The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Exhibiting & Promoting
Show Prep and Conditioning - what do you do?
Birdcrazy:
I have used feather glo before with good results, but I use another product that I like better. It is Blue Ribbon Show shampoo. The trick is to do the birds 5-7 days before the show. I use 10 gal totes for LF and 5 gal ones for bantams, You will need 4 to do the job. The first tub is warm water with the shampoo. Let the bird soak in the shampoo for a few minutes working the solution into the feathers. Use the other 3 tubs with clear rinse water dipping the bird from one tub to the next after soak rinsing for a few minutes. After the last tub, towel off the bird to get most of the excess water off. Don't worry if your show champion looks like it has transformed into a drowned duck at this point. If the weather is nice you can leave the birds outside to air dry. If it is cold or windy your only choice is to let them dry inside. You don't need sick birds days before a show! Don't use a hair dryer or heat to help dry the birds faster as this tends to leave the feathers frizzly. If the birds are not excessively dirty I can usually do 10-12 birds before having to change the water and shampoo in the tubs. The birds will pick and fluff their feathers by themselves and in 2-3 days you have a bird with soft nice feathers and a really nice sheen. It really does a nice job on bringing out the beetle green sheen on black birds. On check in to show coops you may need to do some minor cleaning and if necessary this is where I might use some Feather Glo.
Don:
Gordon and I were typing at the same time, so some of this is redundant.....
Show prep can be done so many different ways. I wish I had written down all of the secret tips that folks have mentioned over the years. After conditioning, most people wash the birds 3-4 days before the show. Earlier will allow more time to let the birds preen the feathers and they will regain their oil sheen again. But longer time gives the bird longer to get dirty again, so it's a balance. You might be able to add some show conditioner to the feathers as you handle the birds and dust them each day. It should dry fully and not pick up more dust after it goes back into the cage.
Settle the birds into their cages once at the show. Then do final prep on each bird. Clean the legs again with a damp cloth. Some people use oil or secret formula on the feet, comb and face. Feather conditioners can be used sparingly if they dry fully and do not cause an unusual appearance to the feathers. People used to use a spray for horses that did not leave a heavy gloss or fragrance. IMO, The bird should look clean but very natural. Simple is usually better.
Susan Mouw:
I've been reading, and listening, to a lot of advice from different folks about what to do and not to do, prior to a show. One of the things that I can seeing is trimming the bird's beaks. I couldn't bring myself to do it before Anniston, but if it is something that will make a difference, I'll give it another try.
I have dog toenail clippers...anyone have a picture of a video of exactly what you are trimming and the before and after look?
Don:
I don't have any videos. Maybe search on line, you can find almost anything these days. If the upper beak is grown down over the lower beak, they can be trimmed to match each other when the beak is closed. I do not think the closed dog trimmer will work as well, maybe I am thinking of something different. But I use a regular pair of finger nail clips, toe nail clips max. You will probably have to trim both sides, and probably the front, to get it to form and match the lower beak. You can get someone at the show to help hold the bird and show you how. It just takes a minute.
Susan Mouw:
I found this video - is this all there is to it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAoPpBYyRLk
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