by Johan Theunissen, South Africa
The show preparation of a budgerigar starts on the day it hatches. The first 28 days in the life of a young budgerigar is the most crucial, because it is the feeding of the youngsters during this period that will determine their future quality.
During this period one has to watch the chicks intently. If there is any sign of the parents not feeding properly, it is advisable to transfer the youngsters to another nest where they will be properly fed. One must also ensure that there is enough food available in the breeding cage at all times.
When these youngsters are 5 to 6 weeks old and they are self-sufficient, they are transferred to a training cage. It is advisable to leave them in this training cage for approximately 4 weeks. During this period the basic training of these young birds should begin.
My method is to put two youngsters in a show cage every 5 days and allow them to spend the night there. This gives them the feel of a show cage and helps tremendously to settle them down. Do not become impatient if they refuse to get onto the perch the first time - even the wildest bird will eventually perch.
After the four-week period, the youngsters are moved to the aviary where they are left to go through their first moult.
Following the moult it is advisable to take the young birds for a car ride. This helps to settle them down for future trips to shows.
The first young bird shows are held early in the year - around February in South Africa. I would like to stress that these shows are of prime importance to your young birds' training. These shows give them much experience which will help towards their training for the future. I have seen birds winning maybe only a second or third at a young bird show then go on to win major awards in the future. This underlines the importance of preliminary training.
The Big Shows
Having completed preliminary preparation and training, you are now ready for the big events.
In order to give your birds enough time to acquire top condition, it is advisable to bring them into the bird room 3 to 4 weeks before a show.
During the time your birds are in the training cage prior to a show, they should be fed extremely well.
I like to give my show team soaked oats every morning. You soak dry oats in water for approximately 8 hours. The soaked oats are then rinsed off with clean water and kept overnight before being given to the show team. Some fanciers put an additive in the water used to soak the oats as well.
The basic seed diet I use for my show team consists of approximately 10 parts canary, 8 parts white millet and 5 parts Jap millet. The increase in the proportion of Jap millet is because it helps to fatten up a bird that tends to be thin. This increase, however, cannot be applied to birds which are bulky. This mixture is fed to the show team every day.
This diet can also be supplemented with some milk soaked brown bread. Grit is also very important in their diet.
Supplements to the drinking water are also recommended. I put two drinkers in my training cage; one contains a phosphate tonic, while the other a multi-vitamin syrup.
Pre-Show Preparation
The birds should be sprayed with water every day starting about 18 days before the event and ceasing 4 days before the show. During this period the birds must spend as much time as possible in a show cage in order to get them used to the idea of being there. Remember they may spend two days in a cage at each show.
It is also advisable to get yourself a judging stick. This will help your show team to get used to being moved around by the judge at the shows.
Approximately 5 days before a show, you must remove the surplus spots from the masks of your show team. Tweezers are used for this exercise and it requires a steady hand. The day after the spots have been plucked you give your birds their last spray. The last few days prior to the show are utilised to put back the natural gloss in the show team's feathers.
The last week's spraying is done with a solution of glycerine and boiling water.
The birds are now ready for their first big show. If there is another show coming up within a short time after this show, your show team must be put back into the training cages, where the same procedures are applied once again.
You have now done your part - the rest is up to your team of birds.
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