Preparing Your Birds For Showing

[REDCHEQHEN]

I'm very much a novice when it comes to showing - and usually only show in 'Show races' - that is, showing your bird at an event where your pigeon is going to race in a particular race.

 

How do you prepare your bird for showing?

 

Me? Very basic - check the birds flights for lice, fret marks, pin holes etc

Nothing goes in the show pen with any of the above

(and you would be amazed at how many people have lice on their birds - they're put straight back in the pen and not considered))

 

Wash their feet - dust with talcum powder - so their feet don't look as if they've just been washed!

 

Very basic - judging is a lot to do with personal taste - which is probably why we've never won in the show pen!

 

What do you do in preparation?

[Novice]

I don’t show pigeons but I can remember fanciers cleaning their plumage with cigarette lighter fuel.

 

Note- stay well clear of naked flames when doing this.

[dal2]

I don’t show pigeons but I can remember fanciers cleaning their plumage with cigarette lighter fuel.

 

Note- stay well clear of naked flames when doing this.

Gas is the boy for the job Robert.....kettle for steaming flights.....nae water the night before. Used to enjoy a show. The right family of birds is a must

[yeboah]

Polish their feathers with a piece of Velvet

[REDCHEQHEN]

Gas is the boy for the job Robert.....kettle for steaming flights.....nae water the night before. Used to enjoy a show. The right family of birds is a must

Flights are straightened all year round with steam from a kettle - but why no water the night before? Some people let their birds have a bath on the morning - others wouldn't - I wouldn't!

[Novice]

Gas is the boy for the job Robert.....kettle for steaming flights.....nae water the night before. Used to enjoy a show. The right family of birds is a must

 

I have only really entered shows half heartedly. I thought about it last year and sourced some fuel. I believe Zippo lighters still use this.

As Susan asked why no water the night before?

[ALF]

I'm going to Clarkston show tonight and the doos had a bath today🤤🤤🤤

[dal2]

Flights are straightened all year round with steam from a kettle - but why no water the night before? Some people let their birds have a bath on the morning - others wouldn't - I wouldn't!

 

 

I have only really entered shows half heartedly. I thought about it last year and sourced some fuel. I believe Zippo lighters still use this.

As Susan asked why no water the night before?

When I travelled to the like a of peterlee etc we were up at crack of dawn. The birds were basketed the night before into show baskets. In the morning they were removed,checked and the sh** removed......with a cocktail stick.....thats where no water comes in handy. The last thing you want in a show pen is slippery drippings clogging feet and messing up tails

[Wiley]

I’m no show man but was told show men bring the birds in the house and turn the heating on to help create plume

[dal2]

I’m no show man but was told show men bring the birds in the house and turn the heating on to help create plume

Yup....night before Sat up against the tadiator

[Novice]

When I travelled to the like a of peterlee etc we were up at crack of dawn. The birds were basketed the night before into show baskets. In the morning they were removed,checked and the sh** removed......with a cocktail stick.....thats where no water comes in handy. The last thing you want in a show pen is slippery drippings clogging feet and messing up tails

I understand now. In my mind I was over complicating the issue thinking that the lack of water would have changed the way they handled.

[dal2]

I understand now. In my mind I was over complicating the issue thinking that the lack of water would have changed the way they handled.

That's what I meant by the right family Robert. I was taught by Richard 'Dickie' Graham the best showman of his time. He would take me and my team of racers that handled no bad to the shows. My racers kicked his *expletive removed* every week but in the pen his inbred family of Kirkpatrick swept all before. A wee team of these and a few Delbars soon cured my showing problems

[Novice]

That's what I meant by the right family Robert. I was taught by Richard 'Dickie' Graham the best showman of his time. He would take me and my team of racers that handled no bad to the shows. My racers kicked his *expletive removed* every week but in the pen his inbred family of Kirkpatrick swept all before. A wee team of these and a few Delbars soon cured my showing problems

Somehow when you first commented I thought on Dickie Graham. He had several fans in my area who introduced his birds. I assume you mean the big blue pied Delbars. These are normally just slightly big for me but beautiful pigeons.

[dal2]

Somehow when you first commented I thought on Dickie Graham. He had several fans in my area who introduced his birds. I assume you mean the big blue pied Delbars. These are normally just slightly big for me but beautiful pigeons.

Ye thems the kind Robert

[Novice]

Ye thems the kind Robert

Hugh Gray from Maybole shows these with success.

[Mossgiel]

Hugh Gray from Maybole shows these with success.

 

Did the late Robert McCubbin show birds from Dickie Graham's bloodlines ?

[dal2]

Did the late Robert McCubbin show birds from Dickie Graham's bloodlines ?

Ye he did......originally John Carmichaels. Used to collect him from the train when the Solway had a show at Gretna......not yesterday

[Novice]

Did the late Robert McCubbin show birds from Dickie Graham's bloodlines ?

I don’t honestly know but I expect they were from these origins.

[REDCHEQHEN]

Show was today - interesting comments from the Judge - but not directed to me! The Judge used an eye glass - the owner of show winner was advised not to race it anymore and to put it in the stock loft where he expected the hen to reproduce her like (she has several firsts and has bred a fed topper) - the hen is 3 years old

 

One of mine got a 'Very Highly Commended' (5th!) Though his marking sheets gave 3 of our 4 a score of 8 (which included this one who was 5th)

 

I have previously posted a photo of her with results (see link)- the actual racepoint for the show race is the one she has 2 combine cards for

 

http://forum.pigeonbasics.com/topic/6821-picture-of-members-best-bird-and-it-result/page__st__34

[dal2]

Well done....did you remember to take the water away and sit them in the heat?

[REDCHEQHEN]

Well done....did you remember to take the water away and sit them in the heat?

Yes - and I washed their flights and did their feet last night - and had to change the shavings and do their feet again this morning. They were fine without a drink. And were fed and watered when I got home at 3.

[dal2]

Yes - and I washed their flights and did their feet last night - and had to change the shavings and do their feet again this morning. They were fine without a drink. And were fed and watered when I got home at 3.

Champion....well done

[dms5686]

Watched a very successful fancier who when he put his birds in the pen in Blackpool put water in to them in the afternoon then went back in before the judging started and took the water out so that the opposite from what is getting advised on here

[Delboy]

Watched a very successful fancier who when he put his birds in the pen in Blackpool put water in to them in the afternoon then went back in before the judging started and took the water out so that the opposite from what is getting advised on here

 

Donald, your being very modest.You can definitely turn the doos out well for a show

[dms5686]

Donald, your being very modest.You can definitely turn the doos out well for a show

It was inch bros from Blackburn who did this felt they were the best considering there small team so thought what was being put on here was leading people astray that's why i mentioned this