Dubbing Old English

[Gamebird7]

What is the proper way to dubb old english bantams for showing? I've seen the comb dubbed all the way off and I've seen about a quarter inch left on. Also, what technique nis the best, back to front or front to back?

Thanks for any help,

Chad

[Glenda L Heywood]

DUBBING OLD ENGLISH AND MODERN GAME BANTAMS
By Glenda L Heywood

When dubbing Old English and Modern Games, one must remember that they are dubbed differently. If you have some one hold the bird and then have them
turn the head to the side is the best way.

OLD ENGLISH
On the OE you pull up the ear lobe and wattle and cut
only off the size around the ear lobes and wattles as no more is needed cut off there on the OE, about size of quarter or smaller.

Then take and do the same on the next side.
Besure and don't take any of the skin off the throat
or under the chin of the bird, leave it in tack.

Then start at the front of the comb and cut to the
back of the comb following the already marked line
and when at the back cut straight down. This is important as the OE need to heal back with the skin loose on the under chin area and face. You do not want OE to heal with tight skull area as it makes them snake headed.

So do as I have said being very careful not to take
any more skin off the face than necessary, so the OE
heals full faced. If taking too much of the red skin around wattles and ear lobes off, the face will heal and draw tight and make them look "snake headed" like Modern Games do.

When done dubbing put the bird in the cage and It will be okay and should not bleed much if any as you must have them on total crumbles 2 weeks before dubbing. The crumbles have more Vitamin K than grains. Do not feed any grains for two weeks before dubbing.

The standard dubbing shears that the supply places
sell are great. Harder Steel is the kind to use, as they stay sharper than the Oriental countries sheers.Those countries use a softer steel. That does not stay sharpened.

MODERN GAMES
the Modern Game has the red area of ear lobe,wattles
and all the neck area of red skin that has to be taken
off. It is easy as you do one side at a time and the
red surface pulls away from the birds face and throat
area.IT WILL MAKE YOU THINK YOU ARE CUTTING THE THROAT
BUT TRUST ME YOU ARE NOT.

On A Modern Game you cut the comb from Back to front
clear off following the lay of the comb clear to the
skull of the head. Cut very straight and don't dip down the sheer blade. They have to heal "Snake headed".

The reason the Modern Games are done this way is that
they heal in about 6 weeks snake headed. They then grow all this red flesh new.

Now on the OEs they grow the red flesh in 6 weeks back
but have the original red flesh also on the face and
throat and are not touched so they are not snake
headed. Because no new flesh has to grow and draw the skin tight as in Modern Games.
If people make a mistake and dub a Old English snake
headed, then the OE are not picked for champion
row.So people have to learn how to dub properly the OE.

When dubbing use a kleenex to clean what little blood
comes out on the dubbing shears. When dubbed you can put back the dubbed cockerels with the other dubbed cockerels he was raised with and they go to eating right away and never miss a beat.

Remember besure the cockerels are kept on crumbles previous to dubbing and not fed any grain at least two weeks ahead of dubbing. As grain has not as much vitamin K in it as crumbles and broad leafed greens do.
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[Gamebird7]

Thanks for the info. That helps a lot.