Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[alij]

Hi all..

I'm trying to pluck up the courage to start entering some shows. My idea is to enter the fun show at the Luton and District with a selection of birds, not to win anything but to see if I do actually like the whole showing scene

 

Thinking of taking 4 birds, but don't want to take any which will be laughed out of the hall....

All criticism more than welcome

Custard a cuckoo bantam Orp

Fish a jubilee bantam orp

and Gavin and Stacey Japanese bantams

Gavin has just lost his large tail feathers but at this time of year I'm hoping everyone's birds are in the same boat

 

Please let me know your comments good or bad

[err_rachael]

Sorry have no experience in shows but they are all so beautiful! Especially love gavin and stacey (plus the names, hehe)

[Redwing]

Hiya

 

You should certainly have a go - I am a member of the club and will be there on the day with some of my birds and would be more than happy to show you the ropes of chicken showing (should I know you? have you been to the meetings?)

 

No one will laugh at you at all, there will almost inevitably be a few there that are more serious but certainly the core club members are a noisy cheerful bunch and the mood will be a fun one!

 

I'll have a look at the pics and give you some tips when I am at home on my own computer (at work now and pics dont work on my work computer)

 

In a normal show the Jap with the missing tail feathers would not be considered (the same goes for birds with clipped wings) but this one is a fun show and its worth taking him as someone may be able to give you some general critique on the birds anyway (I dont keep Japs but know that someone on the committee does)

[alij]

Thanks Tasha

 

That would be great if you would take a look at the photos and le me know what you think. I've not been to the meetings so any showing hints and tips will be much appreicated

[Falkor]

Hi ya Ali!

 

Loving Custard!!!!!!

and Fish!

And Gavin I have a mottled Jap

 

All good advice from Redwing (as always )

 

You should def take some birds along!

[alij]

Hi Em

 

Well if you have a mottled Jap lady and ever want to rehome you know where to come...Gavin could do with another little lady

[Redwing]

Thanks Tasha

 

That would be great if you would take a look at the photos and le me know what you think. I've not been to the meetings so any showing hints and tips will be much appreicated

 

No problems I will post when I get home (that wont be till late)

 

Showing is very addictive though so be warned!!

[Redwing]

The cuckoo orp is lovely, really nicely marked and a good shape

 

The Jub isnt quite as good, the ground colour isnt as dark as would be ideal and it doesnt look as good a shape (but that could be the pic angle) but its certainly striking and in lovely condition

 

The Japs are nice, they look a good shape but I dont know enough about them to say if the markings are good

 

All are clean and in good condition though so well worth taking

 

give them a bath about four days to a week before the show and make sure they are thoroughly dry before putting them back out in to a clean run (show people will keep them penned indoors to keep them clean) try to get their legs as clean as possible as these are often ingrained with dirt and check closely for mites or lice just in case!

 

When bathing them you need to clean in the direction of feather growth, dont ruffle the feathers! dog or horse shampoo is good for bathing chooks with. When you are done with the shampoo rinse the feathers really well (I must admit that I put my chooks under the shower to rinse them!) blot with a towel taking care not to ruffle the feathers. Chickens will often 'collapse' on to their side after a bath and looka awfully helpless, this isnt serious but is quite scary! keep them warm until they are properly dry, you can use a hairdryer or keep them in a box by a heater for the night to dry

 

Withdraw food for the night before the show, their crops need to be empty for judging. They can have water till the morning of the show

 

On show day give their legs a good clean again if necessary taking care not to get any feathers wet!

 

You can use vaseline (sparingly!) baby oil or a bit of gentle hand cream to shine up their legs and combs/wattles on show morning

 

A good smooth over with your hands to coax any stray feathers back in to line

 

Then in to the cage - no food or water. spread the shavings (provided) out in the cage and they can have a very small amount of corn to keep them occupied if you wish

 

They will be judged so it helps if they are calm (you can put them in a dog cage for short periods of time leading up to the show to get them used to being in a small cage - this is called 'pen training')

 

They will be evaluated for their class first, then all the first prizes go for the group prize, then for best in show

 

At the point where they get knocked out of the running (if they dont win first place in their class would be the first stage that they would be knocked out) they can then have some water, most people take a coop cup for this and hook it to the inside of the cage. Food can then also be given but most people dont put this in a container, they just scatter it in the cage

