Juniper Pines Poultry Lab

How to Collect Samples

Tools to collect blood samlples.

Written by

Melanie

in

How Samples Work

You collect the blood samples yourself, ideally on a coffee‑filter triangle. Each sample must be fully dry, placed in its own baggie, and clearly labeled with your identifier for that bird. For feather samples, see Option B down below.

~ If you’re along my route, I can also pick up samples and payments in person. Watch FB for my travel info.

Payment

  • Payment must be made before you mail samples. Once Payment is made, I create a ticket for you and watch   for your shipment. Mail is collected Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
  • Mailing Address
    Juniper Pines Poultry Lab
    306 E Main St, PMB 627
    Canon City, CO 81212
  • Upon arrival, I begin testing. Results are communicated within 24 – 48 hours.
Purchase Test

What you’ll need

  • Toenail clippers
  • Alcohol wipes or rubbing alcohol + cotton
  • Disposable gloves
  • Styptic powder or cornstarch
  • Coffee filters (best option) or an index card (harder to dry)
  • Your chosen chick identifier (leg band, rubber band, bracelet piece, or even “brown chick”)
  • One baggie per sample

    Tips:
  • Coffee filters work best. Cut them like a pizza into triangles—hold the wide end and collect the blood on the pointy end.
  • It’s easier to write the ID on the filter before collecting the blood.
  • Any ID system is fine as long as you know which chick is which and the sample is clearly marked.

Step‑by‑Step Directions

  1. Clean your clippers
     Wipe the cutting edge with an alcohol wipe. (Don’t dunk—dunking doesn’t remove debris.)
  2. Pick up the chick and apply its ID
     Band the leg or note whatever identifier you’re using so it matches the sample.
  3. Prep the nail
     Wipe one toenail with alcohol and let it dry for a few seconds.
  4. Clip & collect
     Clip the nail short, just enough for a small drop of blood to form.
    Set the clippers down, pick up your coffee‑filter triangle, and touch the tip to the drop.
    You only need a spot about the size of a grain of rice—anywhere on the paper, as long as it’s not smeared or touched. I don’t need much, but in case of PCR malfunction, it’s best to have more blood available to sample.

    Trick: Bend the tip of the filter upward so it stands up while drying.
  5. Stop the bleeding
     Dab the chick’s nail in cornstarch or styptic powder.
    Give the chick a little kiss and return it to the brooder.
  6. Clean up & repeat
     Wipe your clippers again, make sure the sample is labeled, and move on to the next chick.
  7. Dry & package
     Once all samples are completely dry, place each one in its own ziplock baggie.
    Put all baggies into a mailing envelope along with a sheet of paper containing your contact information.

    Option B for older birds or other species that you don’t feel comfortable clipping toenails (Parrot, Emu, Pigeon, etc.):
    Pluck 3-5 feathers from the breast or wing. Ensure the quill bulb (the tiny clear/white bump at the end) is attached. Place feathers in a small envelope and write your Bird ID on the outside. Put all baggies into a mailing envelope along with a sheet of paper containing your contact information. 

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