Preparing Poultry for Show 1

PS34 Preparing Poultry for Show 1 F. Ben Mather and Jacqueline P. Jacob2 Preparing poultry for fairs and shows is Two weeks before fitting your birds for show, challenging, educational, and rewarding in many check for external parasites (such as mites, lice, ways. Birds have the ability to learn and respond to fleas, etc.) and treat as necessary. For information on specific training experiences. They reflect the identification and treatment of external parasites, exhibitor's care, knowledge, skill, and training. refer to Fact Sheet PS-10, "Common Continuous Poultry refers to birds that people keep for their use External Parasites of Poultry". and generally includes the chicken, turkey, duck, goose, quail, pheasant, pigeon, guinea fowl, pea fowl, For information on selecting chickens for show, ostrich, emu and rhea. refer to Fact Sheet PS-33, "Selecting Chickens for Show". SELECTING YOUR BIRDS TRAINING YOUR BIRDS Select only healthy birds. This is important for two reasons. First, it increases your chances of How well your bird places in a show depends on winning since a healthy bird will usually have good its condition, its disposition, how closely it conforms physical condition and bright plumage. Second, it to the standard description for its breed and variety reduces the chances of spreading disease to other (for purebred/exhibition category), and how it flocks. compares with other birds in its category at the show. Birds may easily contract or transmit diseases at Select your birds early. Allow sufficient time for poultry shows and fairs. A sick or ailing bird should preparation and training. Birds should be trained and never be brought to a public exhibition. Minimize prepared to display their best qualities. Birds contact with other birds. Some birds may carry unaccustomed to confinement in cages do not "show" disease-causing organisms without showing any to their best advantage unless trained beforehand. major signs of the disease. Getting birds accustomed to a cage is a simple process if started early. At least one week before the 1. This document is PS34, one of a series of the Animal Science Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date May 1998. Reviewed June 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. 2. F. Ben Mather, extension poultry specialist, and Jacqueline P. Jacob, extension coordinator, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee or warranty of th eproducts named, and does not signify that they are approved to the exclusion of others of suitable composition. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean Preparing Poultry for Show 2 show, place each show bird in a cage similar to ones unaccustomed to handling may struggle when used by poultry shows. Handle each bird two to three examined. Any of these things will give the judge times a day in a manner similar to that used in unfavorable impressions. Therefore, it is judging. recommended that you train your birds to get used to a cage. The procedure for properly removing a bird from a cage is a three-step operation: EFFECT OF SUN ON COLORED BREEDS • Step 1. Approach the cage slowly, open the door quietly and prepare to remove the bird, head Although sunshine will not harm birds, show first. Maneuver the bird until it stands with its birds should not spend several hours per day in direct head to your right or left. Then reach into the sunlight. Sunshine can fade the plumage of solid red coop and across the back of the bird with your breeds and those with red backgrounds, such as Mille right hand (left-handed persons will use their left Fleur bantams, or cause brassiness (yellowish hand), firmly but gently grasp the most distant metallic hue) in varieties with pale plumage, wing at the shoulder. Keep the wing folded and especially white, blue or buff. Once the plumage close to the bird's body. becomes faded, there is no way of correcting this before a show. Moderate exposure to the sun should • Step 2. Rotate the bird in the cage so that its not be a problem. It is the constant day after day head is pointing toward you and the open door. exposure that can cause problems. • Step 3. Slide your free hand, palm upward, underneath the bird's breast. Simultaneously, WASHING YOUR BIRDS grasp the bird's right leg (just above the hock When white plumage is soiled and dirty, it does joint) between your thumb and index finger not look good in a show cage. Birds with while clasping the left leg between the second light-colored plumage (such as white, blue, or buff) and third fingers. This places your index and should be washed before they are taken to a poultry second fingers between the bird's legs. The keel show. Birds with dark-colored plumages such as bones should be resting upon the palm of your Barred Plymouth Rock chickens, Rouen ducks, and hand. Bronze turkeys, very seldom need to be washed Bring the bird out of the cage head first, keeping unless their plumage becomes severely soiled. its head toward you. After holding the bird for Learning to wash birds is not difficult, but it is awhile, open the wings and examine various parts of best to practice on some birds not intended for exhibit. the body. Always return the bird to the cage head It is best to wash birds the day or night before they first and lower it gently to the floor of the cage. To are to be exhibited or taken to the show. determine body balance and "set of legs", some judges like to drop heavy breed birds about 6 inches If you are washing a number of birds, the to the cage floor. A quick recovery means good multi-tub method is best (a soaping tub & 2-3 rinse balance and placement of legs. When accustomed to tubs). If you only have a few to wash, it can be done this confinement and handling, the bird will present a in the bathtub (large birds) or sink (bantam chickens good appearance to the judge. Many entries of good and ducks). In either case, the area in which the birds merit are never seriously considered by the judge are to be washed should be 80¡F-90¡F and free from because they have not been trained. Frightened birds drafts. You should have cages to place the birds in tend to stand in a crouched rather than normal after they are washed. If the birds will be returned to position, thus their true type is not revealed to the floor pens after they are washed, it is important to judge. The tail may touch the cage and be carried to place plenty of clean straw or shavings on the floor to one side, the bird may become restless from keep the birds from becoming soiled again. confinement, the cage litter may not feel natural and the bird may assume an awkward posture. Birds Preparing Poultry for Show 3 Multi-tub method amount of vinegar and thoroughly rinse out as much of the soap as possible. The vinegar will help remove Items required: the soap. It is important to remove all the soap, otherwise the feathers will stick and be streaked. • Detergent. Some detergents make feathers dry and brittle. Recommended detergents include For birds other than white, the third tub should Lux flakes, Ivory, Cheer or Casteel soap. contain plain water and a fourth tub is not required. For white birds, the third rinse tub should contain a • Vinegar small amount of bluing (for example, Boraten), just • Bluing enough to give the water a slight blue color. It is important not to get the water too blue or it will give • Sponge the plumage a bluish tinge. The bluing helps whiten, condition, and give the feathers a sheen. Too much • Soft, old toothbrush and tooth picks bluing may dye the feathers. White birds are then • Four washing tubs placed in a fourth tub, with plain water, for a final rinsing. • Optional: 50% malathion wetable powder When the washed bird is removed from the final The multi-tub method requires four tubs for rinsing, the plumage should be dried as much as white birds and three for all others. To save strain on possible. Work as much water as possible out with your back, it is best to place them on boxes or the hands, then dry with a towel. After the birds are benches. The first two tubs should be filled with thoroughly dry, you can polish their feathers with a warm water (95°F) and the third with water at room pure silk cloth. temperature. The birds should be placed in a drying cage in a The first tub is used for the actual cleaning of the warm room. Birds cannot stand excessive heat, so do birds. Soap or detergent is added to the tub. Make a not place them too close to a heat source.

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