Disgusted by the exhibiting process of show budgies

Hi everyone,

So I have 10 show budgies, and I love how they look and I really enjoy breeding with them. However, I have never actually entered them into competitions (and I don't plan to). I went to my first show this weekend to check it out, and while I really enjoyed seeing some beautiful birds I could see a lot of distress as well. Nevertheless, I have included some pictures from the show at the end of this post.

I decided to do some more research on showing budgies, and I spent a bit of time on the Budgerigar Society of South Africa website, as well as on the international Budgerigar Society website and the World Budgerigar website. I then came across this absolutely despicable and downright cruel method for preparing show budgies for shows. I think this is a general method that a lot of people do use (both here and elsewhere in the world).

Before I post the article, there are certain show requirements that I would like to mention. These include not being mid-molt during the show (your bird will be automatically disqualified). There are specific spotting patterns on the cheeks that must meet certain criteria. Obviously the colours need to match the colour mutation standards. It's all really silly and cosmetic, and I just think it's ridiculous. Here is a link to some of these standards.

Anyway, here is the article I mentioned (I have copy pasted it for convenience sake, and I have emboldened some of the scariest and most cruel sections):

"Start selecting your show team three months before your first show. Start looking for the good show prospects. If you see one, catch it up and put it into a smaller stock cage. This will help the birds get used to a smaller cage. I put several birds into each cage. Make sure you don't crowd them, though. After the birds have been in the smaller cages for a few days, you can start putting them into the show cages for an hour or so at a time. Each time you put a bird into the show cage, leave it a little longer. This will let the bird gradually get used to the cage. The last week or two before the show, I will leave the bird in the show cage for about 24 hours. Make sure you always have plenty of food and water in the show cage when you do this.

After the birds have been in the show cage a few times and have settled down, start training them with a stick. I usually start training the birds by racking the stick across the bars occasionally until the birds get used to this and will stay steady when you do it. To train them to stay on the perch, gently push the stick against their legs. They will step onto the stick, and you can lift them up onto the perch. After a while they will jump up onto the perch when you put the stick through the bars or just barely touch their legs. If you have a bird that leans over the perch, or won't stand up, you can try tapping on the front rail. Many times this will make them straighten up and stand up. After a while they will get the idea. If tapping doesn't work, you can try gently nudging them on the chest. Remember always be gentle and patient. If you feel yourself losing patience, put the birds away and try another time.

Two months before the first show, I pull the two main long tail feathers on each bird. Also check the primary wing flight feathers. If any are broken or frayed, pull them. The best way to pull feathers is to firmly grasp each one and pull steadily.

Two months before the show I start spraying my birds three times a week. If the weather is warm enough, I take the birds outside and spray them with the garden hose fitted with a flower nozzle. I soak the birds thoroughly and let them dry. If it is too cold spray them inside but lighter. One month before the show I increase the spraying to a daily basis. I stop spraying three days before the show.

One of the hardest things for people to learn is how to remove the excess spots from the mask. The way I learned was to look at pictures of show birds to see how the spots were supposed to look. I practised on the birds that I wasn't going to show. I finally learned to spot my birds. You leave one spot under each cheek patch and four on the mask. The four on the mask should be the same size with a symmetrical look.

The second most important thing next to your birds is your show cages. Give your show cages some attention. If they need repair, then do it now. Give them a good cleaning. After you get them clean, check to see if they need repainting. Remember a budgie will look much better in a clean bright show cage.

When you go to the show, take a well conditioned and prepared budgie in a clean bright show cage. Then if your bird is a good bird, and shows well, your bird will have the best chance of taking an award. If your bird doesn't do well don't let it be your fault! Good luck on the show season."

Am I the only one that thinks that this is straight-up animal cruelty?!

Here are some pictures from the show:

Hi Reeb

It is my personal preference. But I prefer budgies that are more similar in size and also feather pattern to the wild budgerigar ( colours can differ) than the show budgies , which often come with their own health issues.

Yes! I think Budgie shows are probably a little cruel.

cheers

Avin

What you have defined is fairly standard in North America and Europe. The goal is to limit the time need to judge groups.

What recommendations would you make that would quicken the process and or help the birds be more comfortable in a judging?

Have you been to a dog judging? The prep for those are equally as demanding if not more so.

