Many novices think of puting a bird in the cage and entering it in the show.... then wonder why it didn't win.

 

For thoses that are interested or preparing to show a bird, what do you do to prepare it for show.

 

Lets start at the beginning.

 

Two months before the show.

1. Catch up the probable show birds.
   
2. Examine them for broken feathers and where necessary, remove stumps of the feathers very carefully without causing damage to wings or tails. Note: new tails will grow in six to eight weeks, new fights will grow in six to eight weeks, new spots will grow in four weeks.
   
3. If the birds are dirty, wash them thoughly by hand with a very mild soap and a soft brush. Always brush in the direction of the feathers. Don't allow soap in their eyes and make sure you rinse very well. The water should be at body temperature. 38 deg C.
   Start to spray the birds with very hot water from 12 inches away. You should use an atomiser so that the water cools before hitting the bird. It will be luke warm by then.
   
4. Note the condition of the birds, those too fat will need to be thined. This is done with the correct diet and excersize. Those that are too thin will need building up.
   
5. Put the birds into inside flights to calm them down.
   

Edited May 30, 200718 yr by **KAZ**

I read somewhere that if your show budgie has raggedy tailfeathers, you dip the tailfeathers (not the tail) into warm water...the feathers appear as normal again. Is that correct ?

Also, some show breeders de-spot their birds for presentable appearance and others dont. What would be your thoughts on this...do or don't and why ? Or is it just for certain types of budgies ?

Edited January 29, 200718 yr by Bubbles

tail feathers diped in hot water does work

as for de-spoting it should be done or you will lose points

tail feathers diped in hot water does work

as for de-spoting it should be done or you will lose points

Thanks Hath...I appreciate the replies.

One month before the Show.

 

Spray the birds daily. Spray them until they are soaked, if possible. Be sure not to allow the birds to get chilled. By now the birds should be in good condition and the water will begin to bead up on thier feathers, much like it does on a freshly waxed car. Don't stop spraying. If you do, the birds will lose their condition.

......................................................

Two weeks to go.

 

Check the health of each bird. If there are any questions about the health of an individual in the team, leave it at home. If you take it, you may kill a valuable bird. Be especially certain of the fittness of any hens you take. Continue to Spray.

.......................................................

thanks Daz hope to get some more showing tips in the future.

Sco-tie

Sco-tie I am in my final phase for show preparation. 48 hours to go. I now start having the panick attackes. ie one bird is geting nervice and has light green vent. I will have to make sure she is clean.

 

I started on wednesday to build the stamina up in the team. They will be fitter and fired up for Sunday..... i hope.

Good luck Daz

this is how i prepare

 

as daz said i collect my team up i normally select team a and team b team a my best birds with team b being my reserve birds both are treated the same this way if one or more of team a lose a feather or spot it can be replaced with a bird thats in equal show condition even if not as good it is always of the up most inportance to have your bird in tip top condition

 

8 to 10 weeks birds are put into show cages and marked up by me i hope to get 6 birds for team a and the same for team b

 

they are all hand washed using johnsons baby shampoo then they are placed into there teams and each team into a double length breeding cage

 

a check on their weight and condition i find the birds are normally okay or slightly underweight once they have been in the flights so extra soaked groats is fed greens are cut down and if you feed your seeds cod liver oil this is reduced to stop thier droppings being to runy

 

the cages are cleaned every day especially the perchs to keep their feet and faces clean

 

i start of spraying warm water three times a week

 

if any tail feathers are broke i will remove them but only one at a time (although some people will remove both)

 

two to three weeks i will be spraying my birds every two days

 

i will then deal with any pin feathers and the week before i will turn to the spots i dont pull these but cut them as they will last all season once done where as pulling will have to be done more than once it also causes a little bruising which in turn could cause the main spots to fall out

 

also about two weeks before the first show i put the birds in show cages for a few hours to get use to them and to get use to people walking close by if their any really flighty birds they some time come in the house to spend more time getting use to people

 

 

ive probably missed something out as i tend to this on auto now

Very good Hath.. I picked up some tips there.

 

Three to four days to show I start the team on Vetafarm SPARK ELECTROVET to start increasing their stamina, energey and help them cope with the stress. They will be on this after the show to bring them dowm.

 

I continue to spray.

 

Day before the show. Assessment of the birds and the show cages. Any repairs on both are done. The Cages can not be marked in any way so any scratches are dealt with. Birds are hand washed again and any pin feathers are gently attended to with a clean tooth brush. Flight, Vent and tail feathers are checked. After the birds are dried, clean white caps have baby powder applied and excess is dusted off.

Training is the show cages continue in the morning only. As I have only a few Show cages I don't want to reclean the cages again till after the show.

