Showing questions. ????

[sweeterdeeter42]

I have a few questions about the guidelines for showing and things mentioned in the SOP.

What does positive white mean? For example, it is a disqualification for some breeds to have positive white in their feathers. (positive white enamel is in the glossary, but not positive white when pertaining to feathers.)

Can you use a scalpel to remove a minor side sprig on the comb and still show the bird, or is that considered "Faking?"

In the SOP, it shows a lopped single comb to be a disqualification, yet many pictures in the SOP show the hens with a lopped comb. What is that about?

If you have some irregular minor feathers in a bird, should you just pull them out?

If your bird loses a tail or wing feather during transport, will they still show well, or does this prevent them from being competitive specimens?


I probably have more questions. Reading the SOP, I find that I was extremely lucky to have done so well when I showed years ago, because I had no idea about a lot of this stuff!!!!!

 

[Illia]

Positive white, as in white showing up at the feather base or tip. For example, if a brown-red bird has white in the base of the tail feathers, or a red bird has white flecks on the head, that sort of thing.

I don't think cutting off a side spring would be a very good thing to do at all. Plus, the judge would notice. It would bleed, then scab, then eventually heal up as a smooth spot, and cause suspicion.

As for a lopped comb - Mediterranean breeds are allowed it, none others. However even with them, and with normal breeds, any sort of fold in the comb is another no-no.

Describe irregular minor feathers. Yes, some bad feathers are known to be plucked, however I believe points can be docked for them being noticed.

Lost feathers can dock a bird down from being a winning prospect, yes. If the feather is broken, the bird can be disqualified, as broken feathers often are a good suspicion of feather cutting. (Cutting an unwanted trait out to hide it; thus people instead pluck them to make it look like the bird simply lost the feather)

 

[sweeterdeeter42]

Minor feathers meaning breast feather or other similar smaller feathers on the body.
Irregular meaning faded, twisted, discolored or in the rare case that a bird only has one or two frosted, mealy, splashed, or mossy feathers.

Thanks for all your help!