 

If your bird wins first in its class the prize card will be put on the cage backwards, dont turn it over - this is so that the judges cant be accused of bias when they judge the best in group! once best in group and show has been announced the card can be turned over

 

Your orps will be classed as AOV Heavy bantams and the Japs as AV True Bantams (this group also has separate classes for 2010 bred birds)

 

The penning of the birds at the start of the show is frenetic, if you need someone to help you seek out a steward (or me) and we will help, some competitors dont appreciate being asked as they are concentrating on getting their birds ready. Once judging is underway everyone really relaxes and the mood lightens dramatically and people dont mind being asked questions then

 

There is quite a lull between the penning and the end of the day, there isnt a great deal to do at shows so I take a book or magazine however at the fun show I think it will probably be quite lively and there will be a lot of fun and chit chat

 

I hope this helps but feel free to ask any other questions or pop me a pm

 

[alij]

Tasha that reply is fantastic...thank you so much

I thought the same about the Jubilee, she hasn't got a nice even background colour at the moment, but perhaps that will even out with time, she's only 5 months at the moment. I've got a nice lavender orp bantie, are you able to swap birds?

 

It would be great to meet at the show and thank you in person

Ali

[Redwing]

it will be good to meet you too

 

As you've entered quite a generic class yes you can swap birds

 

If you had entered a class for lavender birds then wanted to swap for a different colour then of course you wouldnt be able to

 

I only show barred Wyandotte bantams so I just enter the class then take whichever bird looks best near the show

[Daphne]

I'd say go for it - its the only way you'll know if you like it - and perhaps most importantly, you'll learn loads about what makes a good bird. But I do have a technical question for Tasha - are you allowed to enter non-standard colours in a AOV class, I mean will it get judged?

 

I would say the markings on the cuckoo look good; I presume the photo is a bit odd and her tail is all there

 

The jubilee hasn't got the greatest markings as she should have more black 'spangled' (banded) feathers with white tips, including on her tail but a) bantams are pretty unusual so thats not surprising - more breeding is required and b) she might grow into them, especially after a moult, when white in particular does come through, she's still a baby at the moment. If your lavendar is older I'd probably be tempted to take her. Good luck

[Redwing]

But I do have a technical question for Tasha - are you allowed to enter non-standard colours in a AOV class, I mean will it get judged?

 

D

 

Not usually no - you have a point. there would be a class for non standard colours if they were allowed.

 

Ali - I will bring my breed standard book on the day and we can have a look to see what the standards are for these breeds

 

Non standard or not these will be fine at this show - its all for fun

[Falkor]

Ali - I will bring my breed standard book on the day and we can have a look to see what the standards are for these breeds

 

Arrrrh you bit the bullet and made the purchase then!! Great bedtime reading!

[the bradley bunch]

hi ali, i just wanted to comment on what a beautiful brood you've got there!

gavin in particular is breath taking what is his nature like & is he very noisy? i'd absolutely love to have a jap bantam cockerel if i could get away with it! (we've got neighbours )

 

...either way it's def gonna be going on the 'i want' list for when we trade in our house for one with a bit more land and a bit less neighbours!

[alij]

Ah Thank you so much for the lovely comments. Gavin is a lovely bird with a brilliant temperament, vey docile, easy to handle and a total joy. He's not looking quite his best at the moment as he's still in the process of growing his really long tail feathers, but want to get him used to the show environment anyway.

 

Regarding crowing....he's not particulary loud or frequent, I have another Jap cockeral and they can start each other of but only one or two crows each about twice a day. We have close neighbours who are absolutley fine with them.

 

I also have a Serama cockeral who's crow is ridiculous and quite unlike a crow at all. Very quiet and more squeaky. Although this does depend on the birds, but lots are kept in urban gardens.

 

Here's Napoleon the Serama

 

 

Tasha look forward to seeing you and your book on Sunday

[the bradley bunch]

wow thanks for the info & pic ali...maybe if i show it to hubby i'll be able to convince him!

i've been promised a pair of bantams next year and i'd love to have a cock & a hen *fingers crossed*

 

good luck with the showing!