Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
With
acknowledgeme
Pan
The Canary Nest Pan is a free quarterly newsletter, aimed at
the promotion of the Canary Fancy. The articles are
researched and drawn from various sources, and do not
Editor: Shawn Bartlett
Showing your birds is a wonderful way of bringing together a full year of bird-keeping! It has a certain prestigious feel to it that
no one except maybe a previous winner will ever be able to fully comprehend! In this vein, it is something I hope that will bring
each exhibitor joy and reward!!! All for the love of it!!!.... ed.
The Canary Nest Pan The Autumn Issue – SHOWTIME! Volume 1 Issue 2 March 2006
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Show training: Planning:
It is best to start getting your young birds acquainted with the show Get a list of all the shows. Make an informed decision on which show’s
cage from an early age. I hang my show cages to the door of their to attend, baring in mind the distances to travel and accessibility. Take
cage from 4 weeks, a week after weaning. I also add a piece of string heed of the fact that you may need to make arrangements for afternoon
to the middle most bar, relatively high, thereby teaching my birds to off privileges or days of leave, if you are in full time employment. Take
stand erect, and to reinforce in them what I feel all birds have – show every opportunity to attend the show’s, why else have we bred these
off ability. Ensure that your bird know’s where to find its water! fantastic birds, if not to show them off? Share your stuff and strut your
From about two weeks after they have had the show cage hung stuff!
permanently, I start to introduce them to a pointer stick, similar to Once you have made a plan of which show’s you will be attending, look
that used by the judge. I also like to use my hands and point at birds, at how long between each other they have been spaced. Showing the
and do sweeping movements so that they do not associate these same birds on a weekly basis, will lead to stress and tire your birds
movements with fear. It is pointless to show a wonderful bird, and unnecessarily. If you can, make up teams of birds, which can be
when it gets stressed, squats on a perch at its very first confrontation. alternated, thereby allowing each team recovery or rest phases.
Later, it would be advisable to cage them individually and then leave Obtain as much information about the show as you can, offer your
them be for a couple of minutes at first and later for longer periods of assistance where it may be needed, if you are a novice, try to get
time. Finally the bird should show no signs of nervousness no matter involved in the stewardship of your specie(s). This I believe is a good
how long it is left in a show cage. When you start doing this, invite as opportunity to see exactly what the judges look for in the winning birds!
many different featured people into their space - go into their room Speak to them and request their advice, when the judging process is
with spectacles, a cap, or jacket with a hood. over. Use the show experience to form new friendships and take time
Get the birds trained by running them into and out of the show cage speaking to fellow breeders, especially veterans - they have a wealth of
from time to time. When the pointer stick is pointed at the bird, and knowledge, which we can only gain from.
the show cage hung, it should instinctively know to go into the cage.
Take the show cage in your hands and observe the bird from all Good sportsmanship:
angles, especially from the top, as sometimes a judge will find it The most important thing about our hobby is realizing that it is just
necessary to do this. that!! A hobby! As much as I am guilty of not doing it, try to find a
Finally it is a good idea to conduct a mock judging exercise, use a good balance in your life, the birds need time, that’s a given, but so
bench if you have one, or simply install some shelving, place the does your family and friends. Furthermore, never be boastful or inflate
birds on it and work them according to their specific standards of you own ego. You too once were a novice trying to get a foothold!
excellence. Allocate your points very sparingly and never give a bird When you have done well, the glory should be all yours, but this is also
the benefit of the doubt, if it does not have that characteristic now, it the time when one can use such opportunity to put something back into
probably will not show it when it is formally judged. the fancy. Offer advice to the newcomer, show some interest, and at all
Get your birds used to the idea of the show cage carrier box. At first times try to help them along. Too many newcomers are disillusioned
place the cages in it with the lid open. As they become accustomed to with failure and finally just throw in the towel.
it and realize there’s nothing to fear, ensure that all birds are on the If on the other hand you have not done well, don’t be disheartened, the
perch and then close it. Leave it for a couple of minutes and later for winner’s of the show, have not become winners by chance. Their’s has
longer periods. Once the birds are completely comfortable with the been a long and hard journey, with disappointment a plenty along the
new surroundings irrespective of how long they are left in it, start to way. They are now reaping the harvest of years and years of hard work,
gently move the box about, carry it into the garden and around the ruthless selection, trial and error and refining their lines. Their
birdroom. Lastly take them on a drive, they need to get used to the accomplishments are to be recognized and congratulated. Don’t be a
sound of the car’s engine and the car radio. When they are used to all sore loser and after the judges decision has been made, then challenge it
of this, and show no signs of panic or distress, then and only then are with whomever will entertain it! A judge’s task is no easy one, and it is
the birds ready for showing! the honour of this prestigious ability, that is being questioned. The
judge has gone through all kinds of assessment to ensure these abilities,
The cages: and it is not fair to second guess him or her without definite reason.
