become colder, and the birds are fairly into the moult unless, once a week, perhaps, for a change some seeded grasses, chickweed, or mouse-ear. This should be gathered and laid up to dry a few days before being fed to the birds.
Also place between the wires a small piece of boiled carrot, and keep a small piece of mutton suet there for them to peck at. Give the bath once a week now on bright days. Add to it a little essence of quassia, the quantity depending on the size of bath used.
A good - sized cage should be kept especially for bathing purposes, and after use it should be washed out and allowed to dry. When dry, keep it covered with a piece of paper so as to exclude all dust. You will find the use of the bath a great help in promoting the growth of the new feathers. Rain-water is preferable, but it must be clean.
While your birds are in the bath cage, clean out the living cage thoroughly. Sponge out all dust you can see on seed-box or wires. Also attend to the perches and, when dirty, wash with hot water. The cages will then be fit for the return of their inmates.
PREPARATION FOR SHOW
BY this time you will have a good idea which of your birds are going to turn out fit for show, and you should place them in single cages with all their seed boxes facing outwards so that you can feed them without lifting down the cages.
Keep them out of strong light so that their new plumage is not affected in any way.
Any birds not moulting freely at this period should be changed to a warm living room, covered up with flannel, given linseed tea to drink, and then returned to their own room and fed as formerly. This treatment will often start them moulting freely.
Clean and Paint the Show Cages
Having all your birds in moult, and some of them fast finishing, you must give attention to your show cages and travelling cases. Have all cleaned, washed, dried and blacked all over, both wood and wires.
The rules of the B.F.C.C. say cages must be black, with no distinguishing marks or coloured perches. Some fanciers do not take the trouble to wash and touch up their cages for every show, which is a grave mistake and places their birds at a great disadvantage alongside others turned out clean and staged to perfection. In keen competition the former have little chance, even though two birds may be of equal merit. A dirty cage will not pass.
I have often been asked by novices how they can get their birds into condition and keep them so, imagining that there is some special food which will effect this. When told that nothing but cleanliness makes the difference they seem surprised.
Sometimes one will retort: “It is not the cage I sent to win a prize. It is the bird inside it”. “Quite true up to a point”, you reply, “but look how well the winning birds are staged in spotless condition. That can never be done in a dirty cage”.
Wherever the fancier’s spirit is strong enough there is always sufficient time to go thoroughly over everything that will help your birds to succeed on the show bench. It is often through being lukewarm that some fanciers fail.
Novices will find that a little extra care and attention will often repay them double. Indeed, it is only through hard work and attending to the little details that we are able to mount up a few more rungs of the ladder to success. The only way to advance in any hobby is by having your plans well and soundly laid.
After you have all your cages and cases ready, your birds may be finishing up in moult. Never send out a bird to a show until quite hard and finished in head. Otherwise in a cold, draughty hall it may receive a chill which may put it out of competition for the remainder of the season. Always remember that it is the perfect and most hard and healthy bird that wins.
Treatment of Show Birds
Immediately you receive your birds home from a show, if not too late at night, have them unpacked in the kitchen, or living room, where there is a fire. Let them stand a few minutes before giving them anything to eat or drink, to see if they are all right.
If they are fit and hopping about in a lively way, give them their water slightly warmed and a little bread and milk with maw seed sprinkled over it. You may now take them into the bird-room if they arrive during the daytime, and on a clear dry day place them in a bath cage and allow them to bathe. If in good health and spirits they will enjoy this.
Always remember to give the bathing water a little above the temperature of the bird-room. Any that will not wash should be gently sprayed. After they have had their bath, return them to their stock cages, and keep them out of draughts.
Any bird a little out of sorts upon arrival from a show, and inclined to sit humped up with ruffled feathers, may be given five drops of whisky in its drinking water. Also keep in readiness some old, stale sponge cake. Cut a slice the thickness of the space between the wires in the cage. Dip this into sherry wine and sugar, and if nothing serious is the matter this will put the bird right. Do not allow any ailing birds to bathe or they may develop a chill.
Try and keep your show birds quite clean, so as to do away with hand-washing as far as possible. Birds hand-washed too often tend to lose the natural bloom of feather and can never compete successfully against one fresh out at its first show.
The novice should never attempt to wash a bird until he has seen one or two practical demonstrations, as it is a very trying ordeal, and if not well handled the bird may be spoiled for the season.
Most Cage Bird Societies have their “washing nights”, when some prominent member will handle the bird in the wash and explain the various points in cleaning, rinsing and drying. All Border fanciers, therefore, should join their nearest society, attend all the meetings, especially on washing night, and keep their eyes and ears open for everything that will help with their hobby.
Evils of Over-Showing
Never, on any account, over-show a good bird, or you may live to rue it. No doubt, when one has an all-round show bird, and especially if it has already brought a little fame to you, it is a great temptation to turn it out at every show, thinking you are sure to win every time.
You may do well at the first show, but the continued strain upon the bird’s nerves and constitution will tell, with the result that it becomes dull and listless, dry in feather, and all out of condition, and in such a state it cannot be expected to win a prize.
Study the Judges
Another vital point in successful showing which must always be particularly studied is to discover what type and size of bird the judge favours, and select accordingly. There is a great difference of opinion among judges, although we have all the same model to work to. Judges do not all see eye to eye. Each has his own particular type, fads and fancies.
It pays to jot down in your notebook for future reference each judge’s fads, as we may term them. When you see a judge engaged for a show you have only to refer to your notebook, and then select a team to send under him, suitable to his standard.
This can only be done by attending all the shows within reasonable distance. One can always learn a lot at shows. You will there meet fanciers to whom it is a pleasure to talk, and who are quite willing to help
