How to prepare my chook for a show

Roy P · **Joined:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 3:50 pm **Posts:** 27

Instructions
Things You'll Need:
Nail Clippers (human or avian)
Nail File or Emery Board
Silk Cloth
Soft Rag
Hairspray or feather conditioner
Petroleum Jelly or Light Natural Oil

1 Thoroughly bathe the chicken, paying special attention to the legs and feet. The legs should be free from mites and the feet and toes should have no dirt whatsoever. This is especially important for feather-footed breeds.

2 When the bird is dry, trim the beak with either nail clippers or a beak trimmer designed for birds. Do not trim the beak short. Only remove the excess length on the upper beak so that it meets evenly with the lower beak. File any rough edges off with a nail file.

3 Trim the toenails with the nail clippers or avian nail clippers. Again, they should not be trimmed short enough to bleed, only to remove the overgrown ends. Long toenails make a bird look neglected and sloppy, and can also be grounds for disqualification.

4 Polish the chicken's feathers with a silk cloth to get the maximum sheen. Rub in the direction of feather growth until a sheen appears.

5 Apply hairspray to the feathers to set them and give them a finishing touch, and also to repel dirt. Do not spray the bird directly. Spray a soft cloth, and then pass the cloth over the bird to coat the feathers. Aqua Net hairspray works well. Poultry supply houses also sell feather dressings especially for shows.

6 Apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly or a natural oil such as olive oil to the legs, comb, wattles and earlobes to make them stand out and to give them a healthy glow. Buff lightly with a soft cloth.

7 Keep the bird clean until show time. If necessary, apply another coat of hair spray to smooth the feathers just before placing the bird in the show cage.

Read more: How to Groom a Chicken For a Poultry Show | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5964075_groom-c ... z1EXqy2490

Lorry · **Joined:** Sat Apr 16, 2011 8:22 pm **Posts:** 3

Good information for me I need all information I can get

PRETTYBIRDS · **Joined:** Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:52 pm **Posts:** 11

That is good basics 101 but you will refine it to your way eventually

NettlesWA · **Joined:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:21 am **Posts:** 6

As a prospective showman in the future this information is vital so thank you

FeatherFootChook · **Joined:** Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:55 pm **Posts:** 1

At this time of year is it best to completely blow dry the show fowls after bathing them. With the bitter cold here in Vic I worry the fowls will become sick as they will not completely dry out with just toweling them and leaving them in the cage to full dry. Will that much blow drying damage their feathers though?

Karen_H · **Posted:** Fri Dec 09, 2011 10:37 am

How do you get them used to being blow dryed? I am too worried about freaking them out

chooklover101 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 12, 2013 11:36 am

just talking about the start of this conversation: do i have to take photos of my chickens for the show?no one metioned that to me conf665

Thanks

Raf · **Posted:** Tue Feb 12, 2013 11:52 am

County Lodge wrote:

I thought I would put this post in pending the excitement of the on line poultry show. :-D

She is taking about the APF Online Show so yes you do if you enter the online show and no if you take your chook along to a club show

Raf

chooklover101 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 12, 2013 11:54 am

oh, good:) thanks raf [smilie=thanks.gif]

Dammsells · **Joined:** Sun Jul 14, 2013 2:02 pm **Posts:** 1

Thanks for this info very helpful for us new show people

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