What do you use at shows to make roosters feathers shine?

[cmom]

I show birds. I do bathe them before any shows. Many people have remarked about how shiny my birds are. I don't apply anything to them. I wash them with baby shampoo (the white birds I use the silver brightening shampoo on them but am very careful with it), next I rinse them in some water with a little vinegar, finally I rinse then in plain water. I wrap them up like a burrito in a towel folded in half lengthwise with their head sticking out one end and their feet the other end. I check their comb and wattles and their beak and then their legs and feet and clean them. Then they go into wire cages to dry off naturally. As they dry they are grooming themselves. They do get show feed. It does cost more but the birds definitely look good. I start my chicks off with Show chick feed. Since I have been doing this I have done much better at the shows. I do think the feed they get makes a huge difference.

 

[Hillgirl]

dang this topic gives a whole new meaning to the term BirdBath!!

 

[cmom]

dang this topic gives a whole new meaning to the term BirdBath!!

I look at it this way, when I bathe the birds before a show they not only will look good but smell good too. Some people also use a rinse with conditioner in it. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Hillgirl]

Thank you CMom for telling us how to bath the birds. its going to be fun practising! snd shopping for the essentials.

i think i should band their names on their legs...

we already have pine shavings for judging day. i want to let them have their haybeds up until the judging day and a friend is sending fresh lavendar from san diego

 

[cmom]

Here they are after their baths not very happy, but they do ok during bath time. It was a nice warm day, that is why they are in the shade. Their poop goes through the wire so they won't get poopy before the show.



The little dish on the table with a soft tooth brush is for cleaning especially their toenails. There is a cup in one of the tubs that I use to pour water over them when I'm bathing them.

 

[Matt1616]

The best way to get your bird to shine is to feed them a good, high quality feed and clean water. Some people do use "Pink Spray" but I have never seen where that will make a dull bird shine. It all goes back to what they eat. If you put low quality food in you get a low quality look in return. An average effort can only achieve an average reward...



Matt

 

[cmom]

The best way to get your bird to shine is to feed them a good, high quality feed and clean water. Some people do use "Pink Spray" but I have never seen where that will make a dull bird shine. It all goes back to what they eat. If you put low quality food in you get a low quality look in return. An average effort can only achieve an average reward...



Matt

I agree. People are always asking me how come my birds are so shiny and I tell them it's the feed. I also tell them just like people you are what you eat and the same applies to animals of all kinds.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi!,
The shiniest , most beautiful feathers I ever had on my rooster was when I tossed a cup a day
of black oil sunflower seed into the coop and let the 10 birds have at it. They loved them,
the seeds are cheap and the feathers were stunning!
Best,
Karen

 

[cmom]

Quote: Here are a few pictures. My birds get a very good quality feed and a lot of black oil sunflower seeds in their scratch treats.