Showing questions

[eestep8]

Hello i am entering a show at the end of this month and have some questions.

1 If I have an OEGB Cockeral that was born in either October or November 2008 can he be shown undubbed? If so for how long?

2 Where can I buy legbands for adults when I only need a couple of 1 or 2 sizes?

3 One of my pullets has toenails that have grown so that instead of curving down they curve to the side, do I need to trim them so they can start growing right? How far in advance of the show do you recommend I do that?

4 Other than going by what the owner says how do they tell if a chicken is under or over 1 yo?

Thanks

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

1) I think you can show until this November, but you need to get that verified by someone who shows OEGB.

2) You can purchase ABA bands individually, but htey are seamless and have to be put on when the bird is pretty young. Otherwise join the rest of us purchasing sets of 25.

3) If the nails are long, trim them--don't wait for the show. I use regular fingernail clippers--watch out for the quick. Before a show you will want to bathe and groom your bird. Depending on the number, start a week to two weeks beforehand and plan to do some last minute touchups. Also, once bathed, make sure they are put into clean pens/coops, and that the pens/coops remain clean.

4) Size and development for young age, general appearance for old age. Some varieties change colour a bit with each molt.

 

[Krys109uk]

On the subject of legbands & ID.....are numbered wingbands allowed?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quite frankly, I've never been to a show that actually checked that the birds were banded.

Yes, wingbands would work. One important point about bands is the identification they provide, at least to a point, for a bird. With high quality birds of any breed and birds from expensive breeds there seem to be increasing numbers of thefts at shows. There are no easy answers, but every step you can take to guard yourself from becoming a victim is good,