DNA sex identification testing is the most popular method used worldwide to sex birds today and is said to be much safer for your bird than surgical sexing.
DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid and is basically a long and complex molecule that carries information in the form of a chemical code. This code will tell the body and cells how to grow and form.

The DNA sex test utilizes a sex linked gene in order to determine the sex of birds. Male and female birds give distinctive and different DNA patterns, resulting in conclusive and accurate sex identification.  Attitudes towards DNA sex testing of birds have changed in recent years...and rightly so.  DNA testing offers many advantages over surgical sexing to the breeder and birds alike.

Surgical sexing procedure: After a general anesthetic is given, a small incision is made through the skin and muscle just behind the last rib. The endoscope enters the abdominal air sacs and is directed towards the gonads (ovary or testicles).

Most importantly, DNA testing is extremely safe as it involves no surgery or anesthesia, so no infection or injury arises from any surgical incision on your bird.  DNA testing can be carried out on birds of any age.  This means that youngsters in the nest can be successfully sexed by DNA before they even fledge.  Sexing results are usually mailed within a week of receiving the sample and you can receive the results by phone the day they are ready.

As the DNA is identical in every cell of an individual's body, the DNA is the same no matter how or where it is taken from and therefore, has no influence on the accuracy of the test. Both tests give an accuracy of 99.99%.

Take Precaution:  It is important to have some flour ready to pack the toenail to stop the bleeding.  If the nail continues to bleed, re-pack with flour and hold the toe between your fingers and apply some pressure for a few minutes.  After you place your bird back in his cage, check on him for a while to be sure the bleeding does not reoccur.  If it does, repeat as before, packing the end of the toenail with flour and applying  pressure on the toe with your fingers, for a few minutes.
The blood is tested in the lab by analyzing the DNA which is removed from the bird's red blood cells.

Do not use molted feathers.  Dead, molted feathers that have fallen from the bird do not contain any usable DNA.

Skin cells containing the precious DNA material, remain inside the feather shaft when the feather is removed from the body of the bird. In the lab, the DNA is removed from the rest of the cell material and analyzed to ascertain if the DNA is of female or male origin.