What You’ll Need For Blood Samples

• 0.2mL PCR tube, collection card, or coffee filter cut into triangles

• Clean towel

• Disposable gloves

• Alcohol wipes

• Nail clippers

• Gauze or cotton ball

• Styptic powder or cornstarch (optional)

• Sandwich-sized Ziploc bags

• Treats for the chicken afterward

 

For Feather Samples

• Disposable gloves

• Clean paper envelopes or sandwich-sized Ziploc bags

• Permanent marker for labeling

• Treats for the chicken afterward

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Blood Sample Collection

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Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Choose a quiet, clean area with good lighting. Label the sample card, tube, coffee filter, envelope, or bag with the identifying information (e.g., band color, name, band number, etc.) before handling the chicken.

Wash your hands and put on gloves.

 

Wash your hands and put on gloves.

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Step 2: Restrain the Chicken

Wrap the chicken gently in a towel so the wings stay secure.

Having another person hold the chicken can make the process much easier.

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Step 3: Find the Blood Collection Site

For beginners, the toenail method is often simpler.

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Step 4: Clean the Area

Use an alcohol wipe to clean the site. Allow it to dry for a few seconds before collecting blood.

Use a clean nail clipper to trim just the very tip of the nail until a tiny drop of blood appears.

 

NOTE: When collecting it is important to wipe off fingers and utensils/nail cutting devices with a new alcohol wipe between birds.

 

Step 5: Collect the Blood

• After trimming the nail, collect the blood drop on the card, tip of the coffee filter, or inside the cap of the PCR tube.

Do not squeeze excessively, as this can damage the sample.

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Step 6: Stop the Bleeding

Press gauze or a cotton ball gently against the area for 30–60 seconds.

If bleeding continues:

• Apply styptic powder or cornstarch

• Continue gentle pressure

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Step 7: Dry and Package the Sample

If using a blood card or coffee filter:

• Let it air dry completely for at least 15–30 minutes.

• Do not stack or seal it while wet.

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If using a PCR tube:

• Carefully close the cap, taking extra caution to avoid touching the inside of the cap

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Feather Sample Collection

 

Step 3: Determine if Your Bird is Eligible for Feather Sampling

Feather samples should only be collected from fully feathered birds. Newly hatched chicks and young birds that still have only down feathers are not suitable candidates for feather sampling because down feathers do not contain enough DNA for accurate testing.

If your bird is not yet fully feathered, please submit a blood sample instead.

 

Step 4: Select the Feathers

Choose 4–6 small breast or flank feathers. These feathers are usually easiest to collect and least stressful for the bird.

Important: Feathers must be freshly plucked. Fallen or molted feathers cannot be used because they typically do not contain enough DNA. Each feather should have the soft, translucent tissue (calamus or quill) attached at the base.

 

Step 5: Collect the Feathers

Grasp the feathers close to the skin and quickly pluck them with a firm, gentle motion.

Avoid touching the quill ends with your fingers.

 

NOTE: Change gloves or sanitize your hands between birds to prevent cross-contamination.

 

Step 6: Package the Feathers

Place the feathers from each bird into a separate labeled paper envelope or sandwich-sized Ziploc bag.

Do not combine feathers from different birds in the same container.

Place all individual sample bags or envelopes into a larger bag and then into the mailer envelope or package for shipment.

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Please include a note with the following information:

• Full name on the order

• Email address

• Order #

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Mail the Sample

Send the sample to the DNA testing company

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Fancy Feathered Flock LLC

12207 70th Place North

West Palm Beach, FL 33412

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Safety Tips

• Wipe off fingers and utensils/nail cutting devices with a new alcohol wipe between birds.

• Never take more than a few drops of blood.

• Keep the chicken warm and calm afterward.

• If the bird seems weak, continues bleeding, or becomes distressed, contact an avian veterinarian.

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