Hello, i would like to put more input into my blog what i did earlier in the year about getting birds ready for a show, and some show tips:

This time of the year is the busisest on the poultry fanciers calender, there are 2 main shows, which are the Poultry Club of Great Britains National show, and the National Federation Of Poultry Clubs show, which both bring about 6,500 to 7,000 birds each year (which includes, poultry, waterfiwl, turkeys, fantails and canaries). And they have both progressed from years gone by, mainly the National show, which last year was in a new show hall, which was had more room and was a lot warmer! There is also ”smaller” championship shows around the country, which usually get around 950-1,500 entries each year, my favorites are Southport and Ormskirk (which is taking place this saturday) and Egremont (which takes place on the 12th of November). But what you need to remember, you need to have a limit on the amount of shows you have per year, not to wear out your birds, especiapecially if you only have a trio (or another small number) of  show quality birds. But what you also need to remember, you cannot just get your birds from your garden/allotment etc and take them straight to a show. You need to wash them, you do this by using childs shampoo (not to much) and in the bath, or sink in warm water (not too hot) and make sure you clean every where. When you have completed this, you need to dry the bird, you can either do this by a hair dryer, or by a towel. Then you need to see if the beak is the right size, if the top part of the beak is not in line with the bottom part, you will need to snip it, with small clips, please do not do this if you do not know what you are doing! Ask a fellow fancier or vet. Then you will clean the feet, make sure that there is no mud, in the birds toes and the legs are clean. If you have a Poultry Club of Great Britain 6th edition standards book, model your bird of that, or failing that, google the breed and print a picture, make sure it is British, as different countrys have different standards. Before you get to the show, you need to put your bird/s in a box, you can buy ”show boxes”, from around £30.00, or you can just use the cardboard box, make sure it is not too small but not too huge though! When you get to the show, you will collect a penning card and this will have all the classes what you had entered and also the pen numbers (take your schedule, to see which birds go where), do not feed or water your birds before they are judged. Then you will be asked to leave the hall/tent, for the judging to comence,all the judges will do, is handle your bird/s with the greatest care, and choose the best bird in that class, then you will be allowed to go into the show, and see what you have won! Then you can feed and water your birds, and then go home.

I wish you luck!

Dan