Nesting box yes or no?

[Britbryan87]

So even though I named Caesar I'm not sure if he's a boy or girl. I believe he's a boy but my avian vet told me she had to draw blood to do the test and I don't want to do that to him. So I thought maybe a nesting box would be a good idea. I've looked on a couple sites but haven't found anything I like and I'm wondering if I really need one or not. Right now Caesar is sitting on my phone and finger while I type this so I guess he's interested to know too. If I should look at getting one who sells the best or what do I need?

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I would go ahead with the DNA test. I think it's a much better option than going with the nesting box.

Getting a nesting box isn't really a good idea unless you plan on breeding your birds. Otherwise, it can just lead to behavior problems and hormonal issues as well.

 

[Britbryan87]

I would go ahead with the DNA test. I think it's a much better option than going with the nesting box.

Getting a nesting box isn't really a good idea unless you plan on breeding your birds. Otherwise, it can just lead to behavior problems and hormonal issues as well.

Do you know of another option then drawing blood? The vet i took Caesar to only does it that way and i don't want to put him in pain just so I know if he's a boy or a girl. If there is should I find a new vet?

 

[JerseyWendy]

Yes, there's another way. Check out this company: Avianbiotech.com - Avian Sexing Center They have a GREAT reputation and GREAT prices.

And no, please do NOT provide your bird with a nest box.

 

[ZephyrFly]

Nesting boxes invite hormonal, territorial and general behaviour that is not favourable in companion pets.

And if he is a she, you would in increasing the worry of laying eggs and any problems involved with that.

Please don't

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I didn't know about the feather DNA test. That's good to know!

The only methods I was aware of were blood or surgical testing. I certainly was not doing the latter.

Skittles is actually very 'vet friendly'. He loves to go on trips and I don't hear his screeching up a fit when they take him out of the room to do the trims.

I do want to say this much, I think it's very sweet that you don't want to cause your bird ANY discomfort at all. You clearly love your new little fid. But at the same time, I want to say that if the blood sample is the only method your vet uses, I wouldn't make too much of it. It's one test, it's quick and then it's done. There are far more cruel things people subject their pets too.

I do prefer to know the gender of my fids. Not just for the sake of knowing, but also because there are different challenges with the different genders and knowing for sure can help you be more pro-active.

 

[Britbryan87]

All of this has been super helpful. I ordered the feather collection kit because I can get the feathers off the bottom of cage and it causes no pain to him. Thank y'all!

 

[ZephyrFly]

I do believe the feathers need to be plucked from the chest, they claim this is harmless to the bird

 

[rosembers]

You can also get the blood test for gender done in conjunction with a routine wellness blood test (where your vet does lab work to check for general health). I agree with the others posting about no nest boxes. Amongst the issues others have stated, the nest box can cause a female bird to become egg bound. I know someone whose Macaw had this problem...In 26 years, it was the first egg her body ever produced, and she almost passed away from the surgery and recovery. It was so awful!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

@Zephyrfly LOL, they 'claim'. That's funny. Claim being the operative word. I don't see how that would be any less painful than a needle prick, but that's just me.

@Rosembers That's what I had done with Skittles. They wanted to check him for a number of things on his first visit. When I take him to the vet in the Spring, I am having a blood panel done. It may not be fun for him, but I have to have routine bloodwork done as well. It's part of staying healthy.

But it may feel better for Britbryan to have it with the other blood tests so its all done at once.

 

[Britbryan87]

There's no way I'm plucking feathers. I guess I will just go with my vet and do the blood work.

 

[JerseyWendy]

There's no way I'm plucking feathers. I guess I will just go with my vet and do the blood work.

Another way for you to collect blood is to cut one toe nail a little bit too short. The company provides a collection paper for it. There really is NOTHING to it.

Plucking a couple of feathers from the chest is just as easy.

I don't know what you are worried about? Hurting your baby? I promise, he will forgive you. Cutting a nail and/or yanking out a few chest feathers is a whole lot less traumatic than a needle in the neck (or foot), depending which location your vet would use IMO.

But then again, it's a TERRIFIC idea to have a physical done, especially if he's never been vetted before

 

[rosembers]

I wonder if you could go to your vet and have the vet or a technician pluck the chest feathers? Might be easier since they probably do a fair amount of that type of work. I know what you mean - I would be nervous and feel bad to do it too...maybe you can have them gather the chest feathers for you and then your bird won't see you doing it

We've had two of our birds get blood samples for wellness checks and our vet took it from clipping the toenail a little too short to get a drop of blood. Both birds favored their foot for a few days and seemed to be in a little pain. That method is the best way to collect blood, but you can get DNA testing done through the tissue on chest feathers and it doesn't have to come from blood. I think the feathers would be the least invasive for your bird. But if you have any plans to get blood samples done for a wellness exam, you can get the gender testing done at that time altogether since they're taking the sample anyway.

The link JerseyWendy posted has a lot of good info about the feather testing.

 

[Birdman666]

Are you trying to make babies?

If so, then Yes. If not, then no.

Captain obvious at your service.

 

[Britbryan87]

That's what I'll do then is have the vet do it. I'm just worried about Caesar never wanting to come to me again because I plucked feathers. I love my bird I don't want him to hate me! And definitely not getting a nest box. So glad I asked before I bought one.

 

[MonicaMc]

Charlie, my mitred conure, is missing half of his lower beak after trying to boss around a blind ruby macaw in his foster home. His beak now scissor beaks and he requires beak trims for the rest of his life. I *DO NOT* recommend doing this alone, or without being taught how to do it... but in order to keep his beak in shape, I use a dremel to remove the excess amount of beak growth. I adopted Charlie when he was 12 years old, not long after his beak injury. (he was still healing from it back then) He's turning 22 sometime this year, so he's had beak trims by me for the past 9 years (10 at the end of the year...). Once attempted having my a-vet do the trim for me, but both Charlie and I found it more stressful than if I did it by myself.

In comparison, plucking a few feathers or clipping a nail a little too short isn't all that bad. Sure, the bird isn't going to like it, but it's minor compared to beak trims.



As far as drawing blood... this is something you need to be ok with. Blood work can help ensure that you have a healthy bird and that they aren't sick. If the bird is sick, it may help tell you what medications the bird requires.... of course, other tests may need to be performed as well, such as gram stains to determine types of infections.

 

[JellyBean]

When I first took little JellyBean for his first vet visit - which was two hours away, we don't have many specialist avian vets in Ireland - she took a blood sample to make sure he was as healthy as he could be... she asked me to leave the room so that he would not associate the pain of taking a blood sample with me.. So I did that - left the room and sat in the waiting room with three cats, a hamster and a couple of dogs (and their owners!). About a minute later all I could hear what a serious noise from JellyBean calling from the full pitch of his voice "JellyBean, JellyBean, JellyBean... Tara's Baby.. baby baby baby..." He could be heard all over the practice... The people in the waiting room were pretty traumatised though... hehehe... Anyway JB was absolutely fine and enjoyed his treats from the vet for being a very good bird!!!