Want to learn bird sexing using Bento Lab, but not sure where to start?
This live, one-on-one training course will take you from beginner to confident practitioner. You’ll learn how to sex birds accurately from feathers or blood spots, step by step, with an instructor, using Bento Lab and our Bird Sexing Bundle.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for anyone wanting to learn bird sexing using PCR, from complete beginners to those with a little past lab experience.
Whether you’re a bird breeder, vet, ecologist, conservationist, hobbyist, or starting up a bird sexing side-business, we’ll guide you through the process step by step
What will you learn?
Each session walks you through a key part of the bird sexing workflow. You’ll:
- Set up your own bird sexing workspace
- Get hands-on with essential equipment and reagents
- Extract DNA from feathers or blood spots
- Run PCR and visualise your results with gel electrophoresis
- Learn the theory behind each step
- And learn how to troubleshoot in case things don’t go as planned
How is the course taught?
You’ll train live with a PhD-level molecular biologist over Google Meet. Every session is personal and interactive:
- Learn theory through simple, clear explanations
- Watch live demos of each lab step
- Practice using real samples and your own equipment
- Get tailored advice for your specific birds of interest, and training needs
- Reinforce session learnings with post-session practice exercises
What is the course schedule?
The course includes six core sessions (1–1.5 hours each), plus two optional bonus sessions for feedback and troubleshooting.
You can book your sessions at times that suit you, any weekday from 8 am to 7 pm (UTC/GMT), depending on availability.
Each session builds on the last. You’ll start with the basics, like setting up your lab and getting to know your kit, and finish with interpreting your own PCR results.
You’ll work on real samples throughout the training sessions to ensure you can do each step comfortably, at a pace that works for you. You will then run the whole workflow by yourself to make sure you’ve learned how it all fits together. And there’ll be plenty of opportunities for support and troubleshooting if you need it.
You can see the course schedule below:
Session breakdown
| Session | What You’ll Do |
|---|---|
| Session 1: Intro and Lab Setup | Unbox your kit. Learn what you need to set up your bird sexing lab, and how each item fits into the workflow. |
| Session 2: Pipette mastery | Master micropipettes and accurate pipetting, with hands-on practice exercises tailored to bird sexing |
| Session 3: DNA extraction using the HotSHOT kit | Learn the HotSHOT method. Extract DNA from 4–8 of your own bird feather samples. |
| Session 4: DNA amplification using PCR | Program your Bento Lab and run your first PCR to amplify sex-specific DNA. |
| Session 5: Visualisation and interpretation of results | Prepare, load, and run an agarose gel to visualise your results. Learn how to interpret the results. |
| Session 6: Troubleshooting | Review your first gel, and learn how to spot issues and fix common problems. |
| Bonus sessions x2: Troubleshooting and feedback | Use at any point in the course for troubleshooting, questions, or extra feedback. |
Pricing and how to book
$860 (tax included) for the full live 1:1 online training course.
Interested or have questions? Book a free 20-minute demo call. We can about your birds, your goals, and how we can make the course fits your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need training to learn bird sexing?
No, you can absolutely learn to do it yourself — and we’re here to support you either way.
We’ve designed our protocols and guides to be beginner-friendly, and many users get great results by following them independently. And if you get stuck, we’re happy to help by email for free.
That said, if you’d like a more hands-on learning experience, our optional training course is designed to walk you through the entire workflow step by step. It’s especially useful if you want personal guidance, or feel more confident learning with expert support.
Can I use my own PCR equipment, rather than Bento Lab?
Yes—if you have comparable equipment (thermocycler, centrifuge, gel tank, transilluminator), we can probably adapt the course for you. Just get in touch and we’ll discuss what’s possible.
Can you offer anything cheaper, shorter, or in a different format?
If you’d like this content but want something cheaper (such as a pre-recorded video course), or different to what we currently offer, please get in touch and let us know what you’d prefer.