I make no judgement as to what is kind or proper. Only that years of showing near anything has brought this unnatural reality to this process.

SailBoat said:

What you have defined is fairly standard in North America and Europe. The goal is to limit the time need to judge groups.

What recommendations would you make that would quicken the process and or help the birds be more comfortable in a judging?

Have you been to a dog judging? The prep for those are equally as demanding if not more so.

I make no judgement as to what is kind or proper. Only that years of showing near anything has brought this unnatural reality to this process.

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I’m not a fan of dog or cat shows either. I just feel like all this is very unnecessary, you know? Any beauty contest for any creature does, unfortunately, seem to have a lot of negative effects on those involved.

The issue I have with this is that it is so synthetic. The birds are FORCED to look a certain way instead of showing their true nature. It's honestly completely unnecessary in my opinion. I personally consider this abuse or at the very least selfish because honestly the birds gain absolutely nothing from these "shows", all who gains is the owners. I'm more concerned about what they do to those that aren't "fit" for show.

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I love these websites on Budgies :

https://budgerigars.wordpress.com/about/

The Ever Changing Budgerigar

"Their Beauty lies in Their Diminutiveness"
I shall close this article with another quote from Neville W. Cayley's book 'Budgerigars in Bush and Aviary'. This time, Mr. Cayley is himself quoting someone else - namely one E. W. Jones: "Some breeders, especially those overseas who have never seen these birds in their natural state, persistently breed for abnormal size and are encouraged by judges who would like to see them a foot long and as big as a Cockatiel or Rosella and still call them Budgerigars. - - - - I maintain that their beauty lies in their diminutiveness."

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Quote from the second website



Avin

I avoid animal "judging" shows, as the industry typically has an unsavory underbelly.

I suspect the motivation is not unlike parental urging of children to participate and excel at various sports - a bit of vicarious living.

I agree with Scott.
Beauty contests for any animal are cut-throt. I haven't been to any larger shows, however just from watching them on TV, seeing photos of award winning animals and going to some smaller, local shows it can be seen akin to a parent pushing their child to succeed in something at any cost, just for their image and for something to gloat about later.
Unfortunately these practices run though most shows.

What really annoys me is how natural differences in patterns, colour etc. are treated as "faults", yet (in dog shows in particular) they're looking for mutations that are faults and are, in some cases, an issue to the health of the animal.

Amadeo said:

I agree with Scott.
going to some smaller, local shows it can be seen akin to a parent pushing their child to succeed in something at any cost, just for their image and for something to gloat about later.


What really annoys me is how natural differences in patterns, colour etc. are treated as "faults", yet (in dog shows in particular) they're looking for mutations that are faults and are, in some cases, an issue to the health of the animal.

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Yes! It is not like Parents wanting their child to play sport and excel at it. That is natural. Any parent would want their kid to be excellent at say a couple of sports- say Swimming and Cricket and know a little bit about a few other sports like Tennis, Soccer etc. but this is like pushing your child to competitive sports to the detriment of mental and physical health.

Also , if you read the links to the articles I have shared, you will agree that the "SHOW" budgie is actually a "fault" . They have less than half the potential lifespan of a "normal" budgie.
While well bred budgies have a potential lifespan of 9 to 15 years with some even touching or crossing 20, show budgies seldom live above 5 years.

cheers

Avin

Cardinal said:

Yes! It is not like Parents wanting their child to play sport and excel at it. That is natural. Any parent would want their kid to be excellent at say a couple of sports- say Swimming and Cricket and know a little bit about a few other sports like Tennis, Soccer etc. but this is like pushing your child to competitive sports to the detriment of mental and physical health.

Also , if you read the links to the articles I have shared, you will agree that the "SHOW" budgie is actually a "fault" . They have less than half the potential lifespan of a "normal" budgie.
While well bred budgies have a potential lifespan of 9 to 15 years with some even touching or crossing 20, show budgies seldom live above 5 years.

cheers

Avin

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Its great when parents get their children do try sports, activities etc, and do what they enjoy but when they push them towards something that isn't what the child enjoys and cause stress and anger, that's where I have issues. (I take a lot of issue with child beauty shows, which push silly standards for children much like with animal shows.)
When it's with show animals the animal can't just step up and protest.

