Feather Pulling

[upcd]

How often should Fantails have thier tails trimmed or pulled before a show? Some breeders do it 2-3xs before show time. So they have beautiful clean tails. If you pull now will they be grown back in time for Jan. 2006?

[Blueracer757]

I believe 45 days is the time frame for new feathers to replace themselves. So you can probably wait.

[re lee]

Plulling tails is up to the person. Some pull tails when the young birds are moulted down to 4 and 3 flights. Then you have to watch as the new tail comes in. You should never pull more then the 1 time. a year. It takes a while to growin in and when the weather changes to cooler weather the tail may not open as well as it should. A adult tail which is larger then the baby tail is the quest in pulling. To get a better tail out In time for the shows.

[upcd]

There is so much to do before a show. I sometimes feel sorry for show birds. They need to be kept seperated from the other birds. So they don't get dirty or broken feathers. What do you bath white birds with?

[re lee]

Working your birds thru the season gets them show ready. You can use dish soap to bath the birds about 3 days befor the show. And let them dry good. In a warm place if its cold. Show season is still down the road. And young birds are still developing with some showing that they will be show type. After the full moult it seem to bring out the rest. If you trimmed tail on the old birds. You can pull there tails say sept and the will grow back goo. NO need On stack birds. Just pull the cut feathers when the moult starts. BUt if you raise Indian fantails they Are judged way different then reg fans. They do not need laceing at all. And se veral do not pull tails. on them.On indians you wannt to proectect the muff from getting frayed or really dirty. So shavings on the floor helps there.

[upcd]

Yes, Indain Fantails must have thier tail feathers laced. Thanks, for reminding about muffs. Saw dust is good idea. Is a wire floor better? I am have a hard time telling if one of my young fantails is lopsided or if this yougster is being lazy with his tail.

[re lee]

I do not think you lace indian fans tails. They are judged different then american fans. They just need to have a decent tail not funneled or wry or twisted . Wire floors on muffs I think would fray the muffs.

[upcd]

You are right about wire cages and muffs. Will use wood with sawdust on top. If this youngster doesn't pull it together with his tail we will work on another bird. Guess it time to powder or dust my birds. Are you showing any bird?

[re lee]

While you look at your young biird hopefulls. For show prospects. You notice the stand outs. Work with them And work the ones that show they might develop into a decent bird. Most often after the first moult the birds come together. Better balance of the tail the better feather length Just be watchful. Study the standard. NO bird carries the 100 points. BUT birds getting closer to the standard Do well in the shows. And a bird that is for stock may never be showable. But breed good show type birds. Indians is the larger fantail breed. With muffs crest and tail. You have to work on these areas in breeding. Show season is still down the road abit. And theres time to find the birds that will go to the show. I would like to show. I will see., I did raise some that is going to go be show type. And some useful birds also. A person will not raise a loft full of show type birds each year. But if put together right a few will come out Maybe just 1 And usefull birds will come out to. Then of course the give aways also. I am cutting back to be able to keep my birds. And its hard right now deciding which to phase out. I have given birds away twrice now. trying to keep the top birds. And get down to about 6 pair and a few hold overs. For next year. Showing is learning. You show you learn. You try harder the next year. THATS great about the steps in building a good loft of birds. And you meet some great pigeon people. That enjoy the same hobby. So just going to the show is a plus. Showing tells you how you are going and win or lose you still learn. So no matter you win. in knowledge and friend ships That you make at the shows and thru the years. Then you enjoy the birds. So alot of fine points to raiseing pigeons comes from the over all enjoyment of several things . Never get mad at a lose. be happy that some one won. And learn ask others look at the different birds see where you are going with yours. And soon you do better and better at the shows. Then some one asks you to help them get a start. Or make suggestions on how they can improve there program. And most of all a new friend is made.

[upcd]

Oh how I love shows. The competition and all your friends around. I get such a rush. I don't even have to show one of my birds I just get excited. I love to see if I can Pick the winner. As for my birds, I will wait and see. But I still need to go thru them for 2006. Don't you just love a show?

[upcd]

I have concert floors. What is the porper way to clean a loft? I scape pooh and place in a bucket and it goes in the garden. I then hose it out with a pressurer nozzle. Then let it dry. Then spray lysol or use 1 to 3 bleach and water mixure. Use to use saw dust, but when the fly it just goes in the edges. In the nest boxes I use pine needle or grass. Any other thoughts would be helpful?

[re lee]

I would use pine shavings on the floor Do away with any perches. So the birds fly less. That way the muffs stay cleaner and les damage. There tail do not get messed up do to flying and catch the flights in the tail. In the breeding loft. I would if open breeding just agin have nest hloes large enought for the birds. Fans about 30x20 by 18 or 20 high per hole. And change the flooring. about 1 time a month. You can bathe the birds about 2 to 3 days befor the show. Use some dish washing detergent. Just a little. And put the birds where they can dry well. This BATH IS A HAND DONE BATH.

[upcd]

are you talking about spinkling it on the floor or using 2 to 3 inches packed down. Cleaning it once a month. Shovel it out and then hose it out and dis infect it.

[re lee]

Im talking about 2 inches on the floor. Then you clean out 1 time a month. Birds stay a little cleaner. And the loft looks ok too.

[upcd]

I put 2 inches of pine shavings. It looks nice and smells great. So far its staying put. During non moulting I use surlfa drugs. I have heard not to use surlfa during the moult. What should be used in its place? Axmoxi ot TC or Kflex. To avoid Cocci. or Salmon.? What is your advice? I use ACV in thier water. But What if you have carriers you don't know about? Can they be cured or must they live the rest of thier lifes as carriers? And then Do You remove the from your breeding flock period. And get them homes as pets only.