Show Cages.

[wilkifam]

I would eventually like to show some of my birds, possibly this fall. Do you use the same type of cage to show both finches and canaries? I've seen show cages for sale for canaries.

Where can you purchase show cages?

Lori

[wilkifam]

Amyone?

[Sally]

It is very difficult to find show cages for sale. I am very lucky to have two different individuals in my area who make show cages, but both of them just make them as ordered in advance, they don't make up numbers of them to sell. The NFSS has a page on how to build a show cage, with all the specifications, for those who are handy.

http://www.nfss.org/downloads/show_cage_plans.pdf

Some canary groups are very specific on their show cages, you will see at a show that every single canary show cage in a division will be alike. NFSS is not so strict, you can even show your birds in an open small cage. The disadvantage to that is that the bird probably will not show well. Finch show cages are designed with only the front and half of the top open, the rest is closed, so the bird only sees out the front and is less likely to be spooked. NFSS also does not specify colors, though you will see that most finches are shown in cages that are painted glossy black on the outside and white on the inside. However, if you are showing a white or very light bird, then the white background is not good, the bird won't stand out. Then you would want something like a light blue to set off the bird.

You could always run an ad in craigslist or hoobly to see if anyone in your area is selling or making show cages. When people quit showing and are selling their show cages, they are usually snapped up right away. You can use a canary show cage, but you want to make sure that the bars are spaced close enough together.

[wilkifam]

found some on abbaseed.com
http://www.abbaseed.com/CAGES/SHOW_CAGE ... cages.html

[birdclaws]

The only place I can find new show cages for sale are here:

http://www.abbaseed.com/CAGES/SHOW_CAGE ... cages.html

http://glamgouldians.com/product-show-cage.php

http://www.kentcages.com/ShowCages.htm [UK]

[Sally]

I bought a couple of those white metal cages (Abba) at a mart one time. I found that they aren't very suitable for the tiny waxbills, the bars are almost too far apart.

One thing to watch for on canary show cages--some of them have a small round hole in the bars in the front of the cage, I guess it was for a seed cup. Anyway, I heard about someone who used one of those cages, and their bird slipped right out that opening.

The Kent cages linked by birdclaws (the ones painted black) are typical of what I have seen at finch shows.

[PrettyBird]

Lori- I think its awesome you want to start showing your birds. I have been thinking about doing that too. Maybe one day

I wish you luck

[Sally]

For those who have thought about showing their birds, I strongly encourage you to do so. You could go to a show the first time just to see how it works, but you can also jump right in cold turkey. In my area, even though we are all highly competitive and love winning, the most fun for me is the social aspect, the chance to visit with others, the chance to compare my birds with others. My first show, I didn't know anything, and the ring steward and another member of my bird club walked me through the whole registering process, the show secretary showed me how to fill out my paperwork, and when some of my birds did well, I got lots of kudos from others. We love to have new people showing, all they have to do is ask and they will get as much help as they want. Let's be honest, bird shows need as many exhibitors as they can get, so newbies should always receive a warm welcome and lots of advice.

Here is a link to an article for the novice to showing. There is lots of good advice here, some tips to help in showing. Above all, go to shows to learn and have fun!

http://finchaviary.com/ShowingFinches.htm

[Sally]

At our Fort Worth Bird Club meeting last Sunday, I happened to mention to my friend who makes show cages that there are some members on this forum who are looking for show cages. Jerry informed me that he does ship, he has been all along (I thought he just made them for local customers). With his permission, I have made a listing for him in the Avian Business Listings forum, with a couple photos of one of the finch show cages he made for me, and also his contact information. Here is the link:

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=24328