Important Safety & Prep Notes (Read First) Work in a clean area. Wash your hands or wear fresh gloves. Use a new sterile needle, clippers, or tool for each bird to prevent mixing DNA between birds. Label everything clearly with the bird’s ID (band number, toe punch, name, etc.) before you start. Collect from healthy birds. For very young chicks (day-old or a few days old), smaller drops are enough for DNA tests. Have styptic powder (or flour/cornstarch) ready to stop bleeding quickly. Easiest Method for Most Backyard Flock Owners: Toenail Clip (Blood Spot) This is the simplest and least stressful for small birds/chicks. 1. Restrain the bird gently- Hold it securely but calmly (tuck under your arm for chickens, or have help for larger birds). Cover the head with a towel if it helps calm them. 2. Clean the toenail- Wipe the nail with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab or ball. Let it dry for 5–10 seconds. 3. Clip the nail-Use clean, sanitized nail clippers. Clip just enough to nick the quick (the vein inside the nail, about 2/3 from the base. A small drop of blood should appear. (Don’t cut too much!) 4. Collect the blood: Let the first drop form. Touch a clean blood collection card, filter paper, or plain white paper to the drop. Aim for a small spot (pea-sized or smaller is often enough tiny samples work better for DNA extraction). You can get 2–3 small drops if needed. 5. Stop the bleeding - Dip the nail in styptic powder or press with a clean cloth/cotton for a minute or two. 6. Place the dried sample in its own labeled plastic bag or envelope. Seal it. 7. Repeat for each bird with fresh tools/gloves to avoid any cross-contamination. This kit contains 0.2pcr tubes baggies blood stop powder alcohol prep pads
