Bird Clubs & Shows - A Thing of the Past?

[FinchLady]

I had to give up my Societies a few months ago so haven't been on the Forum in awhile. Hope it's OK if I post:
Though I can't keep birds right now, I want to support the shows and marts. How can I find out when there are shows in my area (Alabama)? Or Bird Clubs? Want to keep the hobby going.
Gayel, Finch Lady

[Sally]

saulosirds Ken Gunby will judge the Cleburne show, Armando Lee will judge the Houston show, and Laura Bewley will judge both the San Antonio show and the Temple show.

Actually, at our shows, the novice birds are judged right in with all the others. There is a separate award for the highest-placing novice, but not separate classes. But that should not discourage anyone, two novices placed on the Top Ten bench at Nationals last year--quite an impressive accomplishment.

@Colt I will have to limit how many cages I loan to each person, as I don't have that many extra cages. My thinking was to loan out cages to as many members as possible, to introduce them to showing. I will know closer to the shows how many cages I can loan each person, but it most likely will not be 12.

And something different doesn't necessarily mean that bird will get placed over other more common birds. There is often a Judge's Special award, which sometimes goes to something different, but it is just as likely to go to a novice (judges like to encourage novices) or just a really nice bird that was competing against others just a bit better.

It is true that when you have the only bird in a class, you automatically get a blue ribbon. I have lots of blue ribbons because not many people show waxbills in this area, so my birds are often the only bird in their class. But then they have to go on to compete against all the other winners in the show. If it is a great bird, it should not matter whether it is the only one in its class or not.

[Colt]

Makes sense. And I wasn't trying to hog all the show cages btw...lol I was mostly thinking out loud. Where can you purchase them if heaven forbid I get home and have 12 show-able birds?

[Sally]

You have to have them made. Jerry Cason makes mine, I posted his information in the Avian Business Listings under Resources. He charges $50 per cage, and he does a beautiful job. He paints the outside glossy black, and he will paint the inside whatever color you want. I have mine done in white, but this last time I ordered some, I had him do 2 in blue, just in case I would ever have a white bird to show. White birds show better with a blue background rather than white.

[Colt]

Thanks. Wow they cost a pretty penny. I'll have to narrow the selection down when I'm in the bird room next.

[saulosirds]

Sally

Ken is such a great guy. I was one of his stewards last fall at our show. So sad to hear about his brother. I can imagine if he was anything like Ken he was a wonderful person.

Laura Tinker is our finch judge this year. I'm stewarding again so I can have the chance to learn more about what different judges like to see. Well worth the time if you ask me.

Rob

[Sally]

saulosirds Yes, Cecil was a wonderful person. I met him the first time at Nationals three years ago, and then last year at Nationals at Tulsa, he was the finch judge, and Ken was his steward. He will certainly be missed in this hobby, as he contributed so much.

I will be serving as secretary for the finch division at our Cleburne show, so I look forward to working with Ken.

[saulosirds]

Sally

Well tell him hi from me and all the Michigan people if you happen to remember.

What are you planning on showing?

I'm thinking of taking one of my Goldbreasts and one or two of my Black Bellies, possibly father and son. Would love to take my one Peter's but I hope he will be busy feeding chicks around then.

Rob

[Sally]

saulosirds I actually don't have anything to take, but I will come up with something. It helps the clubs to have good participation in the shows, so I will do my part.

[Sally]

Lacybug I meant to answer this one earlier. How many birds do you think you will be bringing to the show? I will bring all my cages that I'm not using, and we'll get everyone set up. I'll let everyone know beforehand how many cages they will be able to borrow, so they can plan accordingly. I would love to see more people get involved in showing.

At the show in Temple last year, there were 130+ entries, with something like 13 or 15 exhibitors, and quite a few of them were first-timers. Several of them placed on the Top Ten bench too.

It is up in the air right now whether I will be attending the San Antonio show, I'll know for sure soon, but I definitely will be attending Cleburne, then Houston, then Temple.

[Sally]

FinchLady I don't have any information on shows in Alabama, but if I find out any, I will post them on the calendar. There was a mart in July in Mobile. Here is where I get some of my information on bird marts: www.birdshows.net.

[Lacybug]

Sally
If I do end up going, probably only 1, lol. Or 2. But I only have a few zebras, so it would just be for fun and experience. But the ones I would be taking are white birds, so I don't know.

[Sally]

Lacybug Perfect! I have two brand-new show cages with blue backgrounds, they would be just the thing for white Zebras. Deborah and Colt are bringing birds that will show better with a white background, so I will hold these two show cages for you. We all started somewhere, I've only been showing for four years myself, and it is good to get the experience. Plus it is just a lot of fun, and you can learn so much from these judges.

[Sally]

I just posted a link in Resources for show cages, and I will repeat it here. A friend of mine sent this to me today. These cages are $25 each, so half the price of what I've been paying for the wooden ones. They are perfectly acceptable at shows. A friend in Houston uses these cages, and she does places on Top Ten bench at shows, and a novice placed on Top Ten bench at Nationals last year with one of these cages, so the cage is not a factor, as long as it is clean and well-maintained.

www.glamgouldians.com/product-show-cage.php

[SeaChelle]

I'm going to try to make the Cleburne show, also. I bought one show cage (starting small, right?) at the Bird Mart, so I know I can bring at least one bird! I only have 12 birds total anyway and most of those are pied societies that aren't anything special (well, they are special to us!). I do have a nice owl, but he's a little bundle of stress already, so I hesitate to bring him.

I might be interested in borrowing a cage or two also, Sally. If you still have extras.

Colt, you definitely need to take your birds to the show. I was really impressed by how good they looked and how nicely feathered they were. I bet you'd do really well.

Rachelle