The basic FAQ on showing Orpingtons and how to prepare them? With thanks to some very practical advice from Ron Walsh (and a little edit from Waninga)
1. When should you remove the Boys from the Girls?
a. Breeding stock that you plan to show should be separated no later than November before the next show season you want to show them again. Often both sexes at that stage have been clipped around the rear, and the females especially are looking ragged from the mating process, so definitely NOT in a show state!! Older Birds starting to moult in the January to March period. This means hopefully the new feathers will be in place for the upcoming show season (May to early August, and there a few later shows.) Keep up the nutrition to aid recovery from the breeding period.b. Young stock should be separated into sex (cockerel and pullet) groups at around 12 weeks after hatching. You should then single pen the most promising cockerels at around 16 weeks. This gives them space to grow and no distraction to eating. It also reduces the opportunity for them to fight and bust up their wattles and feathers! 2. How can I prevent sun bleaching and /or discolouration?
a. Sun bleaching is not really an issue if you keep the darker colours (Blacks Blues and Cuckoo) birds especially if you keep them in tree shaded and/or shade cloth covered runs. If you have Whites, Buffs and Chocolates make sure their exposure to full sun and/or mud is limited as both will discolour their basic colours and /or make them difficult to clean up.b. Keep all your birds as clean as you can all the time. A renowned white Orpington breeder was once asked ‘how do you get your birds so clean?’ Their response was ‘I don’t let them get dirty in the first place’. Birds kept in a mucky environment take longer to clean, have feather damage caused by dirt and infestations etc.
3. When and how to select Show candidates; a. Start with the Standard and know it, have a copy or three available to look at while looking at your birds. Even better use the Clubs Ideal Orpington drawing which depicts what a Male and Female Orpington that meets the Australian Poultry Standard should look like shape wise. Hopefully you have bred from good standard breeding stock as it’s a bit hard to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. So always use the best breeding stock you can find/afford!b. Sort out the birds as soon as you can. Ideally start from very young. Things like poor feet, eyes, comb, knees observe, generally they do not improve only get worse. Feel the birds check the "keel" is it straight. Spread the wings out to look for "split wing". So any bends in the toes GONE, poor combs GONE, etc. Make some calls at about 4-5 months of age, even earlier if really obvious/bad. Perhaps use a leg tag traffic light system, RED = Stop, ie Don't go any further, males are typically prepared for our table, and females sold as "Backyard layers". YELLOW = keep an eye on it, maybe it stays maybe it goes at the next round. GREEN = "We like you, you can stay until the next round." This process should happen every month or so. From breeding 60-80 birds that can get you down to keep only 3-4 males, and 6-8 females per colour. Two things we all need to remember are is that "It costs the same to feed a good standard fowl as a non-quality fowl", and "No feet, no fowl" ie Toe issues should eliminate the bird from your yard.If you can, even get a fellow breeder to have a look as sometimes they see things you have missed, do take their comments on board but don't do anything straight away, think about what they have said and does it fit with your aims. c. Space. Growers need it. Don't keep your show birds in a large group. Ideally single pen your cockerels and keep your pullets in groups of no more than 5. For birds to grow they need space so don't keep too many/ keep as many as your space allows.d. Nutrition. To prepare a show bird the old saying is that its 50% in the breeding and 50% in the feeding. It’s very rare to breed a good show bird from off standard birds but many a good bird has been set back through poor feeding. Each person has their own feeding theories. Suffice to say find a feeding mix that works for you and stick with it. So long as the birds keep eating it and keep putting on weight etc their condition for the show will be as good as you can get them
4. When should I start really preparing my birds for the Show?
a. A month before the show (Also a good time to give them a good dust for creepy crawlies) start pen training your birds put them in smaller cages so they get used to a show cage environment, have a radio on for some voices and if you can have the cages in an area where you/your family walk past so they get used to people. As often as you can open the pen and put your hands in and stand them so they again get used to it. Use cheese, offer a small piece to teach them to come to the front when someone approaches and offer the cheese high so they stand up. All helps with the way the bird behaves and presents for the judge. (Think of it as homework for the chicken!) Clean the cage as often as you can to remove poop and replace with fresh shavings/etc when you feel it needs to be done, all helps with 4b. They can be in the cage for 1-3 days then back out to the run, do this multiple times to get them used to being handled and in different pens.Don’t forget to put the birds in the box you plan to transport them to the show in too. Practice runs like this is all part of getting them used to the process.
b. How and when to Clean Your show team. (There are quite a few clips on YouTube) Cleaning starts at least a week to 10 days before your show. 3 tubs, one to wash and two for rinsing. Wash with a wool wash and rinse very well. Wrap in a towel. Gently towel/pat dry and blow dry to finish, some will put them in cages outside in the sun, or even inside near a heater! Legs are a must to clean. Get all dirt out from around/under the scales, a toothbrush and tooth pick are helpful. After this clean and to keep them clean use smaller pens and clean out poop regularly. When totally dry, give another dust for lice.
