for a much cheaper price, maybe consider that?

 

[kobe629]

Goodness I'd never do the blood sample! Haha. There's websites that you can send off some feathers too for a much cheaper price, maybe consider that?

I was thinking of that too..But to be honest I'm a chicken to pull a feather off my bird..:54:

 

[Mayden]

Goodness I'd never do the blood sample! Haha. There's websites that you can send off some feathers too for a much cheaper price, maybe consider that?

I was thinking of that too..But to be honest I'm a chicken to pull a feather off my bird..:54:

Get them when they're sleeping. :21:

Merlins getting dna sexed soon, feather plucking method, however he's getting microchipped at the same time so he'll be knocked out whilst the feathers are being yoinked, so I'm quite greatful for that really as I'm the same about it, the less distress for the bird the better!

 

[kobe629]

Micro chipped..I was debating on that since there are not to many of type of my bird..But I called again to confirm the price and it's 150 for just sexing which is a blood method and 88 for office visit..Then I called another vets office at they charge $55..

 

[kobe629]

Wow so far the prices that I have gotten all draw blood and the prices I have received are $55, $86, $120 and of course $150..

 

[IolaniAviary]

That sounds outrageous, I believe it's $20.00 through the lab yourself... so he would be charging $130 to do it. Most vets charge $40-50. I am too much of a wuss to put my birds through that, I pendant sex.

 

[kobe629]

I called another place and they are charging $60 with a $68 office visit which seems to be the cheapest so far..

 

[Echo]

When I brought one of my birds for a first well-bird check up, they drew some blood as I want all my new birds to be tested for diseases and I can't draw blood myself. While she had the blood in the syringe, I asked her to put one drop on my blood collection card and I then sent it myself for DNA testing . Soooo you can have them test the bird for one thing and with the blood collection they do, you can ask for a sample to take along...after all it is your birds blood and it belong to you. My vet didn't say anything to that.....what would she say???

 

[kobe629]

When I brought one of my birds for a first well-bird check up, they drew some blood as I want all my new birds to be tested for diseases and I can't draw blood myself. While she had the blood in the syringe, I asked her to put one drop on my blood collection card and I then sent it myself for DNA testing . Soooo you can have them test the bird for one thing and with the blood collection they do, you can ask for a sample to take along...after all it is your birds blood and it belong to you. My vet didn't say anything to that.....what would she say???

Dam thats smart..When I first got my bird too I had them run test and they also asked me too if I wanted to do a DNA testing but I said no and the vet said I am also fine without knowing if I don't plan to breed I wish I did that then..O well but I would do this with my alexandrine i'm picking up in two weeks but you can visually tell he is a boy..

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

I use to be terrified to hurt my birds by pulling out feather (I refused to even try it for years). Eventually I found myself in a situation where I had to, it was so simple and the birds don't even seem to notice. AMR labs charges 12 dollars for dna sexing sent to them, avian biotech is just under 20 for blood and about 24 for feather. (As a breeder all our babies are egg shell sexed (so that I always know what sex a baby is before we sell it) ). Anyway, check DVM Scott MacDonalds website and see if he will be having a sexing clinic near you (he charges between 10 and 15 dollars for surgical sexing (and he's amazing!) Now I always wait for him to be around and have birds surgically sexed (he does a small tatoo in the wing so (left side for females, and right side for males). The birds are put under anethesia, and he also grooms and assesses the birds weight, condition, general health, and since he uses a tiny scope to look at the reproductive organs he can give a fair estimate to age and sexual maturity and drive. It's a lot of information for the price, I've personally seen him do hundreds of birds with no trouble, and my birds aren't even mad at me when they get home. (It's a little weird to hold your floppy bodied bird while it's still out, but they're only under for about 10 minutes total.

Although there are a lot of people against surgical sexing (because they just want to know sex and no unnecessary trips or trauma.... and the only vet I'd trust to surgically sex is Dr. MacDonald.

 

[Rio Mom]

I used avianbiotech.com and paid around 25 for feather testing. I was too chicken to pull the feathers myself, so my breeder pulled the feathers for me. (I just brought along my kit when I picked him up). River didn't pay much attention to the feathers being pulled. 150 is definately a crazy price!

 

[seo2535]

thanks for all the information over here

 

[LoveMauiGus]

My vet did it for $50 since they said the vet tech could do it. The $50 included the blood draw and test results. $150 sounds like a lot to me

 

[oled]

$80 is a normal price in Sweden