Hi, guys I don't post many threads up, but I have had my Little Quaker for 2 months now, and he is about 7 months old. He has started to say a few words, I just LOVE him soooo much.. What I am posting is, How do you know if your FID would be " Egg-Binding"? I do not know if my baby is male or female so what is the signs , just in case?

I got my guy tested through www.avianbiotech.com They send you a test kit, and you pluck a few feathers from your bird's chest. It costs 24.50, and you can find out online what the results are. I think it is more expensive through veterinarians. As far as being egg bound, my cockatiel didn't lay eggs until she was a few years old. There are more experienced peeps on this site about that than I am.

I am just really worried about the whole "egg-binding" thing. Can I buy with credit card? ot debit. thats cheaper its a lot more going to a vet. did your quaker mind the chest feathers being plucked?

You can go to their website and it tells you everything you need to know. I am sure I used my credit card to pay. They sent the test kit free. I didn't like plucking feathers, but I did it really fast. I think you only need 4 or 5 little feathers, you stick them in a little plastic zip lock bag, mail it off, and in about a week you will find out the sex of your bird. This is the second quaker I have had dna tested. It's not too hard.

Well I am very thankful that you gave me info on this. Our Bird's name is BOCO. But I always call him/her Pretty Bird and Baby. So If its a girl or a boy, it doesnt mater, just worried about the "Eggbinding thing" well thank you soooo much on this.
Tekisha

either get a DNA kit or let your vet do it.

You will know if your QP is laying eggs, it is a pretty distinct behaviour. But keep in mind your QP is only 7 months old and I don't think they reach sexual maturity until around 2 years old.

Well, I knew that they don't reach maturity until around 2, but I was just getting allt he facts, you know. Be Safe than Sorry. I am going to do the DNA kit and send the feathers in for my results. Thanks you two

Let us know when you get the results back

yes definitely let us know!

Its good you are doing research on your bird
Do you have this book yet? http://books.google.com/books?id=mR81KaHdt...=result#PPP1,M1

I checked into that DNA test and I didn't do it. I was worried plucking his feathers would hurt him. Does it?

I think it might cause them some discomfort, but probably not much. The feathers don't have a blood supply when they are fully developed so it might just feel like having a hair pulled out would feel to us?? I didn't do it because I was afraid if it did hurt Darwin would associate me with a negative experience. Plus, even if it doesn't hurt, you would probably have to restrain your QP, probably unwillingly, while you pull the feathers. Best to let the vet do it. I think it's worth the extra cash

Well, I have had to restrain my FID before to clip his wings and nails and beak. and he was great, let me do it. I believe he/ she will be okay. We will see. I will let everyone know how it goes. thanks

Yeah I wouldn't worry about an egg bound bird until they're atleast a year old. Quakers don't usually hit sexual maturity until about 18 months. It's kinda like worry about paying for a tow truck when you don't even own a car.

I was concerned about this as well before I bought my Quaker. I believe that Quakers are not as susceptible to egg binding problems as cockatiels.

http://www.quakerparrots.com/general/parro...ing-in-parrots/

This is for Amoz, Why are you so Sarcastic all the time?? , we should all worry about our FIDS and know eveything we could possibly know about them. you should be safe than sorry, thats why I wanted to know. I am very cautious about what I do and what is done to and for my baby. But thank you for your reply.

can breeders tell if the babies are M/F when they are very small? Or can you never know physically from any outward sign?
Lori

Hey, Tekisha (hope I spelled that right), not to defend Amoz or anything,but that is just how he writes. I guess maybe because I was stuck in TX for 12 years, his way of speak is not taken in a bad way- I know he means no offense-its just the way he talks/writes......Oh and Amoz, if you read this, no offense to you either, i just know how you "good ole boys" talk

Well, Maybe I took it the wrong way, but I have read alot of his posts and he is well sarcastically spoken. but anyways. for those of you who was wondering about the whole feather dna testing, I am going to do it as soon as the package comes in the mail. I am excited.

They cannot tell other than through DNA tests.

Many times,when "talking" on line,the words can be misconstrued because it lacks voice inflection..AmOz wasn't being sarcastic,it's just his sense of humor,which I like,by the way.He makes me laugh and amid the jokes,comments,there's usually a pearl of wisdom

What? AmOz was being sarcastic? No!...lol I totally think he was just being himself, and sarcastic isn't always bad...I use it all the time!!

AmOz are you reading this!?!? If you are, defend yourself, lol. If not, then we'll just keep doing it for you

You're probably reading this thread, which has turned into a thread about you lol, and getting quite and laugh aren't you??

Well, as I just said earlier . I must have taken it the wrong way. Certain ones get on here and have your own little "CLICKS", in all reality its only suppose to be about the knowledge about our little FIDS. So as this thread was suppose to only be about the DNA testing, certain ones has made it about a certain sarcastic person. So if anyone wants to comment about the DNA testing, then thats just great. but if you guys are only on this thread to comment on who is saying what about " AMOZ" then thats what CHAT ROOMS are for, then you can do all the sarcasm and defending you want.

So does anyone else have any info on the feather kit DNA testing? Has anyone else ever done this?

I have done it on two of my birds. It is really easy. I just held their little body, and grabbed a few chest feathers, pulled really fast. Done. Stick them in the little baggie and send them off. I think you only need about 5 or 6 feathers.