Tips for conditioning show birds?

[snowbird]

Quote:
I have been showing poultry for 60 years and this is the first time I have seen anyone say don't use soap. What good would it do to just rinse them off. They should be washed in dish soap and rinsed in two or three seperate rinse tubs. I have no idea where you get these ideas you post.

 

[cbbantams]

I know an exhibitor who has been the Top Red Pyle Old English Game exhibitor for the 3 out of the last four years and he has never bathed a bird.He will wash off wing tips and vent areas and any spotting but never wets the entire bird with soap and water.These guys win their varities in some of the biggest shows in the country,not county fairs.I never soak down my Black Oe's and we do much better than average.So I dont think I would call someone out on their opinion just because you dont do it that way.

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:
I have been showing poultry for 60 years and this is the first time I have seen anyone say don't use soap. What good would it do to just rinse them off. They should be washed in dish soap and rinsed in two or three seperate rinse tubs. I have no idea where you get these ideas you post.

I have been raising more then chickens, and I don't encourage washing off the natural oils with soap.
So, IF you have been around 60 years, what do have have to offer that is positive to the question of this thread? And not a lame attempt to redirect (highjack) the thread towards your biased of those you don't agree with?


I am just going to keep my bad attitude to PM's. DON you got one. Lets go at it there!

 

[NYREDS]

One that I've been told to do is to put your Show bird in a cage and a couple a times a day take him/her out. Get them use to being handled.
You can train them to pose in a cage with treats. Get other people to reward the bird for posing. They call it cage training.

Good advice. Especially the part about getting other people to reward them. The birds will get to associating a stranger [eg the judge] with a positive outcome.

Don't wash your birds with soap, just rinse them off about 7 to 10 days before the show. Then after being rinsed off from dirt spray mist in solution Glycerin with water. Glycerin is a vegatable base oil that they will preen them selves with to get the high sheen.

This part isn't such good advice. In the first place 7-10 days before the show is too soon. It gives the bird too much time to get dirty again. Also, if all the bird needs is rinsing then it doesn't need washing at all. Rinsing with plain water isn't going to clean the bird & it sure isn't going to take care of any stains.

Here's what I do:

1. Wash the bird in warm soapy water [ I use CHEER believe it or not].Use a soft tooth brush on the legs & on any stained feathers.

2. Rinse in warm water with a small amount of white vinegar added. The vinegar helps remove soap residue.

3. Follow with a second rinse containing some Glycerin if you can find it. If not a small amount of hair conditioner works ok.

4. Towel off excess wates stroking in the direction of the grain of the feather.

5. Blow dry until nearly dry. Then place the bird in a cage in the sun to preen & finish drying.​

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

A question just ran through my mind, now that this is the current topic (sorry OP for my highjack), but how do we all feel about shampoos/conditioners that are not tested on animals? I honestly never looked on the back of my baby shampoo that I use for my birds but they've been fine with it.

 

[FlashPointFarm]

Thanks for your input!

NYREDS, I like the Cheer idea. I used to use Tide on my paint horses to get the poop stains out of the white on my paint horses, much to other's dismay. Worked like a dream and didn't hurt them a bit.

 

[lildinkem]

NYREDS: I am showing on Oct 16th and again (maybe) at the end of the month.
Should I wash the birds twice this month or once before the first show and spot clean them like another already mentioned for the stains and legs?
I like the vinegar idea.
I heard to rub in vaseline on the comb and legs too.
Since I am known for different ideas. Anyone ever heard of using Boric Acid powder for mite prevention? Mom raised and shown White Persian cats and she swore by the stuff. Used it in the tear ducts and used it in their ears. She did well with her cats and could only show ACFA and won the Lady Bareford Show back in the mid 80's. But, she had mentioned the idea to me when I talked to her about my birds.
Just curious IF anyone else ever used or heard of using it instead of Seven?

 

[NYREDS]

You have already posted the system you use & rather harshly attacked someone else who disagreed with you. Since you have a system you feel confident enough in to advocate it's use to others I think you should continue to follow it.

 

[featherbaby]

The best way to put out a fire is to stop throwing gasoline on it.

 

[hoppy]

if you show silkies, I don't think I would use glycerin as they are supposed to be fluffy. I wash silkies in dish soap and rinse with vinegar, rinse again and blow dry. I jsut started showing, took best silkie in show.