By Ryan Dawson - NSW, Australia

As some people say, the Pekin Bantam is one of the hardest breeds to show. It isn’t really that hard to keep them clean or get them clean if you do things correct.

From hatching it is always good to keep them on small wire so that dropings can drop through in brooder to sawdust, straw or even shell grit.

When out side for the first time I find having a box for them on the floor with a hole cut out makes a good place for the chicks to go to keep warm you might have to put them in box of a night time for the start, fill the bottom of the cage with sawdust and or shell grit change every so often.

When older, make sure the birds have a perch at about 30cm or more off the ground and have the cage - covered in so no dust wind and sun can get on them. It is alsoa good idea to have the floor covered with a good materiel that is soft and clean which can be changed every so often.

Washing Have 2 rinsing buckets or water ready and a bucket to wash the bird in. - In the 1st rinse, squish half a lemon into the water. This takes the yellowish tinge off the birds. - In the 2nd rinse, have about 5 drops of bluo / blue-bag (it’s a laundry product) to bring the colour out. When washing the bird use wool wash laundry detergent its better for the bird and keeps the feathers in better condition. After that, softly pat the excess water off the bird, then blow dry the bird with medium heat and put in small wire cage on grass to bring out shine and colour for a while. Finaly, keep the bird in clean litter pens. When preparing to show it is good to have small cages for the birds with saw dust, shell grit or wire cage bottoms so no unwanted waste will stick to them.

Blue Red Pekin Male of R. Dawson