Question about Showing and Feather condition

[Crunchie]

Quote:
Thanks rodriguezpoultry! Would tweezers help or actual pliers?

Tweezers will work for smaller feathers. You'd probably need a bigger implement (pliers) for wing or tail feathers if fingers won't work. Do it like DuckyBoys says. I use tweezers to pluck my Polish crests. FYI, if you don't like pulling feathers out of a bird, don't get into showing Polish.

 

[Black Feather]

Just curious, when is the show taking place that you want to take your birds to? It usually takes between 6-8 weeks for a wing or tail feather to grow back after it's been pulled, and sometimes longer if it's a sickle feather. I don't pull feathers unless there is a show coming up that I want the birds in tip top condition for, otherwise I just leave the bird to molt naturally.

UC

 

[Donna McCormick]

Keeping your birds in condition for show is something you do all year around. You do not want a male in with your females if you are going to show them. The males will break and damage feathers. If you want eggs from your best females that you plan to show it would be better to AI them with your best males.
A little wheat germ oil in the feed will help the feather condition.
I mix wheat germ oil, ground flax seed. sunflower hearts, safflower seed and brewers yeast in a good quality crumble feed.
Never cut feathers if your going to show! Damaged feathers can be pulled out, be sure you pull them as close as you can to the skin, otherwise they might break and you'll have to do it twice. When chickens molt they do not molt all of the feathers, so you could end up with many cut feathers, no good for show. Not all feather pulling will cause them to bleed, it depends on where and which feather it is.
Bathing, nail clip and file and a beak trim is all something you will need to do before a show.
Housing has a lot to do with what breed you are showing.
Feather footed birds ruin foot feathers if allowed to free range,
clean legged birds could probably free range if the weather is not wet but I keep my polish that I plan to show cooped.
If you type "showing poultry" in a search you will come up with many sites that will show exactly how to condition and prepare your birds for show.
Donna

 

[Year of the Rooster]

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It's in August. It's only our county fair for 4-H and I want to be prepared as much as possible. I don't expect to get far as these are hatchery birds. Some may be decent IMO but who knows.

 

[Msbear]

Cochins as well as game birds thrive on game bird feed. It's higher in protein but also higher in price. My bantam cochins need the protein with all those feathers they need to grow. I try to use it as much as I can afford to. Even alternating with grower is wonderful.

I agree totally with Urban coyote about the sunlight issue and exercise. All of my coops have windows with outdoor runs. I also alternate freeranging so all of my roos can enjoy some outdoor time. Chickens may not be that bright but they have natural instincts and when they are able to act out those instincts; scratching, foraging, roosting, exercise, etc. they are much happy and healthier.

Just before a show, I give them a bath... maybe 4 days to a week before. I use regular shampoo with conditioner

I like using something natural like organic shampoos with minimal scent. White birds can use bluing. It's a bleach alternative. Just a tad will "brighten your whites" but too much will give you a self-blue

I then rinse with a bit of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. Any feathers that are separating, you can kinda work back together. This won't work magic but definitely will improve what you've got.

I also keep their combs and waddles lubed with a bit of vaseline. This will give them a healthy glow come show time.

IMPORTANT: Carry your birds in an appropriate container to the show. Round, fluffy cochins should travel in a square box big enough for them to turn around in. Fancy varieties with longer tails need bigger, boxes.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
Thanks MsBear.

My birds to get a lot of fresh air. I let them freerange in the yard whenever I am home or outside. This is their coop:

The only time they ever go in the coop is for Eating, roosting, laying, or to get out of bad weather. Other than that they are almost always out in the run. This pic was taken in September, and as of now the run has a layer of mulch. And yesterday I gave two silkies and two sebrights a bath just as an experiment to how they would react. BOY! do those silkies look WHITE! I washed them with some of the whitening shampoo that we had for my dog. After shampooing I rinsed them with a showerhead with warm water. I also give them bird seed and BOSS every day.
Thanks for your help!

 

[featherbaby]

Quote:
Donna, thanks for the tips on feeding for outstanding feather condition. I'm going to try it on my silkies. I hear you breed outstanding Greys too....Do you have any pictures? I would love to have one someday!

 

[Donna McCormick]

Hi
I just went in and put my web address up. There are a few photos of my grays on my site.
Donna
www.BluegrassBantams.com

 

[CluckyChuckCrazy]

I showed our 2 Bhrama's this year a couple of months before the show we handled them daily (for about 4-5mins at a time) so they were used to being handled we also created a dummy cage so they were used to it. 3-4 days before the show we bathed them both and gave them a health check at the same time ensuring everything is as it should be.

At the show we got the birds ready by puttung baby oil on the comb, wattles and their legs so they had a shine to them we also used a baby hair brush on the feather including the leg feathers so they were tidy.

After all that it was well worth it we got 1st place with the columbian buff and 2nd place with the silver blue

I hope i have helped you out a bit