Aussie Finch Forum

So it seems you can have DNA testing done via mail now ( yes I know Im slow to catch up) and it says send in 2 feathers of at least 4 cm length ....question where would be the best place to pluck a bird seriously Im thinking blood feathers that might bleed after plucking.

I don't like feather testing to inaccurate.I bleed from a pin prick on their upper leg onto clean cardboard strips and mail those with ring No written on card accompanied with details sheet.

stab my birds nah honestly too soft to do that , other half would gladly if it was the Quarrions
Have there been mistakes with the feather test ? What about a blood feather , quite often have to remove them from Quarrions anyway , when they snap them learning to fly.

Believe it or not DNA is not 100% even these days.Blood is better than feather.Its no worse than what they do to each other.

True they are savages at times , spose itd best to be as accurate as possible and at $17.00 per bird you dont want to be re testing

I usually wait till I have 10 to do.Its cheaper.There is surgical but you run a slight chance of permanent damage but is 100% accurate.

There is no avian vet around here for that option , looks like the pin prick is the way to go.

I have found trying to get correct DNA results from feather folicles is far to hit and miss
Supplying blood samples is far far more accurate but trying to get blood out of a small finch can be quite hard at times
They supply small needles to prick the pad just near the toe nail. I do not like this as at times it does not produce enough blood
and you only need a tiny drop. These days I use a pair of nail clippers and snip a toe nail just into the dark blood line. It will produce enough
blood and I just let the bird go and the nail soon seals itself .

I don't know about the accuracy but I know someone here that sends feathers to Australia for DNA testing his parrots. Looks like AQUIS has a hole in it's proceedure!

Good idea Eorix that would be easier for me than pin pricking . Gregh that is an oversight by Quaranteen isnt it ? Yet I buy a stinking pc fan from hong kong and they all but shred the package checking it out