Yes. Our services are available for individual bird owners as well as businesses.

You may cancel before payment is completed and before you ship your sample. Please follow the instructions in your order confirmation email or contact us via the inquiry form.

Please note: due to the nature of DNA testing, we cannot accept cancellations after payment or after you have shipped your sample.

We do not provide raw data or extracted DNA.

Yes. Please separate each bird’s sample into its own zip-lock bag so samples do not mix.
Label each bag with the bird’s name or an ID so we can match the result correctly.

Typically, we email the result within 5 days after we confirm both sample arrival and payment (some tests may take up to 1 week).
If you cannot find the result email, please check the following:

• Use your shipping carrier’s tracking service to confirm your sample has been delivered.
• Confirm the email address you entered at checkout is correct.
• Add/allow emails from the @forbird.net domain.
• Check your spam/junk folder and your trash/deleted folder.

If the issue remains, please contact us via the inquiry form.

We request payment via a secure payment link provided in your order confirmation email.

Available payment methods may include credit cards and other local options depending on your region and the payment provider. Please check the payment page for details.

After payment is completed, an electronic receipt is sent to the email address you provided.
If you do not receive it after 24 hours, please contact us via the inquiry form.

Please use your shipping carrier’s tracking service to confirm delivery.
Shipping costs and any costs related to sample collection are the customer’s responsibility.

We do not return samples. After testing, samples are stored or disposed of appropriately.

Yes, if the blood is from the bird being tested. Please do not wipe it off.
If the blood is from another bird/animal or from a person, the sample may be unsuitable—please submit a different feather.

No. Please submit a clean sample (a different feather) to avoid test failure.

Yes. Sending multiple sample types can help improve the chance of a successful test.

Please ship as soon as possible after collection to reduce DNA degradation.

Very small feathers may contain insufficient DNA. Feathers without a calamus (the hollow root) are often unsuitable.
If possible, submit a fresh, larger feather with the calamus attached. If testing fails, we may ask you to resubmit.

In some cases, testing may fail due to insufficient or degraded DNA (e.g., very small feathers, missing roots, old samples, or contamination).
If this happens, we will contact you and may ask you to submit a new sample for retesting.

Please note: reshipping costs are the customer’s responsibility. Retesting policies (including any additional fees, if applicable) depend on the situation and will be explained in our email.

Birds typically have sex chromosomes ZZ (male) and ZW (female).
We use real-time PCR targeting sex-chromosome markers to detect the presence/absence of Z and W signals.
If W is detected with Z, the bird is reported as female (ZW). If W is not detected and Z is detected, the bird is reported as male (ZZ).

In many cases, yes. We can often perform DNA sexing across a wide range of bird orders (e.g., parrots, passerines, owls, raptors, pigeons, and more).

If you are unsure, please contact us before shipping.

Our DNA sexing method is highly accurate for many species, but no genetic test can guarantee 100% accuracy in all cases.
Rare exceptions have been reported depending on species and individual biology factors, as well as sample quality.

We recommend using the result together with behavioral and physical observations. Unless there is clear evidence of our fault, refunds are not available even if the result differs from later findings.

Yes, we may accept international samples depending on shipping feasibility and local regulations.
Customers are responsible for confirming any import/export restrictions and for completing required customs documentation.

For detailed instructions, please see our Sample Submission Guidelines.

Please send your sample to our laboratory in Japan via EMS or another reliable international airmail service.
We recommend a shipping method with tracking, and shipping early in the week to reduce weekend delays.
Airmail only. Avoid slow transit to reduce heat exposure and DNA degradation.

It can happen depending on your country/region, carrier policies, and the declared contents. We cannot guarantee clearance.
If a shipment is rejected, returned, destroyed, or delayed by customs/quarantine, it is outside our control. Any reshipping costs are the customer’s responsibility.

Requirements vary by country and carrier. Please declare accurately and follow your carrier’s guidance.
If you need help, contact us and we can share a general example, but you are responsible for compliance with local rules.

International delivery time depends on your carrier and customs processing. Testing time is typically within 5 days after we confirm sample arrival and payment (some tests may take up to 1 week).
Please plan for additional time for international shipping and potential customs delays.

Yes. For safety, compliance, and feasibility reasons, we do not accept:

• Birds with known or suspected infectious disease.
• Palaeognathae (primitive birds) such as ostrich and emu.
• CITES-regulated birds without appropriate registration / documentation.
• Poultry and related birds that may be subject to import restrictions in Japan, including: chicken, quail, pheasant, ostrich, emu, guinea fowl, turkey, duck, goose and relatives (order Anseriformes).
• Any other individuals/species that forbird reasonably determines to be difficult to test.

Please confirm eligibility and documentation before shipping.

Yes, as long as the bird is legally held and has appropriate registration/documentation under CITES (as applicable).
We do not necessarily request documents for every order, but we may ask you to provide them depending on the species and circumstances.
If appropriate documentation cannot be confirmed when requested, we cannot accept the sample.
The customer is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

No. For safety and compliance reasons, we do not accept samples from birds with known or suspected infectious disease.

An order confirmation email is usually sent automatically right after you submit the form.
If you did not receive it, please check:

• The email address you entered is correct.
• You can receive emails from the @forbird.net domain.
• Your spam/junk folder and trash/deleted folder.

We usually reply within 3 business days (Japan Standard Time, UTC+9). Depending on the inquiry and volume, it may take longer.

If you cannot find our reply, please check:

• The email address you entered is correct.
• You can receive emails from the @forbird.net domain.
• Your spam/junk folder and trash/deleted folder.

We handle inquiries via our contact form and email. We do not offer phone support.