To prepare your cockatiels for the show bench you must start training them well in advance of the show date.
This is especially true for young birds, which you should start training as soon as they are capable of feeding themselves.
An ideal size for the training cage would be three times the size of the Australian National
Cockatiel Society's show cage, built so that slides can be placed to make three cages when training is in progress. Always use wire cage fronts, not wire mesh, as mesh will damage their tails.
After a period of about two weeks in the training cage, you can place one or two into a show cage to see which of them will be suitable for the show. Also check for broken tail and flight feathers,
removing them so they will regrow in time for the show.
Having selected the birds that you intend to show, now is the time to work them so that they can show themselves off to the judge to their best advantage. For a bird to have any hope of taking out the top prize they must respond to the judging stick. A bird that will not perch cannot be judged properly. There are different methods that you can use to get the birds onto the perch, such as an egg carton turned upside down on the floor of the cage, ping pong balls, marbles or a piece of cardboard placed at an angle so as to force the bird to perch. You can also give them a light spraying with warm water,
which will also help to tighten their feathers.
When training your birds use as many different judging sticks as you can; one of them may
turn out to be similar to the judging stick that the judge has. Also get your show team used to people and the
manner in which you are going to transport them to the show. I have mentioned spraying your birds to steady them down, you can give them a light spraying every day up until three days before the show. This will give the feathers time to settle in place.
There are many ways to train birds for the show bench, but if choose birds that
are as close to the standard as you can find, and follow the advice given here, you
just might find your bird in the running for the Best of Class, Section, Best
Opposite Sex or Bird of the Show. But however any show turns out, never be discouraged if
the bird you thought would win was beaten. The next time that flight of tail feather that had not reached its full length will be just
right and he/she may win.
A lot of birds do not stand a chance of winning, and it's not because they are not up to the rest of the field or
are out of feather. So ask yourself: where does the fault lie? So please, don't
just go to your birds on the day of the show and catch the number that you have show cages for.
Prepare in advance, and train them properly. And don't forget to ensure that your show cages are in top condition.
One last thing to remember is to have your birds benched at the show as early as possible. If you arrive with your team five minutes before judging starts, your bird or birds could be the first class to be judged and they will have
had no time to settle down.
To all the members who exhibit their birds, sit back and enjoy the shows and have
fun. Remember, winning is only an extra bonus to your hobby.
The cockatiel is a sleek bird with a straight back and full chest, giving an
overall look of a strong bird able to cover vast areas in its daily search for
food. It should neither be weedy or gross by appearance, but well balanced.
Proportions of wing-to-body to-tail to be equal, with the ideal being 150mm
for each. The crest should be full and long, ideally 60mm. Aim is a 300mm
bird with a 60mm crest, the total being 360mm from tip of crest to tip of
tail. The cockatiel is a strong and fast flier and should appear as such.
CREST
Full and long (ideally 60mm) the crest should curve from base to tip when
fully erect. Although density is important, the crest should appear a part of
the bird and be smooth continuation from the front of the bird’s head
outline.
It should be large, well rounded and proportional to the body with no flat
spots on top or back of skull. Eyes positioned midway between the front and
back of the skull and should be large, alert and well rounded. Brow is to be
pronounced and wide to indicate good width of frontal skull. Beak to be wide
at base and normal in length, tucked in so that the lower mandible is partly
visible. Cheek patches to be of moderate size, uniformly rounded with no
bleeding into other dead colour. No bald spots (including lutinos) as this is
to be considered a sever fault and penalised as such. All feathers are to be
fully formed.
NECK
A continuation of head outline with a very slight curve at back above
shoulders and a slight nip where chest meets neck at base of bib. Bull or
ramrod posture undesirable.
BODY
Side view - A sleek strong bird with a straight back and full chest indicating
good substance. Ideally 150mm long from tip to skull to vent with a high
tapering abdomen.
Front and back view - Will show good breadth of chest and back. Cockatiels
are relatively wide in both back and chest, which gives them flying strength.
Hump, sway or concave backs are considered as faults.
WINGS
These should be large, wide, long and strong appearance. Held tightly
together and tight against the body with the tips close to the tail. No
crossing over of wings and no drooping shoulders permitted. Wings should
cover most of the body from side view. Wing patch to be well defined and
clear of darker feathers. Ideally wing patch should be 16mm at its widest
point. All flights and converts are to be intact.
LEGS AND FEET
Strong, normal length toes with no abnormal bends or curves. Feet are to have
strong toes, with normally worn claws, al intact, and able to grip a perch
firmly with two toes forward and two toes back.
TAIL
Tail to be fully grown with all feathers intact with no curving in any
direction. Tail to be carried straight so as to appear as an extension of an
imaginary line drawn through the centre of the bird’s body. Ideal length from
base to tip is 150mm.
POSTURE
A well conformed cockatiel will perch at an angle of approximately 70 degrees
off the horizontal and appear as a sleek bird.
CONDITION
Top condition is the aim with clean, tight feathers and a general appearance
of excellent health. No missing toes or claws, overgrown beak or caws, fayed
feathers, evident pin feathers, dirty vents, scaly beaks, legs or feet, and no
eye or nasal discharge.
JUDGING POINTS
aND GUIDELINES
This point allocation as set out is merely a guide for selection of the better
bird(s). This guideline serves for both exhibitors, and judges. In an actual
show, although used as a guide, all birds will be judged by the comparison
method.
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To prepare your cockatiels for the show bench you must start training them well in advance of the show date.
This is especially true for young birds, which you should start training as soon as they are capable of feeding themselves.
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