Preparing and Settling Your Jacobins by Clint Robertson

The show is where we showcase our years of work to other fanciers so it makes sense that we should take the time and care to present our Jacobins to the best of our ability. As I have said over and over the largest part of preparing yourbirds for show is done at home in the loft in the months leading up to the show through proper loft management which involves space, nutrition, loft litter, parasite control and so on. What I am now referring to is the days and hours right up until you set your birds down in front of the judge. Your show team has been selected and your birds are in as good a feather as they are going to be for this particular show. Your entries were mailed in on time and you sent the correct entry fees and club memberships to be in good standing and you also sent a donation however small or large to support and guarantee the future your club and hobby.

A week or two before the show you clip the toe nails on any birds that need it. This will most likely be on old birds only, however check them all to make sure that they can stand comfortably to walk and show properly. Do not cut them too short or they may bleed. This is why I trim the nails in advance of the show in case they bleed and also so the bird is not sore.

In the days leading up to the show I will examine the birds I have entered to see if they have any feathers that need to be removed or trimmed and I will do this. It makes for a lot less work at the show.

Just before I prepare to box my birds to depart for the show I will feed and water them and give them some time to eat and drink. When I begin boxing my birds I have a list of all the birds I am taking. As I pick up each bird I check its body and feather condition and band number and check it off on my list. I keep a damp cloth with me and I clean each birds feet off as I place it in the container. I also have a 12cc syringe with a 3 inch peace of soft plastic hose attached to the end which I use to place about 3cc of vitamin enriched water directly into each birds crop. I will repeat this when I coop my birds at the show. I will never share my syringe with any other fancier. This would be a good way to spread sickness.

Any shows I attend usually involve a long plane ride or many hours of driving. The containers you ship your birds in are very important. I have seen many types of well designed crates which work well. Some breeders use individual stalls in their crates but I have found that on very long trips if the birds are made to stand in one spot for too long their droppings will accumulate under them and soil their vent and hock feathers. Using a nice bed of wood chips on the bottom will help but will not solve the problem. There is peace of mind however in knowing your cockbirds are not pulling each others feathers out. Containers with stalls do require more space and are really not the best for shipping larger numbers of birds however for shorter trips and if you have more space and less birds they may work best for you. Make sure the stalls are long enough not to crowd your Jacobins and damage the flights and tail feathers.

A very common container which I also use is the airline approved pet carriers. They come in various sizes and with some minor modifications can be good durable and effective shipping containers for your show birds. By taking a medium sized pet carrier apart at the middle you can cut a piece of thin plywood or masonite to make a double deck. You can then place from 6 to twelve birds on each level depending upon the size of your carrier. I do not worry about my Jacobins being able to stand up, in fact I prefer that they do not have enough head room to stand up tall. I find that this minimizes fighting. Also try to keep the inside of the container dark, this also keeps the birds quiet and they will ship better. Make sure there is good ventilation and that a fine screen is in place to prevent the shavings, feathers or bedding material you use in the container from getting out. I have used this type of container for many years with good results.

Once you have cooped your birds at the show make sure that they have feed and water in their pens.

If you have made any changes or substitutions to your entries make sure you notify the show secretary. Once the judging starts make sure you know the judging order and have your birds ready to place in the judging pen. It is a good idea to have a small container to place your birds in under your chair near the judging area. This way you can have your birds for the next class available when you need it. Also if you are fortunate enough to win a class you can place your class winner in the box so you do not have to run it back and forth to the judging area. Also by placing your bird in a dark box for a few minutes it will have a chance to rest before it is expected to show again.

As you prepare to set your Jacobin down in the judging pen check the feathers in its head formation around the rose to make sure no feathers are crossed and if they are straighten them out. Also if necessary straighten out the chain feathers. Make sure there are no feathers in your birds eyes or this will make him crouch. Just pluck these problem feathers but do it discretely. Lastly open the flights and make sure none are crossed because this can also make your bird uncomfortable.

Lastly be a good sport, respect the judges decision and offer good fellowship. This is far more important than how your birds place in the show and this is the way fanciers will remember you.

Clint Robertson       Email: clint@jacobins.ca