Showing a Moulting Hen

[Beth77]

Hello, my Welsummer hen has started moulting. I'm meant to be showing her on Saturday but today when I was bathing her, ALL of her tail feathers fell out. Can I still show her? I'll attach some photos.

I haven't fully dried her yet so she still looks a bit scabby, I'll post some more when she's dry.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated

 

[sumi]

I'll start by saying this is just my opinion, but if a chicken is molting, or otherwise not looking it's best, it cannot be a great representation of the breed and therefor I would not show it. For me a bird should be taken to a show only when they are at their best and in excellent condition plumage-wise.

Another reason I would withdraw a molting bird from a show is because being taken to a poultry show, surrounded by strange birds and people, handled by strangers (judges) etc can be stressful and molting is hard on the bird already. Rather wait a few weeks, or months, until she is in tip top shape with lovely new feathers and enter her in another show, where she can represent her breed (and you) well.

 

[CluckerCottage]

agree 100% with sumi. very well stated!
i went to my state fair at the end of august and was saddened to see so many birds molting (many were half-deplumed).
you could tell they were just miserable. poor things.
also, I saw some birds with dry fowl pox, runny/crusty eyes and advanced scaly leg mites.
this is just my personal opinion----they should not have been allowed to be shown and their owners should be ashamed of the condition of their birds.

 

[Beth77]

Thank you both for getting back. I'll probably just leave her then, such a shame because she's won so many 1st's and she's a joy to exhibit!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Agree with sumi as well.

The birds are super sensitive during this time. She's not in a good mood. The show is cancelled. Sorry.

 

[Beth77]

It's probably for the best. I am however, showing two more today so fingers crossed!!