Jersey Giants thread for pictures and discussion

[Wynette]

Thanks a bunch for popping in, Walt! (For those who don't know, Walt is an APA judge - we're honored to have you here, Walt!)

 

[Soaring Chicks]

Well Wynette 1 weekend to go till I find out if those girls are going to be good for sq breeding.
Anyone got any pointers for me? This is a "clinic show to help people get a start and to learn what the judges look for",but you still win and all that. It's my first one to cut my teeth on and a great way to find out on two soon to be 7 month old jg pullets if I should jeep for breeding or not. There will be a real judge there telling it like it is. So my nerves are up there.
What is the best way to get them ready??
All help needed...

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
AWE! Do some Googling on prepping a chicken for a show - I've never shown, so I can't give much advice, other than make sure you bathe them the night before and trim toenails...I've seen folks say they trim beaks, not sure on that....one thing the judge will VERY MUCH APPRECIATE is a well-mannered bird. You should be practing taking them in & out of a cage so they are used to the space, and used to be handled in that way. The judge will remove them from the cage so that he can feel their bone structure, and an unruly bird can be deemed "unjudgeable" or whatever it is that they call it.

I bought a used dog cage - a wire one with a plastic bottom (similar to what the show cages are like), and I'll be setting it up on a table this weekend to begin practicing with mine myself.

 

[Soaring Chicks]

I have a cage that looks like the one around here for show. Im getting ai and npip tested and banding today so I can use that cage for them.
Since I have to handle them every 3 for ai and every 6 for all the other test with blood work they are used to. Getting picked up and flipped over to bloodwork. I have had a few that hated it no matter what.
So hopefully I have a head start there.

The washing bugs me. Which is funny as I used to groom dogs and cats.
Fur is one thing just just stub away, feathers.... What the heck can you do with them and not mess them up!?
I'm sure some think I'm silly ( as it is) but really how do y'all do it??
Dang Erin and Tammy for getting me into this.

Well they are making me put my words into action.
Really though the jg's are they only breed I've had that made me want to show.
The auburn Javas are close but they are not the show colors allowed.
I also have a feeling I'll be hooked on showing.

Thanks I'll look it up here soon.

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
As Wynette noted....wash them, but only if they need it. They should be washed about 4-5 days before the show, so that the feathers preen out right and the bird is totally dry. You will need to wash the feet and legs in any event, so do that a few days ahead and keep the birds in those show cages you mentioned. If they get dirty in those cages, it should be an easy thing to clean them up. The more detail you put into the birds the higher they will place. Trim the nails and beak if needed. I judged a bird a week ago that had about a 1/4 inch over bite on the beak. I don't know how the owner did not notice that, but she didn't. Trim the beak slowly if it needs it and just trim it so that the top and bottom of the beak meets nicely. Watch the quick of the nails just as you would a dog or yourself. If you cut it, it will bleed. Not much and not for long though. When trimming .....go slow and easy and you will not have any problems.

The judge will appreciate a well groomed bird, but the bird also has to have the correct type, color etc.

Having them use to the show cages is a big plus!

Walt

 

[Wynette]

I've seen a few videos on washing them, and you don't really move your hands around a lot like you do for dogs & cats - from what I have seen, it's more like just soapy water & sort of pouring it over them, and then rinsing really well. Then of course, you need to lube up the combs, wattles, and legs/feet.

and clean the ears.

Okay, I found a couple YouTube videos:

 

[Soaring Chicks]

thanks both of you!
I know how to trim beaks and nails( thanks to my moms love for parrots)
Wynette has seen pictures of both and one looks good but my have a flaw. the other is her sister and I more or less just want to see how she does through a judges eye's.
Tom Redick is the judge ( hope the last name is right as I can't find that post)
This is to help me learn what I really need to look for and breed toward for my Jg's.
That way I dont fill up wynettes pm box.

I'm going to cross roads so I hope to learn a lot more then too.
So after I wash them this week put in them in the show cages to keep them clean right.
boy will I have some not so happy girls. Oh well a few treats and I'll be back in good with them.

 

[Lofty Dreams]

Thanks. My mom has the Camera so no pictures now.
fowlman01 , I know different judges will sometimes look for and stress some parts more then others. What do you look mainly for in Jersey Giants?

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
The body/type.

Walt

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
You're funny. I'm NO expert, so don't take my word for it, but I do feel like it's a huge learning opportunity to post pics for everyone to talk about the type we are looking for. However, I know some peeps are just not super comfortable putting pics out there for all to see! I need to get updated pics of my guys as they're 25 or 26 weeks now, but at 18 weeks, this boy really stood out to me:

well never mind. I guess Photobucket's down now. ACK!

Lofty - you really should consider getting an APA SOP book - it shows pictures and gives detailed descriptions of what we should all be breeding for in each breed. It's a priceless book to have if you're going to be perpetuating a purebred chicken, IMO!