Now that the birds are trained and ready, a further task remains, the Let your true character come shining through, go and offer the winners
show cages, have not been used now in over a year! Spider webs and your sincere congratulations and acknowledgement, without having a
dust galore! Set aside a day for this and clean the cages thoroughly hidden agenda! Who know’s next year it may be you, and wouldn’t you
with soap and water, paying special attention to the perches. Some want everyone to share in your happiness then?
cages may need some paint touch up’s here and there. Make sure that
you find a good supply of sawdust, which is neither too coarse with When it’s over:
jagged edges nor so soft and light, that the sheer movement of the Don’t run away if you are member of the club hosting the show, there is
bird, will cause it to be blown all over including the seed corner. plenty of work yet to be done. I know we’re all tired afterwards, but it is
Your bird does not know to scratch for its food, as well as a chicken not fair for the responsibility of cleaning up to be left only up to the
will. Try to find sawdust that will be similar to the kinds that all of show committee. If this is the intention, bring it up in advance at a club
the other exhibitor’s will use, so that no identification can be linked meeting and make another arrangement, or offer a donation for cleaning
to your cages. staff to be employed on your behalf. A couple a bob amoung many,
The Show’s: make a few rand later and this can be used for this tiresome task, while
What’s what. maintaining your good name in the club circles!
Read up on and get an understanding of the different classes within
the competition, eg. what is meant by lightly variegated etc. Get an Aftercare for youngsters:
understanding of the judging process, ie. how the winner is decided After showing the birds, we need to take into consideration the amount
upon, what is meant by best in class and best in show, what is a of stress we’ve placed on the birds.
colour special, and what is the meant by best opposite sex. It may well be appropriate to offer the birds a nice bath, and a treat after
Familiarise yourself with the winning rewards, when will your bird such hard work. At show’s, especially if birds are benched a night
earn a rosette and when a trophy, when will it win a cash prize and or before actual judging, they will have had some light exposure, and this,
why it has not. coupled with stress, and heat could force your birds into an abnormal
moult. Cont…
888888888888888
Aftercare for youngsters cont…
In precaution of this, I like to offer my birds a bit of carb’s once or twice immediately after showing in the form of dry crackers or jungle oats. For
the next two weeks, I will also give them plenty of B vits in the water, to eliminate the possibility of abnormal moult. I treat all birds that come from
a show for mite or external parasites, quarantine, and add probiotic to the water to make sure no internal parasites have been acquired. Whether I
achieved anything at all, I immediately start to analyse everything, with the hope of making progress next year! Best of luck and a rewarding
SHOW SEASON to you.
The Canary Nest Pan The Autumn Issue – SHOWTIME! Volume 1 Issue 2 March 2006
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Brown
London
Fancy?
By Roy Stringer.
(Breeder: Tommy Dennett)
The consensus is that he should re-pair the original Gold Isabel Satinette cock and the
Ivory Gold Brown hen that produced the unusually marked youngster in 1998, for just one
round. Then for the second round it is planned to pair the unusual young cock –
Manchester Fancy? – back to its mother. Its Gold Isabel Satinette sister would be paired back to their father. The logic behind these pairings
is that should the youngster be the result of a mutation, which is by no means certain at this stage, there is a chance that a similar bird will be
produced with the possibility of a line being established. Coloured Canary expert, Mick Watton, was one of the few people to see the unusual
bird in its moulted state, before its debut at the National Exhibition. He specialised in Satinettes for eight years, but has never bred any
Canary that moulted in this way. Neither has he heard of anyone else breeding such a bird. He said, “ My first reaction was that it is a
strikingly attractive bird.” I was very impressed by its rich lipochrome (yellow) coloration, which was beautifully set off by its mid-brown
outer wing flights and tail flights. It also displays good shape. “I was keen to see the colour of its underflue, but was not able to handle the
bird as it was about to be photographed. I was told that the underflue is light, unlike the dark underflue, which the London Fancy was said to
have had. This will be a disappointment to those who are seeking to recreate the London Fancy, because no matter how much its markings
might resemble those of this extinct Canary, in my opinion it is not related to the London Fancy.”
