Show season is one of the most exciting times of the year- it is when the hard work of breeding and keeping the birds pays off and you see the fruits of your labors.

Here in the Midwest, the show season begins in early October with an American Singer specialty show in Ohio and wraps up with another American Singer specialty show in Chicago on the first weekend in December. Some years on the second weekend of December there is also a National Songbird Contest in the Midwest- the location of that show changes from year to year. If one were to attend every American Singer show in the Midwest, one would be able to go to seven to eight shows. While this is half of what was available a decade ago, this is still a fair number of shows.

The reason the number of shows is important - outside of the obvious reason, which is that more shows provides more opportunity to win- is that taking your birds to shows every weekend accustoms them to the routine of showing and increases the likelihood that they will sing. An American Singer judge with nearly thirty years of experience with whom I am acquainted often states that one can expect at least 50% of one's young birds not to sing at their first show- obviously, if you only attend one show a year and only half of your birds will sing you are at a great disadvantage.

So what do you need to do if you would like to exhibit American Singer canaries?

First - before you even purchase breeding stock, if possible- you need to attend at least one show. For many folks in geographically isolated areas this may be very difficult, but if there is any way to do so you will find the experience to be invaluable.

It is difficult to breed quality American Singers if you don't know what constitutes quality - and in the case of song bred birds you really must hear them as all the descriptions in the world will not provide you with the experience that attending a show will give you.

There are American Singer shows all over the United States and several in Canada as well. Most are run by folks who would be more than happy to supply you with information about lodging, the show schedule, etc. Many exhibitors are happy to speak with anyone interested in beginning with American Singers and these folks will show you around the show hall, describe how cages are set up, how birds are show trained, how birds are judged, etc. You can sit in on as many classes as you like and you can even stay for the awards presentation in most cases.

My local chapter, DRAGON, prides itself on support of the novice fancier and provides considerable assistance to new people at its annual show. All that is required is that you show up and let someone know that you are new and need help.

Showing Your Singers

For information on show cages for American Singers, please visit the American Singers Club website.

For information on show training your birds, please visit Show Training and Show Training Tips & Tricks

Your birds are show trained and you are ready to pack them up and take them to the show - but how are you going to transport them? If you have attended a show, you will have seen breeders with every imaginable sort of crate and carrier.  If you are just starting out, the easiest thing you will find to use is a box that reams of copy paper come in. These are readily available, usually free (contact businesses that use quantities of copy paper - they are often happy to give them away), and small enough to be easy to carry. Two cages, whether the new Prevue-Hendryx or the older Herbst-style, will fit easily in each box without removing drinkers or feed dishes.

Before packing up your birds, make sure that the boxes of birds and everything else you will need to take will fit into your vehicle. I have managed to fit more than three dozen birds in show cages, a cage or two of sale hens, considerable equipment and luggage, and a fellow exhibitor into a Chevrolet Cavalier for several years now, but it does take some preplanning and creativity.

American Singer canaries are generally registered (entered into the show) the evening before the day of judging but a few shows have same-day registration and a few offer pre-registration.

If you have never been to the show site before, park and come into the show hall to see what the set up is like before bringing your birds inside. Often you can park closer to a door to unload or there is a particular route the show managers wish you to take when carrying in birds.

Bring your birds in and find a place to set them up- the show stewards will usually let you know where you can do this. You can pull the birds out of the boxes and exchange the dirty floor papers for clean ones (white, unlined paper cut to fit the bottom of the cages- you must supply your own at most shows), swap out dirty perches for clean ones, and top up seed and water cups.

At this point if you are a novice you need to locate someone to provide you with some guidance. The show secretary is the person at the show that will be entering the birds- this person will have copies of the entry form on which you must note the leg band numbers of your birds, whether they are old or young, color, etc. Feel free to ask for guidance in filling this out but be aware that the show secretary is the busiest person in the show hall at this point and may not be able to help out right away. Many of your fellow exhibitors will be able to provide you with assistance.

After giving your form to the show secretary and paying for your show tags, the show secretary will prepare your cage tags. Depending on how busy the secretary is, this may take a few minute or quite a while. (After your first show, you can pick up a few extra show entry forms and have them complete before you arrive- then you just drop them off when you get to the hall and the tags are usually ready by the time you have finished setting your birds up.) Show secretaries are different and each has a particular method- be sure to ask what that particular secretary's procedure is.

You must write your name, contact information, the bird's band number, and description on the inside of each tag. Have someone show you how to attach the tags to the show cages. The tags must be attached to the cages and then stapled shut. While the procedure is slightly different on the East Coast, in the Midwest cage doors must be secured with a twist tie or something similar. This will be supplied by the show to ensure that all exhibitors are using the same color- usually the secretary will have them at the desk.

After your birds are set up, tagged, and secure, place the cages where the show stewards or secretary indicates. Later they will be benched. For a description of this process, visit American Singer benching.