Showing
At the end of May we decide which shows we are going to show at in the forthcoming season. As we keep Recessive Pieds, Dark-eyed Clears and a few Clearflights we tend to show each year at the Specialist & Rare Variety show held in Coventry and our local Area Society Specialist and Rare Show. We do not show every weekend as we feel it is not fair on the birds to be out on the show bench every week from the end on June to mid October.
Approximately 4 weeks prior to the first show we select our show team for the season with reserves. The selected team is placed in a stock cage and prepared for the shows. Show preparation involves spraying the birds usually every other day with either a very weak solution of Virkon (Viricidal agent) or Vanodine (Iodine based bactericide). These solutions encourage the birds to preen thus spreading the natural oils from the glands at the base of the back to the feathers. The birds become difficult to wet and have a nice glossy sheen.
For the young and inexperienced members of the show team we have a double stock cage to which we can link a plastic show cage. This enables the birds to get used to the round perching and the smaller cage environment.
Recessive Pieds generally do not need spotting out prior to showing. Any tails and flights that are damaged are removed and the bird rested for 6 weeks to allow new ones to grow.
Sometimes dipping the tails in hot water prior to caging them for the show will neaten up any misplaced feathers.
Any blood from a blood quill can be cleaned off using a very weak solution of Borax.
Spot out a few days before the show to allow the feathers to settle.