 

Any bird that doesn't meet my required standard should be left at home.

Really good information, Hath and Daz. Thanks very much.

I found this very interesting Daz and Hath.Still reading and learning all that I can.

I should finish this off.

 

After the show the birds are brought home and placed in a clean stock cage with a High carbohydrate suppliment to the water. I give them also fresh vegatables and oats to build up their strength. They stay for 2 to 3 days to build strength before going back to the flight.

 

....and the trophies are put on the mantel place

Edited February 13, 200718 yr by Daz

Love the bit about trophies Daz.There is certainly more involved than what I thought but it hasn't put me off the idea.Only got me more interested.

great advice from both of you.

I should finish this off.

 

After the show the birds are brought home and placed in a clean stock cage with a High carbohydrate suppliment to the water. I give them also fresh vegatables and oats to build up their strength. They stay for 2 to 3 days to build strength before going back to the flight.

 

....and the trophies are put on the mantel place

 

 

How often would you show these birds are shows about 6-8 weeks apart or do you take different birds to different shows

 

Tracey

I should finish this off.

 

After the show the birds are brought home and placed in a clean stock cage with a High carbohydrate suppliment to the water. I give them also fresh vegatables and oats to build up their strength. They stay for 2 to 3 days to build strength before going back to the flight.

 

....and the trophies are put on the mantel place

 

 

How often would you show these birds are shows about 6-8 weeks apart or do you take different birds to different shows

 

Tracey

Tracey, if you are in a budgie club, they usually have a show called a bench show every meeting which is once a month. Apart from that a few budgie clubs get together and hold little shows at halls and such. If you are a member of a budgie club, you will be notified of shows, you can order coded rings for your chicks and you can learn to show your own birds. As a novice ( or newbie) you can usually show a bought bird for about 12 months.

Edited May 30, 200718 yr by **KAZ**

There are shows every month between February and October in my region. Some people go toevery show with the same bird (especially if it wins). I have changed birds every show this year but will bring the winners back for the next show.

There are shows every month between February and October in my region. Some people go toevery show with the same bird (especially if it wins). I have changed birds every show this year but will bring the winners back for the next show.

 

 

 

 

There are shows every month between February and October in my region. Some people go toevery show with the same bird (especially if it wins). I have changed birds every show this year but will bring the winners back for the next show.

 

 

Great advise Daz and Hath, your lucky Daz the only shows around here are all within 2 weekends, unless we travel to Melbourne but that is a 3/12 hr trip.

Our shows are in March. Bendigo Club show is on a Sat, then the next day Sunday of the same weekend is the Riverina club show, which is my club and the next Saturday is the Kyabram club show.

There is a young bird one in Melbourne and if they select you the club will take them down, and there is a uncapped in a couple of months again you need to win the selection for the club to take them to Melbourne.

So realy I have to wait now untill March next year.

But thanks guys every little a bit of info helps.

Daz good luck at your Show!!!

Edited May 30, 200718 yr by **KAZ**

:hap: Hi just wondering but do your budgies have to be tame to enter them in a show?

They don't have to be tame just trained.

 

A show bird must show and so you need to trin them to sit on the perch when required.

No they don`t have tobe tame,as in they don`t have to sit on your finger.

But they need tobe trained to sit on the perch in the show cage & show themselves

off.That the secret,that they hold themselves in the show pose.Most budgies will display

themselves in the show cage & the one that is the closest to the show standard,usely wins.

I guess this is as clear as mud to you at the moment.But if you join a show budgie club &

become a member,you will receive a beginners manual & that will help you,understand the art of

showing & talking to the experenced breeders,in how to breed & prepare a show budgie.

 

There is breeders on this forum,who will no dought be able to explain it better.I know what is needed

to breed & show budgies.But not able to put it down on paper. :hap:

Macka is right. You have to train them to sit. But training doesn't start as chicks but before that.

 

The training starts as parents. If you can have calm parents that don't frighten easily and will sit they will past this trait on to their young. Then you need to work with the chicks from as early as 10 days old. To be used to you and used to being handled.

 

It is a trait like any feature. You not only pick the parents by visual and back ground but also for show traits.

 

Stance, balance, deportment and calmness. It can be breed into them.

That is true,if the parents are bad shower.There a fair chance the chicks will be the same& it dosent matter how good the bird is,if it wont show itself,it wont be moved to the top of the line.A member in our

club has a line of good,lacewings & they will not sit on the perch.He has missed out on best Lacewings on number of times.The grandmother was the problem,he brought her as a yong bird & breed with her.

& anything from her,good birds, but wont sit on the perch at a show.

This is where a good outcross is needed to settle the chicks.