Trying to Sex Owls today

[managermania]

I am trying to get ready for the mart next weekend so I am trying to sex my 20 owls. This would make it a lot easier selling at the show. It is proving difficult with this many so far.

[cindy]

Chase, how old are they? Mine are around 8 months going through a molt, some are done. Sexing is difficult when they are young!! I know I have males but sexing females is a bit challenging...still!

did you use Liz's guide?
http://www.gardenessgardens.com/OwlSexing.html

[managermania]

I read it and have it pulled up now. They are younger but all colored out. Trying to separate them all to see if that will work.

[cindy]

Let me know what works for you..I will be doing the same soon!

I can tell males for the most part, some are singing.

[DanteD716]

what might be easy is, (IMO) catch 4 or 5, put them in a smaller cage (breeder cage) and watch them for a while, if any sing, it will be narrowed down to 4 or 5 and you can figure out who it is easier.

[managermania]

I have stared at them all day and now they all look alike. Tried everything to get them to sing. I will keep trying.

[cindy]

Ok...try this...
http://www.birdbazaar.com/BB-SexDetermination.htm

scroll down to the audio of the owl finch, see if this helps

[managermania]

Lots of chriping but no singing. I have a few days to watch them so we will see.

[cindy]

ok...pull out the coocfiber give them each a strand...if they start dancing the love dance then you got boys!!!

Seriously, it is difficult...one minute you think you see a female turns out to be a boy!! I have about a dozen or more to sex soon!

[managermania]

I thought I was pretty good at it, but it's a lot harder when there are a bunch. All of the traits start to run together.

[cindy]

We need to get Liz down here!!! Liz, do you need a Georgia/Florida vacation???

[Sally]

I put the birds one at a time in a small cage out of sight of the other Owls, but not necessarily out of hearing. Usually within 15 minutes, the males will sing. However, I have still made mistakes! I had three cages full of males. I gave them nests to sleep in. When I cleaned out the cages recently, one nest had eggs in it! Oops!! I messed up somehow, not even sure how I did it. I can see thinking a male is a hen if it didn't sing, but how did I think a hen was a male?

[kenny66]

double bars are really tough. As previously mentioned the difference in the width and lengths or the bars is the only visual indicator-all else is guess work. Cocks and hens can both sing but the cocks are more vocal and melodious. I have had them on and off for many years and have never been 100% sure in sexing them. None of the breeders I know can do it 100% of the time either.