DNA testing is the most accurate way to determine the sex of your avian friends. To help you get it right, we offer a variety of kits, each one optimized for different bird species.
How to Choose the Correct Sexing Kit
Primers are the key to DNA tests. They are short, single-stranded DNA sequences that target and amplify specific genes. For bird sexing, specific primers are designed to detect a unique difference between the W and Z bird sex chromosomes.. Since this genetic difference varies slightly from one species of bird to another, a distinct set of primers is needed for each. You can think of it like tailoring the kit’s design to each bird’s specific genome—that’s why we’ve developed different kits for different species.
All of our kits, however, follow the same simple workflow and are compatible with gelPCR equipment. They are designed to provide enough material for 32 tests and 6 controls (38 reactions in total).
To ensure you get the right DNA sexing kit for your birds, we’ve put together a handy guide below.
| Kit | Common name | Species |
| ZeeWee I Bird DNA Sex Test | Chicken | Gallus gallus domesticus |
| ZeeWee II Bird DNA Sex Test | Blue-fronted Amazon parrot | Amazona aestiva |
| Budgerigar Parakeet | Melopsittacus undulatus | |
| Rose-Ringed Parakeet | Psittacula krameri | |
| ZeeWee III Bird DNA Sex Test | Duck | Anas platyrhynchos domesticus |
| Goose (e.g. Sebastopol goose) | Anser anser | |
| Swan Goose (e.g. African goose) | Anser cygnoides | |
| Muscovy duck | Cairina moschata | |
| Quail | Coturnix coturnix | |
| Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | |
| Peacock | Pavo cristatus | |
| ZeeWee IV Bird DNA Sex Test | Emu | Dromaius novaehollandiae |
Is your species of interest not listed in the table? Please contact us at dx@minipcr.com, and we will provide tailored recommendations to meet your specific needs.