c. At the show, double check your birds for cleanliness, we have had to wash the back of a bird where it has pooped! (Take a bucket some soap, a hair dryer!!) Check with the show rules some do not allow leg bands and some do, so you may have to remove those. Everyone has their own special blend, but something like Baby Oil to put some on your finger tips and gently massage into the comb, wattles, ear lobes and legs/feet, helps make them "pop" and stand out. Have a small piece of cloth, silk works well, handkerchief size to wipe the feathers down as you put the birds in the pen to settle feathers down and remove any dust. Some folk will even have a "mix" to spray on as the wipe to make the feathers shine, but be careful too much and they look wet and should be marked down by the judge. We use "Show and Shine" it is a horse product and comes in a pump pack spray bottle.
d. How do you get your birds to the Shows?. Transport your birds in the best, sturdiest boxes you can afford and/or find and/or fit in your car/trailer. For Large Orpingtons Fanciers use PP40's which can get 2 girls in each, some folk will use cardboard boxes or even custom-built wooden boxes. Always transport males in single containers.
5. What are the expectations at a Show?
Number 1 is that you will have penned clean, lice/mite free, healthy, well prepared birds. While some shows provide water and feed containers always take your own water containers just in case (A peg and a margarine container work just fine as a low-cost option.).
Check the show rules again. Often any personal items such as water containers and leg rings etc need to be removed before judging commences. Make sure you don’t touch your/any birds after penning time closes and /or judging commences as this could lead to an automatic disqualification.
Some people even take their own water, and take some food for them just a little not heaps, and don't forget you!!
Watch and learn, take everything in but most of all be quiet. ie Don't comment on decisions just watch and listen. Any concerns approach the judge and have a chat after the show, ask how you could improve the birds what to look for etc, and mostly be nice. Everyone has to start somewhere so ask experienced fanciers questions most are all too happy to share their knowledge.
Most local poultry shows are only 1 day events so typically pack things in the vehicle the night before, especially the birds, and then double triple check you have everything.
The Show Schedule will have when the shed is open and when birds have to be penned by. Give yourself plenty of time to pen the birds. Arrive at the show at shed opening time. At check in you will be usually be given a list on what pen each bird is to go in, Check where your pens are and if you don't know just ask.
Do 4c, and repeat for each bird. For your first few shows, don't take too many birds as you will be pressed for time until you get some practise.
Normally they start the judging at 9.15-9.45am, and be done about 2-3 hours later. Sometimes lunch is available to buy from the club (A drive into town and find the local bakery is also often fantabulous!!),
There will be a bit of talk about the birds by the Judge/s, a chance to talk to/network with fellow Orpingtonians, presentations to the winners, collect your birds and then heading for home around 2-3pm, so basically you are out for the whole day.
Multi day shows normally drop your birds same as 4c., and the birds are fed and looked after by the show folk. You can go back and look/watch but it is not a demand. We have done the Royal a couple of times (when it was just 3 days, and we live about 40km away). Birds in on the Friday evening, went back on the Saturday afternoon to see how they went, picked up birds on the Sunday afternoon.
For shows where you have to stay overnight find out where the Club members are staying and or where the Club dinner might be held the latter of which is a great time to catch up with friends old and new in a relaxed atmosphere.
3. When and how to select Show candidates; a. Start with the Standard and know it, have a copy or three available to look at while looking at your birds. Even better use the Clubs Ideal Orpington drawing which depicts what a Male and Female Orpington that meets the Australian Poultry Standard should look like shape wise. Hopefully you have bred from good standard breeding stock as it’s a bit hard to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. So always use the best breeding stock you can find/afford!b. Sort out the birds as soon as you can. Ideally start from very young. Things like poor feet, eyes, comb, knees observe, generally they do not improve only get worse. Feel the birds check the "keel" is it straight. Spread the wings out to look for "split wing". So any bends in the toes GONE, poor combs GONE, etc. Make some calls at about 4-5 months of age, even earlier if really obvious/bad. Perhaps use a leg tag traffic light system, RED = Stop, ie Don't go any further, males are typically prepared for our table, and females sold as "Backyard layers". YELLOW = keep an eye on it, maybe it stays maybe it goes at the next round. GREEN = "We like you, you can stay until the next round." This process should happen every month or so. From breeding 60-80 birds that can get you down to keep only 3-4 males, and 6-8 females per colour. Two things we all need to remember are is that "It costs the same to feed a good standard fowl as a non-quality fowl", and "No feet, no fowl" ie Toe issues should eliminate the bird from your yard.If you can, even get a fellow breeder to have a look as sometimes they see things you have missed, do take their comments on board but don't do anything straight away, think about what they have said and does it fit with your aims. c. Space. Growers need it. Don't keep your show birds in a large group. Ideally single pen your cockerels and keep your pullets in groups of no more than 5. For birds to grow they need space so don't keep too many/ keep as many as your space allows.d. Nutrition. To prepare a show bird the old saying is that its 50% in the breeding and 50% in the feeding. It’s very rare to breed a good show bird from off standard birds but many a good bird has been set back through poor feeding. Each person has their own feeding theories. Suffice to say find a feeding mix that works for you and stick with it. So long as the birds keep eating it and keep putting on weight etc their condition for the show will be as good as you can get them