I am aware that the "show" budgie is a mutation. I don't really like aesthetics that come at a health cost to animals. Like pugs, bulldogs, the ridge back and the Persian cat. They are likely to suffer from issues that could be avoided if humans hadn't bred for the looks.

It's saddening to think that people, breeders, don't take the health of an animal into consideration when pairing animals.

I think a lot of their health problems are often linked to the level of stress they are put through. Stress is so detrimental to birds, and to be treated like objects rather than living creatures is so destructive.

For example, Kiwi and Mango were hand reared from babies and treated with care and respect for their entire lives, and are probably two of my healthiest birds despite being show budgies. They are both 3.5 years old now. Pearl and Opal were also hand reared, and they have so far had almost no issues with their health (apart from Opal having a mild respiratory infection a couple of months ago). Yet one of my shows that passed away (his name was Atlas) came from a situation where he was treated really badly by his breeder and sold off because he wasn’t good enough. He was a stressed bird, and while I tried to give him the best life that I could, he only lived with me for 4 months before passing away. He was only about a year old. It made me so sad to see that happen to him.


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reeb said:

I think a lot of their health problems are often linked to the level of stress they are put through. Stress is so detrimental to birds, and to be treated like objects rather than living creatures is so destructive.

For example, Kiwi and Mango were hand reared from babies and treated with care and respect for their entire lives, and are probably two of my healthiest birds despite being show budgies. They are both 3.5 years old now. Pearl and Opal were also hand reared, and they have so far had almost no issues with their health (apart from Opal having a mild respiratory infection a couple of months ago). Yet one of my shows that passed away (his name was Atlas) came from a situation where he was treated really badly by his breeder and sold off because he wasn’t good enough. He was a stressed bird, and while I tried to give him the best life that I could, he only lived with me for 4 months before passing away. He was only about a year old. It made me so sad to see that happen to him.


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That is true. They're put into tiny cages, expected to sit in a certain way and, when I read this in your original post I was quite shocked, having feathers plucked it all amounts to an unhappy bird. I try to avoid stress at all costs, having worked with chickens for years before now, I know how stress and bad care can cause a bird to quickly die.
When it comes to show animals I'm generally concerned with inbreeding. It's not unknown that those who show their animals have resorted to breeding close relatives together for "perfect" animals and, as anyone who knows the basics of breeding, you should avoid inbreeding because it leads to genetic problems.

If you're budgies are healthy and happy, thats great. ^^
It's sad to hear about Atlas though. I don't like people who treat their animals simply as objects, it isn't right.

Cardinal said:

They have less than half the potential lifespan of a "normal" budgie.
While well bred budgies have a potential lifespan of 9 to 15 years with some even touching or crossing 20, show budgies seldom live above 5 years.

cheers

Avin

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What a horrifying statistic.

Scott said:

Cardinal said:

They have less than half the potential lifespan of a "normal" budgie.
While well bred budgies have a potential lifespan of 9 to 15 years with some even touching or crossing 20, show budgies seldom live above 5 years.

cheers

Avin

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What a horrifying statistic.

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Wow... that is definitely terrible...

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Scott said:

What a horrifying statistic.

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Yes! For me, it is truly heart breaking.
The average age of 3000 breeder birds sent for necropsy for just 2.09 years. Very sad for a bird that can comfortably live for 10+ years with even average levels of care and nutrition.

Source for above stats:

The Long And The Short Of It


Avin

Cardinal said:

Scott said:

What a horrifying statistic.

Click to expand...

Yes! For me, it is truly heart breaking.
The average age of 3000 breeder birds sent for necropsy for just 2.09 years. Very sad for a bird that can comfortably live for 10+ years with even average levels of care and nutrition.

Source for above stats:

The Long And The Short Of It

Avin

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Moving away from show budgies, genetic problems exist in many of the recessive colour mutations in all budgies (blue/white colours). As well as this, there are a lot of genetic issues with Albino and Lutino mutations. Members will remember that recently Sunshine, my Lutino, passed due to an aggressive sarcoma that cropped up within days. It was totally out of our control, because it was completely genetic. The wild-type, green budgies are likely far more genetically healthy than their blue, Albino and Lutino relatives.

reeb said:

Moving away from show budgies, genetic problems exist in many of the recessive colour mutations in all budgies (blue/white colours). As well as this, there are a lot of genetic issues with Albino and Lutino mutations. Members will remember that recently Sunshine, my Lutino, passed due to an aggressive sarcoma that cropped up within days. It was totally out of our control, because it was completely genetic.

