Bird sexing can be done with DNA research. DNA is the main carrier of hereditary information in all people, animals and plants. It contains the code for hereditary characteristics such as the color of your eyes. DNA looks like a double helix: two strands revolve around each other like the railings of a spiral staircase and the steps of that staircase are formed by four bases: A, C, T and G.

In birds, there are no clear gender-related characteristics that are visible at a young age. At a later age, the sex is usually seen in the developed feather garment.

Bird sexing can take place with the help of DNA analysis. This involves looking at a specific piece of DNA on the sex chromosome. The DNA of the bird is located, for example, in the tip of the feather. This DNA is then extracted from the feather. With the polymerase chain reaction, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), the specific portions of the very small amounts of DNA are multiplied until enough of it can be analyzed. These are then visualized with electrophoresis.

The W gene is specific for female birds and the Z gene occurs in both sexes. When it is a female the 2 fragments W, Z are visible. In a cock only 1 fragment Z, Z.

With this technique the sex of almost all bird species can be determined with great certainty.

DNABird: Bird sexing for gender determination.