Condon Acres

Frequently Asked Questions

What services do you offer?

We specialize in DNA sexing for poultry, waterfowl, and emu using:

• Blood samples (recommended)
• Feather samples
• Eggshell membrane (when applicable)

Which sample type is best?

Blood samples are the gold standard.
They provide the most accurate and consistent results.

Other methods:

• Feathers → Must contain a viable calamus (shaft with DNA)
• Eggshell membrane → Works, but requires proper collection

If accuracy matters (and it should), go with blood.

 How much blood is needed?

Less is more.

You’re aiming for:

• A small, clean sample
• Not dripping, soaked, or overly saturated

Too much blood can inhibit extraction, and too little can result in insufficient DNA.

Can I use a coffee filter or paper for blood samples?

Yes!
You can submit blood using:

• Coffee filters
• Plain paper

Just make sure:

• The sample is fully dried before shipping
• It is clearly labeled
• There is no cross-contamination between birds

How do I prevent cross-contamination?

This is one of the biggest causes of inaccurate results.

Between each bird:

• Wipe tools with alcohol prep pads
• Use clean surfaces
• Avoid touching multiple samples with the same tools without cleaning

What comes in your DNA kits?

Our kits typically include:

• 0.2 ml PCR tubes
• Collection baggies
• Alcohol prep pads
• Blood stop

Everything you need to collect clean, usable samples.

 How long does testing take?

Turnaround time depends on sample quality and volume, but we aim to keep things efficient without sacrificing accuracy.

If something looks off, we will rerun the test—because guessing isn’t how we operate.

What can cause inaccurate results?

A few common issues:

• Not enough DNA (tiny feather shafts, poor samples)
• Overly bloody samples (inhibits extraction)
• Cross-contamination
• Samples not dried properly
• Insufficient gel run time (on the lab side—which we monitor closely)

If there’s ever a concern, we address it head-on.

Do you offer DNA-sexed chicks?

Yes, this is something we are actively offering and expanding.

If we hatch more cockerels than expected:

• Birds may be sold in pairs or small groups

We aim to be honest about what you’re getting, always.

 What species do you test?

We test:

• Chickens 
• Ducks
• Geese 
• Emu
• Other poultry & waterfowl (feel free to ask!)

 Do you guarantee hatch rates on shipped eggs?

No.

Once eggs leave our hands, shipping conditions are out of our control. We package carefully, but hatch rates after shipping are never guaranteed.

 Do you offer discounts?

We periodically offer:

• Seasonal promo codes
• Breeder discounts
• Bulk testing rates

We’re also open to creating custom breeder codes just reach out.

What if something seems wrong with my results?

Tell us.

We stand behind our work and will:

• Review your sample
• Rerun tests if needed
• Be transparent about what happened

We’d rather fix it than ignore it.

What is Condon Acres about?

We’re a small farm rooted in:

• Practical genetics
• Ethical breeding
• Transparency

No fluff. No guessing. Just results you can trust.

Frequently Asked Questions about DNA sexing for poultry, waterfowl, and emu. Learn about sample types, collection methods, testing accuracy, and Condon Acres' services.