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I totally agree with you. When I had budgies (early to late 90s) 23 of them including 7 born in my home, I found that the albinos were the most prone to diseases- skin and eye, while the Sky blues, Cobalts, Dark Greens, Opaline Greens and Olive Green were quite healthy.

I never had lutinos but i guess they are more or less like albinos in constitution.

Surprisingly though, the blues on an average were more healthy than the greens, though it could just be for my birds.

I think all birds that have a red eye including the fallows and recessive pieds may share this problem.

cheers

Avin

I will never understand the need to tinker with genetics simply to produce a more "appealing" bird. The ethics of producing birds with abysmally short life spans kills me.

It’s done in the reptile community a lot too. While I don’t have snakes or any other reptiles (and don’t plan to) I’ve read a lot on reptile keeping and breeders often refer to different colour morphs as “paint jobs” and some people will literally pay upwards of $20 000 for a specific “rare” morph, when the natural “normal” morph is as beautiful. Some of the rare morphs, like the spider mutation in ball pythons, cause genetic neurological issues, and it’s just such a pity because breeders never stop breeding these morphs because they can make a lot of money from it.


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I grew-up in a family where both my grandmother and my mother both bred English and American Budgies, and hybrids of the two, and hand-raised all of the chicks themselves from 2 weeks old forward, not for shows but as pets for local residents in my hometown, and for the local pet shop at the time to sell. My mom also got into cockatiels and conures, and now she's breeding and raising game birds like chicken, ducks, quail, chukkars, doves, pigeons, etc. I bred both English and American Budgies for a bit over 20 years and hand-raised them as pets only, and I actually had an agreement with another local pet shop in my hometown about 20 minutes from where I live now, as they were only able to find parent-raised babies and were thrilled to take my tame birds to sell as pets...

As such, I was exposed to a few of these Budgie "shows", and bird shows in-general, and I too was absolutely horrified, first at seeing the birds in their little cages at the shows, all of them horrified, scared to move, scared to make a sound, like statues, and then even more after talking to a few of the show-breeders and listening to how they PURPOSELY MAKE THEIR BIRDS INTO LIVING STATUES THAT LOOK A CERTAIN WAY.

And that's exactly what they do, they spend all of their "training" time, and that description is a bunch of BS, literally scaring the Budgies into submission , so that they essentially create a bunch of living bird statues that will not more, will not make any sounds, they simply sit in their tiny cages and when shown the "stick" that they are terrified of, they step-up onto it and then freeze...

I was told by many of these show breeders that they actually hit their birds with perches, hold them under water, make them stay in total darkness in a little, tiny box for 24 hours at a time, etc. AND THE THINGS THEY DO TO THEM TO MAKE THEM LOOK A CERTAIN WAY IS ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS AND IS ANIMAL NEGLECT AND ABUSE...They either stop feeding them for weeks at a time if they are too large, or they force-feed them tons and tons of high-fat baby bird formula several times a day, of course by Tube-Feeding them when they aren't hungry if they are too small. They are constantly pulling their feather out, including flight feather and blood feathers that are implanted in their bones, with pliers, to make them look a certain way. They pull out feathers on their faces and heads with tweezers and needle-nose pliers to get rid of unwanted spotting, or to influence spots to grow in a certain place. They rip out toenails completely and then immerse the quick in liquid sulfur to stop the bleeding (same with the blood feathers they pull) in order to start the toenails growing over from scratch so that they can control the growth. I could go on and on, as they do things to their eyes as well, but I won't...

It reminds me of a show-gardener or prize rose grower, trimming and pruning their plants/flowers to shape them and make them look a certain way, tying them to stakes to make them grow a certain way, and feeding them chemicals and such to influence their colors, size, etc. That's what these show-bird breeders do. And it's not just Budgies, it's all birds that are shown...

Worse than the way show Budgies and other parrots are treated is the way show game foul is treated, specifically show chickens, ducks, and geese. They do things to them that most people wouldn't wish upon their worst enemy. It's disgustingly awful..

These are living creatures that are extremely intelligent and have very sensitive feelings, and this is how they are treated, like prize flowers that are grown and shaped a certain way in order to win ribbons and money.