Feather Collection
Feathers are the most common sample we receive for avian DNA sexing. The test needs the living base of the feather — the pale quill or “bulb” that sits in the skin — not a feather that has already been shed on the cage floor.
Plucked feathers of medium size, with the white bulb attached, give a reliable DNA yield for sexing, parentage and many species panels.
Which feathers to take
Collect a minimum of 6 freshly plucked feathers
Choose medium body or breast feathers — not down fluff alone
Each feather must show the pale bulb / quill at the base
Do not send cut feather tips or moulted feathers from the floor
Avoid bloody or broken shafts unless that is all you have — tell us if you do
How to collect
Hold the bird calmly. Grasp a small group of feathers close to the skin and pull in the direction of growth with a firm, quick motion. Check that the white bulb is on the shaft. Place the feathers immediately into a clean paper envelope — one bird per envelope.
If you are sampling chicks, wait until feathers are large enough to show a clear quill. For very small species, send a few extra feathers so the lab has enough material.
Labelling
Species and common name
Band, ring or cage number
Owner name and mobile number
Date of collection and the test you need (sexing, parentage, species)
Packing and sending
Keep feathers dry. Do not wrap them in wet tissue, cotton with spirit, or sealed plastic while they are still damp. A paper envelope inside a regular courier pouch is enough. If you are sending several birds, use a separate envelope for each and list them on a covering note.
Common mistakes
Sending shed feathers with no bulb — these often fail
Mixing two birds in one envelope
Crushing the quills in a tight plastic bag
Writing only on the outside of a reused envelope that already held another sample
When to choose blood or eggshell instead
Use blood if the bird is already being handled for a vet procedure, or if previous feather samples failed. Use eggshell membrane when you want to sex a chick at hatch without handling the bird.