grooming show birds

[ThePolishPrincess]

Not too 'experienced' but I use VetRX also on the comb, as well as the beak and legs/toes. I find it helps SO MUCH on the feet. Makes them look darker and very shiny.

When I blow dry them, I find that it helps to either a.) let them sit in the towel for 10 minutes or so to soak up alot of the water and/or b.) Blow dry them all the way. But that's just me.

My favorite tool has been a very small comb that I've had lying around here for a while. Works perfect on Silkies. One side has a plastic medium-fine tooth comb and the other has the same thing in bristle-form. Generally, I always have a comb on me. Gets out any 'tangles' in the beard and brush up their cushion before judging. Obviously that only pertains to Silkies.

 

[silkieroo]

Would it be "cheating" to paint there toe nails with clear nail polish? Not that I've done it or anything "cough" "cough"

 

[Candiss]

I wash my show dogs with Murphys Oils Soap, and I washed my cochin before the show this last weekend and it worked out great.. I used Silverado Face Glo on comb and beak..

Candace

 

[NYREDS]

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What would be the point?

 

[chicken2010]

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I'd just like to ask, when you bathe the silkies how do you wash their hair (head) because that could be quite dirty if not washed but it's quite difficult to wash without getting water into their nostrils

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

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I'd just like to ask, when you bathe the silkies how do you wash their hair (head) because that could be quite dirty if not washed but it's quite difficult to wash without getting water into their nostrils

I just use a wet washcloth. My birds keep their crests pretty clean.

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

To wash their crests, I hold them upside down.......I DON'T hold their head under running water of course. While holding them upside down, I carefully dip their crests in the water, shampoo it, then rinse it thoroughly with the hand sprayer. Since mine are use to the position/routine, they don't seem to mind, and their crests turn out beautifully, and NO water in their nose

 

[chicken2010]

Quote:
I'd just like to ask, when you bathe the silkies how do you wash their hair (head) because that could be quite dirty if not washed but it's quite difficult to wash without getting water into their nostrils

I just use a wet washcloth. My birds keep their crests pretty clean.

ooo ok, thank you!

 

[Smoky73]

Quote:
I'd just like to ask, when you bathe the silkies how do you wash their hair (head) because that could be quite dirty if not washed but it's quite difficult to wash without getting water into their nostrils

I also bathe the crests of silkies by holding them upside down, but I wash under a thin stream of running water. I grab the crest and get it into the water, and then rub my pointer, and middle finger against my thumb to rub all the water and shampoo into the crest. Then I rinse same way.

 

[TK Poultry]

I'm no expert but this is my process

*I keep all of my show flocks under a cover run
-I try to keep all of the birds in tip top condition all of the time in case of vistors (like family friends to the house and things)
*I bring them in the night before a show
-Wash their feet and beaks and combs
- (I keep toe nails and beaks trimmed all the time)
*The day of the show I set up in the car and have all my supplies ready
-I take a baby wipe and wipe them down
-I take a que tip and put valseline on their comb and legs
- I put them in their cage and wipe them down one more time and walk away and have fun

That is the process that I have. I granted show bantam ameraucanas and they don't require alot of conditioning.