Exhibition Budgerigars
See – Status
An Open Show is open to anyone to enter.
The main reason for benching birds at shows is to let breeders compete. However, there is much more to budgerigar shows than that. They provide a meeting place for fanciers. Some will be on the lookout for new stock. Others look forward to seeing old friends who they meet as little as once a year.
No matter how experienced a Budgerigar exhibitor may be, winning his or her first rosette is a memory that lives with them forever. By joining The Budgerigar Society, you can play a full part in budgerigar shows and take the initial step towards winning your first rosette.
At some of the larger shows Challenge Certificates (CCs) are awarded to the best budgerigar of each colour group. When a bird has won a specified number of CCs it can be registered as a Champion Bird, regardless of the status of its owner. The best budgerigar of each CC colour goes forward to compete for the Best in Show award.
See https://www.budgerigarsociety.com/types-of-patronage-available/
See – Status
A classification designates the colours and varieties of budgerigars that are exhibited together.
See https://www.budgerigarsociety.com/bs-show-classification-file/
The Colour Standards describe the details of the various colours and varieties of budgerigar.
See https://www.budgerigarsociety.com/judges-judging/ (Colour Standards 2012)
If a bird is not in condition, it will be penalised. Perfect show condition is defined as a bird that is complete in feather. Whether it be Yellow or Buff the feather shall show the bloom of good health and good preparation. The presence of pin feathers or blood quills shall be assessed with due regard to the effect on the overall balance of the exhibit and shall be penalised accordingly.
Here is a list of the faults that can exist in an exhibition budgerigar.
There is a defined Ideal for exhibition budgerigars that breeders strive to meet.
See – Status
A breeder and exhibitor of budgerigars must qualify to become a judge.
See – Status
Nest feather shows are for very young owner bred budgerigars and are usually organised by local clubs and societies for their members only.
See – Status
For breeding and exhibition purposes breeders may join together to form a partnership. This includes related partnerships at the same address and non-related partnerships at different addresses.
The Budgerigar Society and other societies provide prizes to be won by their members at shows.
See https://www.budgerigarsociety.com/types-of-patronage-available/
One of the coveted awards at a show is to win a rosette.
See https://www.budgerigarsociety.com/types-of-patronage-available/
Budgerigars are exhibited in show cages.
See https://www.budgerigarsociety.com/bs-show-cage-specification/
As each breeding season ends, a new show season begins. The young fledglings start their show training when they leave the nest box. Our activities with the chicks while they are in the breeding cage and nursery cage accustoms them to human presence; this is really the first phase of training that assists them in becoming, ‘steady on the perch’.
The second phase of training occurs while we spend time observing them in the flights. The more time we spend actually inside the flights, then the more relaxed the birds will become. The actual formal training should start when the chicks complete their first moult.
Setting the stage for a sound training programme
- Facility
Set up at least four show cages in a space that can serve as your show cage training area in the aviary. This will make it far more convenient for the training process to take place.
It is important to keep the training cages clean and free of dust. Fresh seed should always be available in the bottom of the cage.
- Schedule
Establishing a schedule so that each show bird can spend an hour or two in the show cage every week is important. This process should continue until the bird becomes calm and comfortable in the cage.
- Techniques
As the birds become relaxed in the show cage, simulated show conditions should be staged. These are to include the use of a judging stick and moving the cage around.
Remember, traffic and noise is two factors of a bird show that should not be overlooked during the training process. Cleaning the aviary in the normal manner is a good method to accustom the birds to a busy, noisy atmosphere. The use of a radio playing music will also provide a means of background noise. Using a training system of this nature will assure you that your birds will arrive at the shows relaxed and ready to show to their best advantage.
Conditioning
Budgerigars continually cycle in and out of condition during the year. As we approach the Show Season, it is important to note the cycle of your birds. This will aid you in charting individual birds for specific shows.
There are a number of actions that an exhibitor can follow to legally enhance a bird’s show condition and starts at eight weeks before the first show. At this time, select your show team and examine each bird for broken or frayed tail and flight feathers. It is necessary to pull broken or frayed primaries so that new feathers can be grown in time for the show. It is important to remember that this procedure should be performed only once during the show season.
Six weeks before the show make a start on your training as described earlier. If you routinely train your birds, this will be a refresher course for them. Follow this procedure until the show team is completely relaxed and show well in the cage.
Four weeks before the show mist your birds daily with water. After a few days you will notice water beads forming on their feathers and they will have a good sheen.
Finally, approximately one week before the show, pluck the excess spots. Do not spray the birds immediately after removing the spots as this can sometimes cause the bird to preen its feathers and pull out a fragile spot.
Finishing Touches
We have now discussed the general principles of “Preparing your Birds for Show”. Once you have become proficient with the general grooming routine, you will be ready for the next level, the “Finishing Touches”.
The three finishing touches that can give your birds that Champion look are:
Cere and legs: Look at the cere and the birds legs. Often these will appear to be rough and somewhat dry or scaly. Approximately one week before the show, apply a small amount of mineral oil to the cere and legs. This will act as lotion and soften the appearance.
Pin Feathers: Remove unwanted sheathing that is encasing feathers on the bird’s head that are about to unfold. Do not confuse “blood pin feathers” with the dry sheathing that is ready to be removed.
To identify the blood pin feather from the dry sheathing, gently blow on the feathers in a direction so that you can see the bird’s skin. If the pin feathers have blood in them, do not interfere with the growth of these. For those that do not reveal blood, gently mash the dry sheathing encompassing the feather, with your thumb and forefinger. The sheathing will crumble. Gently blow on the feathers to remove all traces of the sheath. A soft, dry toothbrush may also be used for this task.
Finally, clip any excessively long toenails. This will make the feet look trim.
Using these techniques will assist you in presenting your birds to their best advantage.
See – Show Preparation & Training
See – Ideal Budgerigar
Showing is structured so that newcomers to the fancy compete with other relatively inexperienced breeders, while still giving them the chance to beat the more established fanciers. There are four status levels (beginner being removed in 2018) – junior, novice, intermediate and champion. Progress through the levels is governed by both time and success. It is possible for a novice to become a champion in 8 years after joining.
Budgerigars may be shown in Teams and Pairs as well as single birds.
TEAMS
Four birds only may be shown in a BS Approved Team cage. This can be 2 cocks and 2 hens or 4 cocks or 4 hens.
PAIRS
A pair consists of 1 x Cock and 1 x Hen
At one day shows these may be shown in a Standard BS Approved Show Cage.
At two day or longer shows, pairs must be shown in a BS Approved Team Show Cage
Colour Budgerigars pairs may be shown in a Standard BS Approved Show Cage
A bird that is wrong classed is one that has been entered into the wrong show classification.
Budgerigar classifications are divided into Any Age and Young Bird classes. Any Budgerigar can be entered in the former, but only budgerigars wearing current-year, official rings of the exhibitors are eligible for Young Bird classes.
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