4. When should I start really preparing my birds for the Show?
a. A month before the show (Also a good time to give them a good dust for creepy crawlies) start pen training your birds put them in smaller cages so they get used to a show cage environment, have a radio on for some voices and if you can have the cages in an area where you/your family walk past so they get used to people. As often as you can open the pen and put your hands in and stand them so they again get used to it. Use cheese, offer a small piece to teach them to come to the front when someone approaches and offer the cheese high so they stand up. All helps with the way the bird behaves and presents for the judge. (Think of it as homework for the chicken!) Clean the cage as often as you can to remove poop and replace with fresh shavings/etc when you feel it needs to be done, all helps with 4b. They can be in the cage for 1-3 days then back out to the run, do this multiple times to get them used to being handled and in different pens.Don’t forget to put the birds in the box you plan to transport them to the show in too. Practice runs like this is all part of getting them used to the process.
b. How and when to Clean Your show team. (There are quite a few clips on YouTube) Cleaning starts at least a week to 10 days before your show. 3 tubs, one to wash and two for rinsing. Wash with a wool wash and rinse very well. Wrap in a towel. Gently towel/pat dry and blow dry to finish, some will put them in cages outside in the sun, or even inside near a heater! Legs are a must to clean. Get all dirt out from around/under the scales, a toothbrush and tooth pick are helpful. After this clean and to keep them clean use smaller pens and clean out poop regularly. When totally dry, give another dust for lice.
c. At the show, double check your birds for cleanliness, we have had to wash the back of a bird where it has pooped! (Take a bucket some soap, a hair dryer!!) Check with the show rules some do not allow leg bands and some do, so you may have to remove those. Everyone has their own special blend, but something like Baby Oil to put some on your finger tips and gently massage into the comb, wattles, ear lobes and legs/feet, helps make them "pop" and stand out. Have a small piece of cloth, silk works well, handkerchief size to wipe the feathers down as you put the birds in the pen to settle feathers down and remove any dust. Some folk will even have a "mix" to spray on as the wipe to make the feathers shine, but be careful too much and they look wet and should be marked down by the judge. We use "Show and Shine" it is a horse product and comes in a pump pack spray bottle.
d. How do you get your birds to the Shows?. Transport your birds in the best, sturdiest boxes you can afford and/or find and/or fit in your car/trailer. For Large Orpingtons Fanciers use PP40's which can get 2 girls in each, some folk will use cardboard boxes or even custom-built wooden boxes. Always transport males in single containers.
5. What are the expectations at a Show?
Number 1 is that you will have penned clean, lice/mite free, healthy, well prepared birds. While some shows provide water and feed containers always take your own water containers just in case (A peg and a margarine container work just fine as a low-cost option.).
Check the show rules again. Often any personal items such as water containers and leg rings etc need to be removed before judging commences. Make sure you don’t touch your/any birds after penning time closes and /or judging commences as this could lead to an automatic disqualification.
Some people even take their own water, and take some food for them just a little not heaps, and don't forget you!!
Watch and learn, take everything in but most of all be quiet. ie Don't comment on decisions just watch and listen. Any concerns approach the judge and have a chat after the show, ask how you could improve the birds what to look for etc, and mostly be nice. Everyone has to start somewhere so ask experienced fanciers questions most are all too happy to share their knowledge.
Most local poultry shows are only 1 day events so typically pack things in the vehicle the night before, especially the birds, and then double triple check you have everything.
The Show Schedule will have when the shed is open and when birds have to be penned by. Give yourself plenty of time to pen the birds. Arrive at the show at shed opening time. At check in you will be usually be given a list on what pen each bird is to go in, Check where your pens are and if you don't know just ask.
Do 4c, and repeat for each bird. For your first few shows, don't take too many birds as you will be pressed for time until you get some practise.
Normally they start the judging at 9.15-9.45am, and be done about 2-3 hours later. Sometimes lunch is available to buy from the club (A drive into town and find the local bakery is also often fantabulous!!),
There will be a bit of talk about the birds by the Judge/s, a chance to talk to/network with fellow Orpingtonians, presentations to the winners, collect your birds and then heading for home around 2-3pm, so basically you are out for the whole day.
Multi day shows normally drop your birds same as 4c., and the birds are fed and looked after by the show folk. You can go back and look/watch but it is not a demand. We have done the Royal a couple of times (when it was just 3 days, and we live about 40km away). Birds in on the Friday evening, went back on the Saturday afternoon to see how they went, picked up birds on the Sunday afternoon.
For shows where you have to stay overnight find out where the Club members are staying and or where the Club dinner might be held the latter of which is a great time to catch up with friends old and new in a relaxed atmosphere.