Hello! and welcome to the OEGB thread.

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
It is quite easy, just raise extras and practice on your culls until your comfortable and then start on teh good ones, if you were closer i would offer to show you but CT is a long way from me.
Be carefull with what wins vs what is right many out there have breed to what wins and when changes it is tough to recover, but your right about the showmen this is one great hobby and the older gentlemen involved are ussually very open and willing teach and discuss different techniques.

 

[GotGame]

one idea would be if you could talk a judge into giving you a few minutes of his time (after the show that is), especially if you can find an all game show local. Ask his opinion on what he considers to be correct type, and maybe have him point out some of the more obvious faults you run across with oegb. Just a thought....

 

[Celtic Hill]

Thanks guys! As far as dubbing goes, Dubbing the earlobes looks to be the toughest, do you just cut them flush with the face?

 

[GotGame]

Your best bet is to find someone to show you that has and dubs oegb. Cause it looks like your cutting the birds throat when you get the earlobes and wattles, but it is very simple...but much more so if you can watch someone do a few.

 

[FarmGirl01]

Nice reading. Keep talking.

Ear lobes scare me. But, I know I can do it.

 

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
the earlobes are the easiest part, take all the loose "skin" and remove from directly above where the feather starts to the point where it is tightly held to the head, this will remove a sizable piece of flesh but only leave less thn 1/16 inch or less of open wound. the trick is getting tight to the beak when removingthe wattles so that you don't have that little bump growth at the beak a few months later. Comb height and shape is an individual taste thing I like between 1/4 and 3/8 inch high at rear slightly rounded terminating cleanly where the comb and beak join.
If you have never trimmed a comb you may want to draw a line first but I say that cull cockrells make great practice and once your comfortable with how you like to do it then move on to your good birds.
For anyone in Oklahoma that wants to make a drive I will be more than happy to help, teach, or just dub them for you.

 

[FarmGirl01]

Quote:
the earlobes are the easiest part, take all the loose "skin" and remove from directly above where the feather starts to the point where it is tightly held to the head, this will remove a sizable piece of flesh but only leave less thn 1/16 inch or less of open wound. the trick is getting tight to the beak when removingthe wattles so that you don't have that little bump growth at the beak a few months later. Comb height and shape is an individual taste thing I like between 1/4 and 3/8 inch high at rear slightly rounded terminating cleanly where the comb and beak join.
If you have never trimmed a comb you may want to draw a line first but I say that cull cockrells make great practice and once your comfortable with how you like to do it then move on to your good birds.
For anyone in Oklahoma that wants to make a drive I will be more than happy to help, teach, or just dub them for you.

Thanks for the info. You know, we have killed 10 pigs in about 2 weeks. Its crazy how many are out there. Hubby just killed a nice tan boar this morning. He took a real good pic of it.

 

[southernsickles]

I just trimmed my first few birds of the year last weekend.I still have alot more to do but thats all thats ready right now.I am just so ready for some cooler weather.I am anxious to load up the fly pens and get ready for show season.

 

[Celtic Hill]

What are fly pens?

Im excited for show season too! Our first one is October, and then we have one every other month into January.

 

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
Fly pens are larger pens that give the bird additional room but often have higher roost poles this allows the bird(s) plenty of space to fly and gain better muscle condition. Most fly pens have swinging perches, elevated feed and water near a small perch all of these things force the birds to fly up to get feed water and more excersize. This builds additional breast muscle, lifts wing carriage and improves balance and body of the bird. A swinging perch is a balancing act for the birds and helps a great deal too.
If multiple fly pens are side by side and birds cannot see each other easily due to a seperation that is 30-36 inches in height they will spend a good part of thier day flying up to see what the other bird is doing next door. You may also want to use some straw and a bit of scratch tossed on teh straw, this will cause the birds to scratch the ground very frequently looking for the treats. This too builds muscle and you want a solid little mass of muscle.