Carm
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by Carm on Jan 28, 2014 13:55:47 GMT -5
Hello, How long do you leave show birds in conditioning pens or training cages? There is a 7 week break before the next show. They are late spring birds from last year so are not fully grown yet. Thanks
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Post by iaechickens on Feb 1, 2014 19:06:26 GMT -5
That's a good question. what do you all do?
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Post by d12chandler on Feb 1, 2014 19:44:55 GMT -5
I don't use a condition pen for my std birds. I have 4 X 4 pens with a 55 gal barrel for there house. There is pics on this board that soonerchick made. Mine has the barrels laying down. This is in western Oklahoma. Cam lives in Canada and that might not work for him. I know folks that use a 4X4 condition pens and they leave them in it full time. It's a job cleaning them. My bantams are in 2X2 pens and when they go in them, thats there home till they leave or go into breeding pens.
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Post by chicksooner on Feb 1, 2014 20:59:43 GMT -5
Personally if I was taking the bird to multiple shows I would leave it in the conditioning pen. If you put them back with the others feathers get broken and combs get pecked.
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Post by d12chandler on Feb 1, 2014 21:07:57 GMT -5
That a fact!! I just put one male to a pen. Did or do you have males in your barrel pens this winter?
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Carm
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by Carm on Feb 2, 2014 14:04:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. I think I will build some slightly bigger conditioning pens. I want 3 sides wood I think. I had them in show cages before the last show for a while and thought it was a little bit rough on feathers. I did notice better growth and weight gain in the cages than group pens.
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Post by chicksooner on Feb 2, 2014 16:08:38 GMT -5
Don I tried to leave them in the barrel pens but a couple were having trouble with frost bite. I have 2 pens in my garage with the worst two frost bit combs. They look pretty bad but they seem to be healing.
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Post by iaechickens on Feb 3, 2014 10:36:41 GMT -5
Approx how long before a show do you start conditioning?
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Post by crystalwhite on Feb 3, 2014 15:09:29 GMT -5
When i get ready for a show i keep the birds in the conditioning pens for a week before the show. These are my conditioning pens.David Attachments:
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Carm
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by Carm on Feb 3, 2014 17:18:43 GMT -5
Thanks David, those look like what I want to do. Very nice. Are those 2X2 or not quite? I was thinking 2X4 for cockerels and smaller for pullets/hens. Then I could leave them in for most of the show season.
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Carm
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by Carm on Feb 3, 2014 17:19:10 GMT -5
Thanks David, those look like what I want to do. Very nice. Are those 2X2 or not quite? I was thinking 2X4 for cockerels and smaller for pullets/hens. Then I could leave them in for most of the show season.
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Carm
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by Carm on Feb 3, 2014 17:20:18 GMT -5
Oops, it told me the first post didn't work. Sorry
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Post by crystalwhite on Feb 3, 2014 21:42:39 GMT -5
yes they are 2x2 and even my big birds have plenty of room.
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Post by iaechickens on Feb 3, 2014 22:04:28 GMT -5
I'm still new to chickens in general, I had always thought white birds were generic/boring. Crystalwhite, those a very attractive white birds in those pens! I am not ready for another color yet, but white was just added to my wish list. -babysteps LOL
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Post by crystalwhite on Feb 4, 2014 10:58:00 GMT -5
Thanks iaechickens i cant take all the credit if it wernt for a great friend of mine by the name of Harry Shaffer i would not have as nice of whites as i do .
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