Need to know Gender

[marceldacs317]

I'm probably getting a medium sized parrot sometime in the future as a baby(not sure of species yet), and I would really prefer a female over a male. I know breeders and stores say they can do "$30 for DNA sexing". However, what if the bird that they DNA sex for me turns out to be a male, then I wouldn't want it. Do i just have to keep DNA sexing random birds that the breeders has until one of them turns out to be a female? I have no idea what to do because doing this would cost quite a bit of money.

 

[Echo]

Yes that is what you would need to do unfortunately unless the breeder you choose does what I do which is to include DNA sexing in the price of the bird. In that case you would ask for a female.

 

[ShellyBorg]

Breeders that do include DNA sometimes are the better breeders.

 

[Mayden]

Breeders that do include DNA sometimes are the better breeders.

I wouldn't necessarily say so. Not knowing the sex of your bird doesn't make you a bad owner, so I don't see why not knowing the sex of the babies (who's likely to have 'less complications' from sex related illnesses, aka, egg binding, because of age) makes them any less of a good breeder. If they're otherwise happy and healthy, sex is generally not important to most buyers. I know it wasn't a factor in my decision for getting Merlin. We just got him DNA'd when he came home with us.

Unfortunately, you're going to have to get the babies DNA'd. A lot of breeders do this as standard and you can just ask for a female, unfortunately it might mean you have to wait longer for a baby (as a clutch might consist of just males!) but you'll have your female.

Out of curiosity, why female?

 

[marceldacs317]

Well I live in an apartment and females tend to be quieter. Of course there are exceptions but i'd rather play it safer. My bird will most likely be a female green cheek conure. For me, the results of the DNA sexing will affect my decision so If the results turn out to be male ill have to keep spending more money on another DNA sexing until one of them turns out to be female. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should do in my case?

 

[SoCalWendy]

I think females tend to be quieter than males. But that's just my opinion.

 

[crimson]

like Echo said, choose your breeder and wait patiently until you get a female.

You might want to choose two breeders and go with what ever one has a female first.

some breeders will know genetics quite well and can determine the sex from the mutation
of the chick.

 

[Kalidasa]

Hahaha I have a female GCC and she gets loud several times a day just like any parrot, and when she's loud SHE'S LOUD!

 

[antoinette]

Best option would be to get a bird that has been dna'd by a breeder.

 

[Pajarita]

Antoinette is correct. Just go with a breeder that DNA's all the chicks and offers you the gender you want. But not all species have quieter females, it depends on which gender is dominant and, for some species (like GCCs) makes no difference at all.

 

[chippy]

My Wilbur (male GCC) was a very quiet bird... and Tiki, who is a female IRN, can get VERY loud, and Gemma (female lovebird) is the loudest bird in the house. She SCREECHES often and is constantly "peeping" and making other noise. The ONLY time she is quiet is when she is sleeping. Seriously. So being female is NO guarantee of quiet.