fair coming up need some tips on getting the chickens ready!!!!!

[hdowden]

ok the fair here starts on sep. 29th i have some feather footed breeds but the feathers on their legs are broken, can i safely pull them out without them bleeding to much or should i have something in hand to help stop the bleeding? also will those feathers have grown back in 8 weeks? some of them are also molting will they be done by then? i also have an oegb that is 5 months old should i go ahead and dub him even though he isn't fully grown yet?

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

You may not need to dub your OEGB yet because he's still a cockerel, whens he's a cock (1 yr) you need to dub him.

You might want to take out those feathers, if the judge is picky, they might think you're cheating by clipping off a mis-colored feather. But I've shown my hens with broken feathers before and it was just a defect.

Good Luck, hdowden.

 

[hdowden]

thanks. its for my kiddos to do and i want them in the best shape possible

 

[hdowden]

is a 6.5 old chicken old enough to show? also how long does it take for a chicken to molt and grow their feathers back? they have been molting for about a month now and the fair starts the 29th will they be done by then.

 

[4hchickmama]

My fairs say 4 months min. It depends upon the bird. They can lose points for not being the right size. The moulting is tricky. My bird moulted a month ago, and I thought she was done, now she is moulting her crest. She looks like an old balding man. It is terrible. You can try oiling up combs and legs with olive oil to condition them. That can help them look their best as well.

Good luck at the fair!

 

[hdowden]

i have plenty of chickens to choose from it's just the ones that i want to take are youngens and the others are molting

 

[4hchickmama]

i have plenty of chickens to choose from it's just the ones that i want to take are youngens and the others are molting

My silkie pullet, who I have already paid an entry fee for, is moulting her crest and looks like a balding middle aged man. She looks terrible. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping she grows back some feathers somewhere. At least if she has a bit of a crest she won't look quite as bad. She won't be winning any ribbons, but at least she won't be bald!

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Showning poultry around the summer/early fall is tricky because their molting. It's pretty much like the lottery- are you going to molt now or there?

Just keep them on a steady diet, and they should finish their molt in about 1 to 3 weeks (about).