Tips for showing chickens

[Moonlight Piano]

I am somewhat new to the showing arena, but I have been to quite a few throught my local county 4-H. Every time I go out I see people spraying their chickens combs with some kind of oil to make the comb a brilliant red. Also they had some kind of spray that made their feathers shine even moreso than usual. I had never seen anything like this and was astomished when I saw it. I was just wondering, I guess, what are all of these products and what should I do to put my bird in the best possible shape for show. How should I wash my bird? How early should I get my bird to the show for aclimation? Should I be worried about disease? Any advice would be very welcome.

 

[TK Poultry]

there is always the possiblity of disease, but every time I go to a show I'm agreeing to that risk. The spray for their feathers is just a show shine. You can buy it in a pink can in the horse section at your local Tractor Supply. I don't know about the spray for their combs but I use Neosporin on their combs for redness. I wash my birds in a three step process in three different tubs but in a pinch you can use a kitchen sink with two tub things. First up luke warm water with the soap of your choice. The second tub needs to be the rinse tub with just luke warm water. AND the third tub should be an empty tub that catches the vinegar you poor over them to cut the soap suds. Just like in horses you usually have a show string of the same birds that you take everytime. Those birds will be aclimated but there is really no process. You can get a small cage and turn on the radio to like a talk radio station to mimic a bunch of people. Thats what we use to do with our show goats so they wouldn't freak out. You could also try to give them treats while in the little cage so that way when ever someone walks by they think they will be getting a treat and will stand and pose. That is really all I can tell ya as far as secrets.

 

[Moonlight Piano]

Thankyou so much this really helps me. We have a big chickens show( 2500 birds this year! ) in my local community ran by the CVPA. I entered by black austrolorp this year and took best of variety, but I feel that I could have placed higher had I used the Proper show prep routine. Thanks for the info, will do better next year.

 

[TK Poultry]

Quote:
Well good luck! We skipped all the spring shows so our County Fair will be our first show of the year and then the road to the Nationals starts