Bathing chickens for show?

[Three Little Bunnies]

Hi!

I am planning to show my two youngest pullets at the local fair.

I was reading up on how to prepare for the show and the website I found recommended bathing chickens two or so days before the fair to make sure they are all clean.

I am not sure if that is a good idea, so I figured I would ask.

Also, how else can I get my little girls ready for the show?

My Bantam Cochin's feathery legs are kind of dirty... how can I clean those?

Thanks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't show chickens but everyone I know who does bathes their chickens before a show, and in a timely manner so their feathers are completely dry and fluffed up.
You should be able to clean the leg feathers during the bath.
They make special soaps and shampoos for chickens but you can use baby shampoo.

Have you cage trained your birds to be handled by strangers?
There are other tricks but you need to start with these.

When is the fair?

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

I don't show chickens but everyone I know who does bathes their chickens before a show, and in a timely manner so their feathers are completely dry and fluffed up.
You should be able to clean the leg feathers during the bath.
They make special soaps and shampoos for chickens but you can use baby shampoo.

Have you cage trained your birds to be handled by strangers?
There are other tricks but you need to start with these.

When is the fair?

These girls have been handled quite a bit. Mostly by myself, but also by multiple pet-sitters and my family.

They are pretty good with people in general.

My ISA Brown is a bit more skittish than my Bantam Cochin. They are both around five months old.

The show is on the twenty-fifth.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If they haven't been cage trained, you need to work on that in the next couple weeks.
Especially for the skittish one. Sometimes caged birds get even more skittish.
You need to put them individually on a table in the cage you'll use at the show.
Have several people walk past the cage and occasionally have a person they don't know reach into the cage, bring the bird out and handle it examining its conformation, etc..
Have you ever been to a big show?

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Have you ever been to a big show?

Um.. no. The only one I have been to had seven or so meat birds, one hen, and one rooster.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

If they haven't been cage trained, you need to work on that in the next couple weeks.

What does cage training mean? They have been in a cage before. When they were small and needed to come inside to cool down.

 

[black_cat]

What does cage training mean? They have been in a cage before. When they were small and needed to come inside to cool down.

I think that it means that they should be trained to stay calm in the cage and with other people???? No idea. Following the thread because I'd love to show birds someday.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Um.. no. The only one I have been to had seven or so meat birds, one hen, and one rooster.

Perhaps before you spend a lot of time and money;, go to a big show and observe what happens to birds there and see how they are handled.
Birds that aren't calm or behave badly don't win awards.

What does cage training mean? They have been in a cage before. When they were small and needed to come inside to cool down.

Just what I described in post 4.
"You need to put them individually on a table in the cage you'll use at the show.
Have several people walk past the cage and occasionally have a person they don't know reach into the cage, bring the bird out and handle it examining its conformation, etc.. "

The bird should remain calm, not bite, fight or flight.
Preferably they should come to the door and present themselves to the judge. When returned to the cage they should turn around and face the judge.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Perhaps before you spend a lot of time and money;, go to a big show and observe what happens to birds there and see how they are handled.
Birds that aren't calm or behave badly don't win awards.

Just what I described in post 4.
"You need to put them individually on a table in the cage you'll use at the show.
Have several people walk past the cage and occasionally have a person they don't know reach into the cage, bring the bird out and handle it examining its conformation, etc.. "

The bird should remain calm, not bite, fight or flight.
Preferably they should come to the door and present themselves to the judge. When returned to the cage they should turn around and face the judge.

Thanks!

I don't think there are many shows going on because of COVID.

 

[Chicalina]

Have you got space to quarantine these two from your other birds for at least 30 days after the show?

They may bring back diseases from other birds at the show back to your flock.

This is really important if you don’t want to risk losing the whole flock.

And bear in mind that the stress the birds suffer by travelling and being caged in a strange smelling place with unfamiliar humans handling them and chaotic bird noise all around them, will make them more vulnerable to catching something as stress suppresses their immune systems. Respiratory infections particularly.

It isn't just covid that is around.