CHECK IN / INSPECTION

The Show Committee's birds will be the first entered, so they will be available to greet and assist other breeders. 

First Station:  Preparation Tables

• Several tables will be set up for breeders to prepare their entries.
• A Show Committee member will be stationed at these tables for assistance.
• At the tables the following will be supplied:

• cage papers
• waste receptacle
• seed (canary/rape)
• bottled water
• registration forms

• All food and water will be dumped and replenished with supplied materials.  Facing the end of the cage, seed is to the right, and water to the left.
• All breeders are required to have clean cages, perches, and a minimum of 5 sheets of supplied paper in the cage tray.
• The perches are on bar three from the left and seven from the right. (The third wire from the left is the end with the seed/water cups)

Water and Seed Cup Placement

Perch placement; 3rd wire from the left and 7th wire from the right, If these are not placed correctly, the bird cannot reach the water and seed .

• If the breeder does not have holding cabinets, cardboard boxes with dividers will be provided.   Single entries will be housed in the exhibitor’s box during the contest.
• The Stewards will inspect all aspects of cages and birds for conformance to show procedures.  (Any health or hygiene issues will be addressed before proceeding)
• Upon completion the Stewards will affix team identification stickers, place team identification number on the registration form, and transport birds to the Holding Room. 
• Access to the Holding Room is limited

Second Station:  Registration Table

The Registrar will:

• Verify paperwork
• Collect fees

After registration is complete,

·          Stewards will turn on the Holding Room lights, open cabinet doors, and leave undisturbed for 10 minutes before turning lights off.

·          Drawing for staging sequence is conducted after registration is complete.

·          Time intervals between teams are calculated based on number of entries. 

HOLDING ROOM

• The room is TOTALLY DARK . Cages are closed and covered with dark cloth.
• Tables are arranged to hold the cabinets in areas designated for teams and singles.
• Teams will be placed on tables in numerical order.
• The room is temperature controlled to 65-68 F (verified by Steward's thermometer). 

One hour prior to start Time(Typically 8:00am)

• Lights are turned on for 10 minutes to wake the birds and "set" their internal clocks. 
• Stewards perform a walk through quickly checking feed, water, and bird’s condition.
• Close cabinet doors. Leave dark cloth off cabinet fronts.
• Lights out 

4:30 P.M.

• Room lights are turned on.
• Cabinet doors are opened.
• Papers are pulled.
• Seed in replenished.
• Water is dumped and replaced.
• Birds are left undisturbed for 10 minutes after completion of above.
• Lights are turned off (cabinet doors are closed and covered with dark cloth).   This should be completed by approximately 5 P.M.

• Several times during the day Stewards will be checking the well being of the birds (pen lights used).   If at anytime suspected negative notes are heard, the Show Manager will be notified.  The Judge may be asked to review.  If a negative note is present, the entry will be staged, checked out, or placed separately.  Negative notes scored during judging may be handled similarly.
• Access to the Holding Room is limited.

JUDGING ROOM

Team Staging Table 

• The table is covered with a white cloth.
• The three sided backdrop/enclosure (back panel 3 ft by 3 ft, side panels 3 ft by 2 ft)
• Panels are painted flat off-white. (Behr Antique White EW170-2, base 2-1050, interior flat, matte)
• Light is a 36" GE under cabinet fluorescent fixture. Bulb is a 25 watt, F25T8 SP30.
• The light fixture is mounted above the show cages, resting on the side panels This may require your light fixture to be affixed to a support that rests on each side panel.
• The back of the cages are placed 12 inches from the backdrop.  They are about two inches from the divider which is centered.  These are marked with tape for repeatability.
• The table sits approximately three feet off the floor.
• The room is kept at 70-72 F (verified with Steward's thermometer).
• Natural light is blocked.
• Rooms lights are left on.

View of the backdrop

Boards are placed on top of the A and C cages.
Cages are stacked A (top left), B (bottom left), C (top right), D (bottom right).

Judge's Table

• The distance from the front of the Judge's table to the front of the show cages is 48". 
• There is a minimum of three inches between the Judge's table and the staging table.
• The hand screen is 6" X 18", and is positioned approximately 12" from the front edge of the Judge's table.
• The Judge’s table is covered in a white cloth (sheet/tablecloth).

Judging table with judge sitting approximately 4 ft from the backdrop.

Public Seating

• Must be at least three feet behind the Judge.
• The front row of tables  have tablecloth draped or skirting to hide leg movement.
• General room lighting is on.

Wake up/Warm-up Station

• Is located at the back of the Judging Room.
• Stewards control team access to light (open/close cabinet doors, and or cover with dark cloth) to encourage activity, but not full song.

JUDGING PROCESS

• When all is ready the Judge will call for the first team. 
• Teams are pulled in sequence randomly drawn after registration.  Single teams are inter spaced.  Schedule to be posted and updated as judging proceeds. 
• Boxes will be transported into the warm-up area.  Single entries will be pulled and staged in their assigned class as scheduled.
• Stewards working together, transfer the team from the Holding Room to the Wake up/Warm-up station for 10 minutes.
• They are then properly staged. 
• One designated person will give a final check to assure;  correct order, position, cover boards, seed, water, perches, etc.
• The Stewards then return to the wake up/warm-up station.
• No one is to touch the birds except the Stewards, including the Judge.
• The Judge sets the timer for 20 minutes, and scoring begins.
• The Stewards pull the next team from the Holding Room to the Wake up/Warm-up station. (based on interval calculated between teams)
• The Judge indicates when he is done, and the team is removed, and the next team from the Wake up/Warm-up station is staged.
• The cycle continues until all teams have been judged.  Breaks to be agreed upon by Show Manager and Judge

CHECKOUT

• Birds may be checked out at the designated time.
• Tables should be set up to assist breeders. 
• Holding Room access is limited.
• The breeder must present entry papers to claim birds. 
• Show Manager or Registrar will verify paperwork, and give entry paper to Steward to retrieve birds. 
• Show Manager or Registrar will obtain signature or initials from breeder before releasing to breeder.

Any exceptions to the Show Procedures need approval by the Board Members present.
Revised 11/2010