| Yes, it will cost about $50-75 to have the bird sexed by an avian vet. It is
the only sure-fire way to tell, and there is even controversy in some quarters
about how accurate some of the methods offered by the vets can be because of
the complications with lab work, etc. I have found it to be a total myth
that if a bird likes a human of one sex, the bird is the opposite sex; I have
also found it to be often untrue that 'bird partial to men' or 'partial to
women' means that particular bird will always be partial to that particular
sex of human. If you want me to cite cases, write me. I'd be glad to
give you all the details you can stand.
Regarding your bird's screaming, Sally Blanchard has written a lot of articles
in Bird Talk about this. She would say the bird has you well trained to take
it out on its command ;') There is a new book called The Well-Behaved
Parrot with a forward by Sally Blanchard that costs less that $10 and might
be the best investment you could make. I don't recall the author's name, but
it is a 1992 or 1993 publication in soft cover, available through most pet
stores or major book stores (get them to order it for you). The book has
*a lot* on big birds.......
Linda
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| Jane,
If you get BIRD TALK Magazine, there is a good article in the newest
issue (September) on Avian Sexing. According to the article the DNA
sexing (Blood Test) is the most accurate method. Zoogen is the test
that seems to be recommended. I believe it costs in the vicinity of
$35.00 if you do it yourself. You simply clip the tonail of the bird
to get a small amount of blood for the test. Zoogen advertises in
Bird Talk, so you might want to contact them with details. If you
go to the vet, you will pay the office visit plus the test. This
might be the best way if you are uncomfortable in performing this
task on your bird. (You will need two people to do this.)
Best of luck,
Denise
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| FYI to all: Zoogen raised it's prices effective this past June to $55 for
one submission, $45 each for 2-5 submissions (samples) and $40 each for
6-12 samples. The cost was $35 each, no matter how many or few, prior to
this change. BUT....they are now faster in getting results and you can
call for the results by touchtone phone 24 hours a day on a free 800 phone
number....and you still get the nice certificate of sexing for each bird. /Linda
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| < -< Cost of Zoogen/blood chromosome sexing has gone up >-
<
<FYI to all: Zoogen raised it's prices effective this past June to $55 for
<one submission, $45 each for 2-5 submissions (samples) and $40 each for
<6-12 samples. The cost was $35 each, no matter how many or few, prior to
<this change. BUT....they are now faster in getting results and you can
<call for the results by touchtone phone 24 hours a day on a free 800 phone
<number....and you still get the nice certificate of sexing for each bird.
Prices must have come back down because we just got 4 kits @$35 each. The
Vet wants $52. For $17, I can clip a toenail and apply the Stiptick powder
'cause I have welders gloves:-):-)
Jordy, my Orange Wing didn't like it much, but he wasn't so tramatized he
couldn't wolf down his veggies...or a few peanuts.
We got Jordy a couple months ago for cheap. His was a case of social neglect,
he was well fed and watered etc, but nobody paid any attention to him for about
18 months before we got him. He had been banished to the garage, though he did
get to come out on top of his small cage. The lady who fed him needed to use a
wire grate to get him back into his cage (he'd step onto the grate, but would
squawk and bite when you reached for him.) Now he is handleable, if not
exactly friendly. He'll step up and step down. When I take him to the couch and
have him step onto my lap, he'll either race up my shirt to the back of the
couch, or plod his way to the far end arm and climb up. Then he paces
endlessly, turning to look at himself in the mirror at each turn. He still
bites, but hasn't drawn blood in a week or so (my fingers were like hamburger
for awhile.) When he's angry he flat-out pulverizes the Nutri-berries.
I'm trying to get him to accept being petted on his head and his back, but
it will take some time yet. He has never been very aggressive, but still will
bite (although not nearly as hard) defensively, he just doesn't want to be
touched on his head or his back (his belly is ok, and he doesn't mind you
grabbing at his feet)
oh well I've rambled on long enough
AL
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