You have some smallish cages or cat carriers, right? Put the kids in those for a few days, and each day take them out, look them over and spread their wings and check their vents and stuff. Make sure they run out of food about 3-6 hours before you examine them. Then put them back in the cage and give them their feed, the minute they settle in the cage. By the third or 4th day they are MUCH more patient with you and this process. In fact, they are looking forward to seeing you! If they are especially nice, give them a bread crust or bit of fruit.
I usually won't release mine into the cage until they're standing calmly, resigned to me holding them. If they struggle, I keep a tight hold. They gotta know who's boss.
Honestly? If you don't do all this they will probably still show okay. But they get extra points for being well behaved. Polish are flighty, and can be expected to be a bit freaked out. But those that get handled regularly can become INCREDIBLY docile.
I start mine on this stuff early now, and hold them and examine them every couple of days. I never put them in the small cages though. But mine don't get fed until I mess with everyone.
I never knew any of this and mine did fine in those first shows. Now I want them to be AWESOME, so I work with them.
I usually won't release mine into the cage until they're standing calmly, resigned to me holding them. If they struggle, I keep a tight hold. They gotta know who's boss.
Honestly? If you don't do all this they will probably still show okay. But they get extra points for being well behaved. Polish are flighty, and can be expected to be a bit freaked out. But those that get handled regularly can become INCREDIBLY docile.
I start mine on this stuff early now, and hold them and examine them every couple of days. I never put them in the small cages though. But mine don't get fed until I mess with everyone.
I never knew any of this and mine did fine in those first shows. Now I want them to be AWESOME, so I work with them.
