How do you prepare your chicken for a livestock show?

[M To The Maxx]

How do you prepare your chicken for a livestock show?

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Mentally or physically?

For mentally, you might want to take them away from their flock a few days before the show and put them alone in a cage, similar to that of the cage you'd have to put them in at a show. Also, you can obviously give the bird clean water but don't give them the food for a few hours. Then, a few hours later hand feed them. Get them used to you being in charge of their schedule. This also helps to get them used to little food the day of the show. You don't want to give too much food because then the bird will be pooing all over themselves.

For physically, you'll want to bathe them 5-2 days before the show. I wouldn't do them the night before. Washing them takes away the dirt but it also takes away the natural oils in the feathers that give it the shine and protection, the kind that the judges always like to see at shows. At least two days will give the bird time to reapply those oils again. Also, you want to give the bird enough time to get all dry.

General grooming should be done as well.

 

[DuckLady]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=222670