How do you determine the gender of an African Grey Parrot?

Question

Please make it something that would be easy to do.

Answer 1

Measure your parrot. Male parrots are the larger of the two sexes, measuring between 12 and 14 inches.

Step2 - Look at the shape of your parrot's head. The male African Grey has a broader, flatter head. The female of the species has a longer, more slender neck and her head is smaller and rounder than her male counterpart.

Step3 - Step away from you parrot and look at the shape of your parrots body from a distance. Female African Greys have a longer, more elliptical shape to their body, while the male is more round.

Step4 - Check the color of the underside of your parrot's tail. The color of a male's tail is going to be a solid red color. The red underside of the female's tail will have silver tips on the feathers.

Step5 - Gently lift your parrot's wing and check the color of the wing. The underside of the wing is very dark gray in males and light gray in females.

Answer 2

DNA testing is the only option to really know the s*x of the bird.  There are two basic types of DNA testing.  One is taking a breast feather the other is a blood test.  

For the feather test, it is best to pick a feather off the bird instead of one that has fallen on the ground or in the cage.  You want the DNA to be fresh.

The second test is a blood test and before you think you'll have to give her a needle and draw blood....you won't.  Instead when you cut her toe nails, you may draw blood from that and then you can send that in to a DNA testing facility.

On someone saying you need a vet to do this...it is not true...you can actually have this done yourself...

Here is the website for the feather test:

http://www.dnasexing.com/

Here is a website that does both feather and the blood test:

http://www.avianbiotech.com/dotblot.htm

Answer 3

I own a Congo African Grey. Don't rely on anyone (especially a breeder) who claims they can s*x a CAG simply by looking at it.  Any vet can tell you DNA is the only true way to find out.  It's not expensive. You can have it done by a lab through the mail by a feather or blood sample (a drop).  Go here to read about it.  

http://www.amrlabs.com/dnasexing.cfm

AMR Labs offers accurate and fast sexing of your birds from DNA. It is no longer necessary to subject your birds to the trauma of surgical sexing. We guarantee 99% accuracy with virtually no risk to the patient. Sampling can be done at any age and at any time of the year. We can s*x all species of birds from a single drop of blood.

No messy tubes to deal with. A drop of blood from a clipped toenail is simply spotted onto the card provided when you order our free kit. Allow the blood to air dry on the card and then ship it to us via US mail.

Your results will be available within 3 business days of sample receipt at our laboratory.

Blood testing is $20.00

Answer 4

The only way is DNA testing.  That wouldn't be very hard to do, although it costs money and takes time to get the results, and getting a DNA sample involves plucking a few feathers from the bird, which it won't like, so it may be best to have the vet do that.

Answer 5

DNA sexing is very easy and cheap to do. Birds like African Greys are pretty much impossible to visually s*x.

You can do it yourself, you don't have to go to a vet if you don't want to.

You can either clip a toe nail a little short to get a few drops of blood on a test card, or simply pluck a few chest feathers and send them in. I prefer the feather plucking as it's similar to plucking a few hairs from your head, which isn't too bad. Rather than clipping a nail short, which hurts like heck.

Blood testing is normally only $20, feather is $25 (more i'm sure if you have your vet do it). You generally have the results in just a few days. You can have them e-mailed to you first, and get the certificate in the mail a few days later.

I personally use http://www.avianbotech.com for my DNA testing and have been happy with them.

Answer 6

There is no way to look at an african grey and say if it's a male or female.  There are some tale tale signes, but they aren't very reliable, and never 100%, versy similar to predicting the s*x of a baby before it's born.. It's all just rumors.

The only way for sure is to have it sexed by a vet through a blood sample.

Usally it'll cost about 20 dollars for the test in addtion to the cost of the appointment.  Good luck!

Answer 7

get it dna tested.

Answer 8

It is very hard to do.. usually requires a vet.  Sorry

Answer 9

ask someone who is fond of keeping birds, experienced in judging their s*x by observing their appearence or behaviour,im sure their may b some diff...well that way is easiest

Answer 10

All domestic birds should have a band on their leg giving this information.  If not, you will have to take the bird to the vet for a special exAM TO FIND out its s*x.