How should I go about washing Birds for a show?

Three bucket of warm water, lst with Ivory Flakes or other nice disolved soap. Immerse the bird--they usually relax and totally like it! Keep the face out, and lightly work the soapy water through the plumage with special care with the tail feathers, not to rub backwards, so the web will close, not separate. Wash the feet well, Squeeze soapy water out, and immerse well in 2 rinses. If a white bird, a smidgin of Blueing in the last rinse will enhance the White! Squeeze water out and then gently squeeze all you can by wrapping with a towel. Place in a warm place. I use a cage with a roost, I love a sunny warm day, but shade the birds. Depending on plumage, may take 2-3 hours to dry. Keep of of wind. Should be done up to a week prior to the show, to have natural oils return and the plumage to lay naturally(I do not add dressings). I smooth the bird with both hands to bring out the lustre, every day and at show cooping. In the summer, I sometimes wash my birds--not showing-- and put a bit of PermectrinII in the last rinse, which will kill and deter any mites and lice I may not have detected, for several months. Some people use a hair dryer to dry the birds. I think this is fine for a Cochin or Silkie, with soft plumage, but not for the harder feathers of some breeds. Do not want them looking like they were hung on a clothesline to dry in the wind! Finish washing face, comb, wattles and beak can wait for the show day. Good luck--it takes time, but such beautiful results, and the judge appreciates handling a CLEAN bird! CJR

When we wash our show birds, we add a cup of apple cider vinegar (though any sort of vinegar would most likely do) to one bucket of rinsing water. This gets out ALL the soap suds. We also add an extra bucket and to this we add a water softener. We find that this makes our soft feather birds beautifully soft.

Does anyone know how I can get the feathers on my barred rock bantam hen to lay smoothly? They are all sticking up and lay backwards and/or are twisted. She had been sitting on eggs so she isn't the prettiest chicken around and she looks much like a frizzle. I gave her a bath yesterday, but it didn't help much. I am taking her to the county fair in 2 months, so she needs to be decent looking by then. Any help would be appriciated.

Oatman