Sexing for park birds
Sexing in birds is a crucial part of aviculture. For many species, it is impossible to tell the sex by eye. At NeorniLab we use new technologies and advanced methods for sex determination to guarantee an accurate and reliable result.
Suitable samples
Feathers
- 2–3 tail feathers or wing feathers (small birds < 150 g)
- 4–5 freshly plucked breast feathers (medium-sized birds and parrots > 150 g)
- Molted feathers, down feathers, and blood feathers should be avoided. These sometimes contain insufficient DNA or can cause damage to the feather follicle when pulled out. Blood feathers are new feathers that can be recognized by the blue sheath at the base of the feather.
- To avoid contamination, do not touch the shaft (the end of the feather protruding from the bird’s skin) with your hands
Blood sample
- Small quantities (capillary tube) are sufficient for an accurate analysis
Eggshell with membrane
- Particularly useful for recently hatched nests
Cheek swab from nestling
- A gentle way to collect DNA from young birds
- Note: Avoid contamination with food or food debris
Turnaround times
- If you send the sample by mail, we will confirm receipt via email.
- Processing time: 2–3 business days from receipt of your sample.
- You will receive an email when your results and certificate are available on your personal portal.
Prices
| Sexing | Excl. VAT (€) / price per item |
|---|---|
| 1-4 | € 13,22 |
| 5-24 | € 10,74 |
| 25-49 | € 8,26 |
| ≥ 50 | € 7,44 |
TIP: Purchase a ‘bulk package’ if you wish to benefit from our volume discounts with every request. A bulk package works like a multi-visit pass. You make a one-off purchase of the number of samples you require (e.g. 5, 20, 50 ...). For every future request, the number of samples submitted is then deducted from the total package.
Request a test
STEP 1: Complete the request form
Choose whichever way of filling it in suits you best.
- Excel: fill in digitally.
- PDF: print and fill in by hand.
Then add it to the form below, or send it along with your samples.
STEP 2: Send us your samples
There are several ways to do this
- At our front desk* (during opening hours)
- Through the letterbox* (outside opening hours)
- By post*
- Through your vet
STEP 3: Payment & results
You will receive your invoice as soon as we have received your complete request.
Payment can be made on site*, by bank transfer or through your vet. Once payment is received, we begin the analysis.
You will receive your certified results by email, within the agreed turnaround time, unless stated otherwise.
* Our address: NeorniLab, Beverlosesteenweg 129, 3583 Paal, Belgium