> By the way, I quoted you for the Ritchie quote of  " where there are 
 > 
 > more then fifty birds there is Polyoma". 
Actually, he didn't specifically say "polyoma." He said wherever there are 50 
or more birds, *something* is going on. I'd appreciate your correcting the 
quote to keep all of us "out of trouble." Thanks.
 > raffles...NO MORE RAFFLES.
Clap clap clap. More than anything, I want these eliminated!
 > Lets keep the rolling without surgical sexing too.
I got a private email from someone who has a single scarlet macaw. The 
breeder told him to avoid ALL blood-letting procedures which, he said, would 
eliminate toenail clipping for DNA sexing! The breeder apparently preferred 
surgical sexing over DNA sexing for safety! 
I "very politely"  told this macaw owner about birds that may be allergic 
to the anesthesia (even isofluorane) and even die. I also told him that an 
extremely steady hand is needed to guide the sexing instrument into its 
proper location within the body cavity. One jerk could cause the instrument 
to pierce a vital organ. I lost an orange-winged parakeet a number of years 
ago because of that. Except they didn't tell me. They just sewed up the bird 
and handed him to me.
I concluded by telling him that birds have to get used to being toweled for 
medical reasons if nothing else. If a bird is sick, blood may have to be 
drawn. And certainly grooming has to be done when the bird is towelled 
(unless we're talking about a little guy....
It'll be interesting to see what he has to say....
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