I got Champion Showman with my pigeon, Beauty at the State Fair and Praline got reserve bantam. Of course, she started molting as soon as I brought her. The judge was not happy to see that she was missing two wing feathers, but she liked her enough to pick her for reserve bantam.
If she’s molting why does she look in condition? She just finished a molt in June. She did not need to molt again.
The best birds are always the highest maintenance.
Queeny is also molting now which is why I didn’t bring her but she is finishing up (also she actually needed a molt, unlike Praline.)
I have discovered Praline enjoys fighting more than food.