okay I know this isn't easy over the computer but for those people (ME!!) who are miles away from civilisation (sometimes it feels that way!!) How do you go about choosing even spots to keep. Certain area, ...how many- 2 good ones plus one near cheekpatch?

These birds aren't birds you would put on the showbench but I'm using them for picture purposes(had them for years). If anyone could put some feedback onto here about despotting so I can learn and practice.

Same hen- keep spots 1&2 or would you choose another?

 

This guy usually has a few more spots to choose from- just 1&2 again? or would you pick one further up

 

Alot of fleccking I know But when a bird has alot of spots how do you go about picking them? Would you take all 3 or 1&2 or 1&3 or other spots

 

 

Cheers

You've got it right with the first two birds, but I am not sure about the last bird. A front on photo would help. Feathers has despotted her birds and I am just practising too. Some birds are easier to work out than others. Hopefully Daz and Hath can pop up and give some welcome advice.

Good topic.

The ideal is 6 even spot, 1 on each side that are under the cheek patch. I found if easiest to move the spots about to ascertain which spots are the primary spot, and should be kept, and which were the secondary and shadow spots, which could be removed.

 

I also de-spotted mine over a period of 3 days so that I didn't disturb the mask too much in one sitting. This also gave me time to sit back and see where I have gone and what was left to be done.

 

I should have gotten better 'after' pictures of the birds I did, but you can see how I cleaned up this spangle. Unfortunately he had uneven spots, which made it hard as he didn't have a full second spot to keep on his left side mask.

 

 

Feathers

did you cut or pull Aly? It looks like you did well (not that I have an eye for that or anything )

 

Isn't the idea is to get then looking like this:

 

That is natural for him I didn't do any work. But don't you want the even line of 6 spots. (in the second shot the spots are still growing in under the cheek spot)

Edited March 23, 200718 yr by Nerwen

What a fascinating topic! I don't know much about this at all, but my guess on the last bird (with the flecking) would be to keep spots 1, 2, & 3 and get rid of the rest? I think you want the mask to be as deep as possible, and those are the lowest as well as the most evenly spaced spots.

Edited March 23, 200718 yr by Rainbow

There's two schools of thought on how to remove the extra feathers to reveal the correct spots. Some cut and some pull. A good pair of eyebrow tweezers are perfect for the job. Some show breeders have shared with us the "OOPS THEORY" ....if you are going to cut, you can be sure the bird will turn its head at the last second and ............

OOPS !! wrong spot and feather vanishes

 

so those that have tried the "oops theory" now mostly pull the extra feathers.

I would be worried about more than just the wrong feather being removed!

I used eyebrow tweezers and a toothbrush. It was really quite easy... once you have hold of the right feather even if the bird moves it's head it doesn't matter... therefore fixing the "OOPS" problem. I will try to get and 'after' picture of this grey later.

 

 

 

Feathers

well that was easy...NOT!!!!

Four fingers, a heap of patience, one tail(dont ask!) and a bit of frustration later.

I now realise knowing which feathers you need and getting them, then making them stay in the proper place is another thing!! Any way thought I'd show pics of my mess :yellowhead:

 

 

 

this is one of those whoops. They looked alright(not good but okay) when I did it but the two spots like to stick together (hairspray?? :ausb: ) *moulting badly so VERY spiky

also whats the go with having blue and white cheek patch on one side/blue on the other? allowed?

 

Moderator’s Message to user

Pictures changed to links as they are over sized. Max 450 x 450 pixels

Edited April 30, 200718 yr by Nerwen

Good job, it is easier than you would think once you go roaming around in the mask and sort out what spots are what, hey? I think it all just takes practice. I forgot to get a photo of my grey when I was cleaning out the aviary.

 

As for the cheeks spots, I don't know if anyone would even notice...

 

Feathers.

 

ps. are you going to start showing?

Am I going to start showing??

 

Not after my little effort today!! Its so hard to not hold onto the head and then not getting chunks taken out, spose I just need to handle them more!.

Big congrats to people that do that every week to show at the meetings!! I bow to you I can see why you do it over a couple of days.

Also found that a line of birds I have no matter how feral, love their heads and cheeks scratched then remember its me doing it and pretend they hated it.

Sometimes if you do too much at once, some of the other feathers can fall out. That would be very undesirable!

 

As for holding the bird, always make sure that you have her neck between your 1st and middle fingers so you have more control (and less bites). You are right, handling them more helps.

 

I have started to handle mine at least 3 times per day if I am going to show them. I use this time to wash them, groom them and de-spot them. I also put them into the show cages about 3 times per day, with different lengths of time. That way they get used to being put in there and don't freak, because they know that you will let them out.

 

It is all just practice.

 

Feathers.

Edited March 24, 200718 yr by feathers

wow what a differance

The cheek spots (white and blue and all blue) just simply from the pied gene and would have to be allowed in showed of pieds.

Thanks Daz- all fixed now- must have buggered up the resizing when I loaded them.

What is "aver sixed"? (Laughing out loud) :ausb:

Do you have a picture of him with the old spots and the ones after you plugged some feather?? that would be cool to see