The Canary Nest Pan The Autumn Issue – SHOWTIME! Volume 1 Issue 2 March 2006
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Species of this Issue: A Kaleidoscope of Colour..
Colour- Bred Judging – from “A Collection of Canary Tales” By: Linda S Hogan.
Reference & Acknowledgement to Coloured, Type and Song Canaries by G.B.R Walker.
Colour- bred canaries are judged using either a comparison method where the birds are compared to each other or with a 100 point system
which compares each bird to the standard. In the point system, points are independently assigned for each area of the standard. A bird’s score
is determined by the sum total of the sub-scores achieved.
Colour in Dimorphics:
JUDGING TABLE
Male – Small distinct
Excellent Good Average mask, colour limited to
eyebrows, wing butts and
Colour (50 points) -3 -5 -7 rump. No frosting on
Lipochrome or lipochrome colour.
Melanin -1 -2 -3 Female – Colour
Ground Colour (20 points) restricted to the wing
Pigment (30 points) -2 -3 -4 butts, rump and a small
Position (10 points) -1 -2 -3 extension of the eye. The
remainder of the bird Clear Red
Conformation (10 points) -1 -2 -3 should be snowy white, Dimorphic Male
Size (10 points) -1 -2 -3 breast may show distinct
Feathering (15 points) -1 -2 -3 small colour spots.
Condition (5 points) -1 -2 -3 Faults: Intensity of colour, colour in the
chest, flanks around the eyes and into the
Total (100 points) 92 85 78 flight feathers. Frosting on lipochrome,
especially evident on the rump.
Colour: Lipchrome:
Possess a factor which totally inhibits the production of melanin pigment. Melanin pigment should be absent from feathers, beak, legs and
nails. The presence of melanin is penalised up to 2 points. The six varieties of lipochrome canaries vary in the amount of ground colour
expressed.
The Canary Nest Pan The Autumn Issue – SHOWTIME! Volume 1 Issue 2 March 2006
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Colour: Melanin:
Ground colour – Intense and rich like lipochromes.
Pigment – Striations appropriate to kind in colour, width and presence through the flanks. If brown pigment is desired, show females, if an
absence of brown is desired, show males.
Self birds with no foul white feathers are a must.
Melanin dimorphics should have striations on the head, absence of lipochrome between striations and wider striations than intensive of non
intensive examples.
Green (Bronze or Blue): Brown:
Pastel:
i) Green (Bronze or blue) – Charcoal grey striations following pattern of classic bronze. Greywing
is best with symmetrical paler area on both flight and tail. Horny areas black.
ii) Brown Pastel – Striations visible but heavily diluted. Beige/ brown appearance. Striations should
be absent on flanks. Horny areas clear.
iii) Agate Pastel – Distinct pearl grey striations on head, back and flanks. No brown colour.
Moustache evident. Horny areas clear.
iv) Isabel Pastel – All striations should totally disappear. Extremely diluted brown suffusion.
The Canary Nest Pan The Autumn Issue – SHOWTIME! Volume 1 Issue 2 March 2006
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Position: Advertisements:
The way the bird presents itself in the show cage. Should be alert and active but not flighty,
and stand properly at 45 degree angle with head slightly raised. Nervous birds or untrained
birds are either overactive or inactive squatting or crouching on the perch. Nervous birds This space is reserved for any one who
also can either drop or cross their wings. No fault -1, one fault, -2, two or more faults, -3 wishes to advertise free of charge in the
points, Canary Nest Pan.
17 18 19 20 21 22 April 23
RCB & HB Open Young
Bird
24 25 26 27 28 29 April 30
Klerksdorp Open
May 2006 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 May 14
HB & RCB Breeders Rung
15 16 17 18 19 & 20 May 21
Potchefstroom Open
22 23 24 25 26 & 27 May 28
Randfontein Open
June 2006 29 30 31 1 2 & 3 June 4
Suikerbosrand Open
5 6 7 8 9 & 10 June 11
All Border Bloemfontein
12 13 14 15 16 17 & 18 June
Vryheid Provincial
19 20 21 22 23 & 24 June 25
Boksburg Provincial
July 2006 26 27 28 29 30 & 1 July 2
Pretoria Open
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 ,14 & 15 July 16
Pietermaritzburg National Championships.
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Thank you to all readers for so warmly
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 receiving The Canary Nest Pan. Here’s wishing
you a happy and blessed Easter!!! ……..ed
The Canary Nest Pan The Autumn Issue – SHOWTIME! Volume 1 Issue 2 March 2006