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Each year there are increasing numbers of the public buying chickens. They come in three sections:
- The first time buyer that just want a chicken for a pet and the egg is a bonus.
- The person who just want chickens for eggs.
- The person that has had chickens and wants to go a bit further and wants to show them.
This is for the last group.
Once you have decided that you want to show and have selected the show you want to enter your chicken / chickens in, filled in the entry show and sent it off - now comes the daunting part of getting your birds ready for the show!!!
You need to have these items:-
Johnsons baby shampoo, plastic jug, Johnsons baby oil, clippers, orange sticks, cotton wool buds, towels* and a hair dryer, loads of newspaper to stand the bird on after bathing, patience and a good sense of humour.
(*old towels that you can get from friends, your Mum or Aunt!)
Place your bird into warm water, either in the bath or the kitchen sink. (I normally have the bird standing in the water up to it's hocks.)
Using your plastic jug, fill with warm water and pour gently over the bird, making sure that the bird is held fairly firmly with the other hand, otherwise the bird will take off, soaking everywhere! Do this a couple of times to get the chicken wet, then put the shampoo into the palms of your hands and rub gently onto the bird, so as not to damage the feathers. Make sure the bird is fully covered in shampoo. The head being done last, avoiding the eyes. Keep chicken still, pull out the plug, empty all the water, then squeeze excessive water from the underneath of the bird. Pick up, place on newspaper and add fresh warm water into your sink or bath.
Whilst filling up with fresh water, you will probably find out why the bird is placed on newspaper!!! Place the bird into fresh water, this time the chicken may not struggle, which will allow you to take away the dirty newspaper to replace with clean newspaper!! Rinse the bird thoroughly, so that water does run clear, you may have to do this a couple of times. After this, squeeze out the water from the feathers of the bird and place bird onto the newspaper for the final time. Cover and wrap the towel around the bird. You can leave the bird wrapped whilst you look at the beak and toe nails to see if they need clipping. Do not clip for the sake of it. Pat the bird with the towel to take excessive dampness away. This may take some time. Remove the towel, get the hairdryer and proceed to dry the bird, pay the most important attention to under the wings and between the legs as at this time of year you do not want your beautiful bird to have a chill and become ill. Continue to dry.
Once your bird is dry, you can use the baby oil by putting a bit on a cotton wool pad and rubbing onto the comb and wattles, this makes them gleam. Also you can use the oil on the legs. Any dirt left on the toe nails, you can scrap away with the orange sticks. If you are clever you can use the orange sticks to get dirt out of the scales of your chickens legs, but do not do this if you are not confident enough as you do not want upset your bird by hurting it.
Place your bird somewhere so as not to be in a cold draft for the rest of the time before showing so that your chicken can prene itself and settle it's feathers. There are numerous ways of preparing chickens for shows, this is the simple and most common way for the beginner to start with.
By the way make sure you have got a box to fit your bird to take to the show, you do not want an enormous box, you want one that should fit the bird giving it about half an inch all round for comfort and please make sure to remember to put air vents into the box. Take some food and water to give to your bird, including a small water container to put inside the show cage, but this should be done only after judging.
The best of luck with the showing and you will pick up plenty of tips on how to show your birds from other people, you will eventually find the way to get your bird ready for the shows that will suit you.
Sandy Hildreth.
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Keeping Chickens 
