My club is having a night show ( 08 rings only) so i thought it would be perfect to have a practice prepping some birds for a show. Its not for a couple of weeks and i have been training 3 birds for it (only have 2 cages hehe). As none are bred by me i am not fussed if they don't even get benched, i just want to learn how to get them ready and take them along.

 

My question is...

 

What is with the tail? I understand that the primary tail feathers must be longer than the secondary's.

However, i have a young hen who had both her tail feathers snapped off before i bought her. The feathers them selves were fine. About a week ago i pulled the 2 broken feather out hoping they would grow back in time, then i thought i have not done it soon enough . So how long before a show do breeders normally remove dodgie tail feathers to get two nice long and clean feathers in time for the show??

 

Also birds who have no primary tail feathers at all... is this a genetic thing or what?? i have visited a lot of breeders and all have birds who wont grow tail feathers, and they are often their best birds too... Whats with that??

Edited March 11, 200916 yr by **Liv**

Hi Liv, it takes 8 weeks for the tails to grow back. Some times they won't. I don't pull tails as a rule but have done on a skyblue that had a white strip on the tail. He grow it back with the white strip back on so ended up in the breeding cabinet.

My club is having a night show ( 08 rings only) so i thought it would be perfect to have a practice prepping some birds for a show. Its not for a couple of weeks and i have been training 3 birds for it (only have 2 cages hehe). As none are bred by me i am not fussed if they don't even get benched, i just want to learn how to get them ready and take them along.

 

My question is...

 

What is with the tail? I understand that the primary tail feathers must be longer than the secondary's.

However, i have a young hen who had both her tail feathers snapped off before i bought her. The feathers them selves were fine. About a week ago i pulled the 2 broken feather out hoping they would grow back in time, then i thought i have not done it soon enough . So how long before a show do breeders normally remove dodgie tail feathers to get two nice long and clean feathers in time for the show??

 

Also birds who have no primary tail feathers at all... is this a genetic thing or what?? i have visited a lot of breeders and all have birds who wont grow tail feathers, and they are often their best birds too... Whats with that??

 

Judges will disqualify budgies without the requisite tail feather so I wouldn't put her in if she's lacking it.

 

I have a bought bird who won't grow a tail feather, he's a survivor of French Moult.

Thanks Renee, i understand that the primary tail feathers needs to be present and longer than the secondary feathers to be accepted for judging

 

Thank Daz, mmm well she wont be growing them back in time then Oh well, this is why i wanted to practice... Still 2 birds to try and prep, although it might be down to one as i have another shonky looking tail.

 

So are all birds who wont grow a tail FM survivors?? I have been told that some just don't grow them well, but dont have FM and others drop their tails when stressed etc ???

So are all birds who wont grow a tail FM survivors?? Mostly YES

 

I have been told that some just don't grow them well, but dont have FM It is more likely they are french moult survivors if no tail

and others drop their tails when stressed etc ??? I dont know any budgies who drop tails when stressed

okay, thanks Kaz

Edited March 5, 200916 yr by **Liv**

Everybody has pretty much answered your question so no point in repeating. I would like to add however that if you ever decide to pull a tail be very careful to pull it out straight. The tail feathers are quite large and tough and the follicle can be damaged.

I have heard stories about people pulling tail feathers and getting chunks of flesh with it, and of course it doesn't grow back after.

 

Her feathers came out nice and clean *phew*

Some breeders will only pull one tail feather at a time. That way there is always one tail feather there. It's a penalty but not a disqualification.

 

I have a recessive pied win it's class and then drop both tail feathers. It was awarded when it had its feathers so I got the trophy.

 

I did have a yellowface that had a tail feather hanging on as it was judged and still won its class. - You got to be lucky in those incidents.

Edited March 6, 200916 yr by Daz

I took a lovely budgie to a show one day, and before he even got benched his tail got stuck in the showcage door ( my fault ) and he turned around and suddenly had no tail...it was locked in the showcage door. He sat out the show that day

After spending the time preparing a few birds for last nights mini show (08 rings only) i decided this Dominant pied was the best one to take.

 

(this boy came from a pet shop in WA )

 

I had a go at despotting (on another bird) and totally messed it up :sadsorry: ... so i left this boy with all his spots.

 

I made some mistakes.

 

1) had seed in the bottom, it was a night show and not meant to have seed,

2) AND i had water in the drinker :rip:

3) plus it was a proper show and not just a night show like i thought so i ended up getting points for a bird i didn't breed :lol:

 

So after doing a cage swap, my boy was put on the bench with the other novice birds.

The entertainment for the night was that our vice president, Peter Glassenbury, was one of the 2 judges and all birds were judged out the front and put onto a projector. Each bird was discussed and features and faults were pointed out to everyone. I thought it was AWESOME!!

 

Peter G judged my boy and he sat beautifully His features and faults were discussed to everyone. He did alright too, he got first place , but he also didn't have any competition :hap: However, he won 3rd place novice bird for the night

 

The elation was taken out because i knew i didn't breed him but, i am still stoked to know that one of my lesser birds can do alright . I cant wait to show my babies when the time comes

 

Well that was my first show and it was so much fun

Edited March 11, 200916 yr by **Liv**

Great job, Liv :sadsorry:

That's Great Liv, have you got the bug now :sadsorry:

After spending the time preparing a few birds for last nights mini show (08 rings only) i decided this Dominant pied was the best one to take.

 

So after doing a cage swap, my boy was put on the bench with the other novice birds.

The entertainment for the night was that our vice president, Peter Glassenbury, was one of the 2 judges and all birds were judged out the front and put onto a projector. Each bird was discussed and features and faults were pointed out to everyone. I thought it was AWESOME!!

 

Peter G judged my boy and he sat beautifully :rip: His features and faults were discussed to everyone. He did alright too, he got first place , but he also didn't have any competition :sadsorry: However, he won 3rd place novice bird for the night

 

The elation was taken out because i knew i didn't breed him but, i am still stoked to know that one of my lesser birds can do alright :hap: . I cant wait to show my babies when the time comes

 

Well that was my first show and it was so much fun

Congratulations Liv! You did so well- and it was your first time as well!

 

Peter G is a wonderful judge and so generous with his comments.

 

Don't worry that your Domi Pied wasn't your bred bird, that will come with time , in the meantime by showing you are getting your 'eye' trained!

Edited March 12, 200916 yr by renee

Thanks so much. I am beaming and definitely have the bug! :sadsorry:

Well done, Liv - only wish I could have been there to see your face.

 

 

 

Oh, that's right - I was there...

 

You did well!

Well done, Liv - only wish I could have been there to see your face.

 

 

 

Oh, that's right - I was there...

 

You did well!

:rofl:

 

James Bond.......you still crack me up :rofl:

My face was bright red and i had a look of pure shock as i was not expecting to get any awards at all - they had to say my name twice before i realised they were talking about me