To Show or not to Show, that is the question...

Wanted to have a bit of fun with the title.

My middle child wants to join FFA in the coming year and start showing some of our chickens and goats (and maybe a duck). But, I am not certian that we have any show quality stock. Most of our adult chickens are barnyard mixes. Only three are purebred, and I am almost sure they don't meet breed standard of perfection. I have several (too many if you ask DH) chicks/juveniles that might be good. Some come from a local breeder while most are standard hatchery stock from TSC. My mixed rooster might do ok in the mixed breed category(if there is one).

Here is a picture of the rooster. I will post pictures of the possible prospects as soon as I get back to my computer.

Here is another shot of the mixed rooster. If he isn't a good option for showing he will probably get sold at the end of the summer along with several hens I am looking to replace with this years chicks. Any advice would be beneficial.


Below are the juveniles that might be show prospects. I do have Sicilian Buttercup chicks arriving in little over a week and Dominique chicks hatching in about a week and half. I won't be able to know if any of the chicks are showable until they are older.
Gold laced bantam cochin female that seems to carry a mottling gene (TSC, about 2 months old)
Crested mallard female (One of our hatchlings about 2 months old)
White Silkie (not sure on gender, about 2 months old, TSC)
Gold Laced Wyandotte (about 2 months old ish, TSC)

The below cockerel is from a local breeder. He is about 3 months old. Millie Fleur d'Uccle (bantam)

None of these birds are exhibition quality for an open show, a show sanctioned by the APA or ABA. Such shows focus on the quality of the bird being exhibited.

The chances are that an FFA showing program focues on showmanship skills and knowledge of the student presenting, not the nearly as much about the bird per se. If in doubt, ask the program coordinator about what your child would expect in participating.

Fred's Hens said:

None of these birds are exhibition quality for an open show, a show sanctioned by the APA or ABA. Such shows focus on the quality of the bird being exhibited.

The chances are that an FFA showing program focues on showmanship skills and knowledge of the student presenting, not the nearly as much about the bird per se. If in doubt, ask the program coordinator about what your child would expect in participating.

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That is what I thought, also. It probably is more about showmanship, animal husbandry, and similar knowledge and skill based things. So, using one of our standard birds will be good for learning, but probably won't win any ribbons for quality.
I do have Sicilian Buttercup and Buff Polish chicks coming in about a week. They are supposed to be good quality birds, but even breeders I have talked too say the perfect birds are few and far between. They rest are good, just not perfect.

Private Message me, I shoe birds through 4H, and for us you can't shoe crossbred birds in any class but pet or broiler. I have a whole booklet on the rules ans regulations

Your hatchery pure bred birds are exactly what I see in our local county fair each year. Those birds do get ribbons, because the judge has to pick someone to be the winner .

But, is it just about getting a ribbon? or is more about knowing you have the better animal? And have put the work into obtaining that better animal.....I think for a child just starting out, first year of showing with no previous experience breeding their own stock, your birds are the perfect place to start. You don't start at the top, after all. These birds would be a great learning experience.

I agree with donrae, when I was 12 I showed my $ 40. purebred cocker and thought he'd be a champion. When I saw what real show cockers looked like I felt terrible. I thought everyone would laugh at my entry. More likely they were laughing at me, I went around the ring the wrong way, got the comb caught in the lead and couldn't let go so I could pose him. But, hey we got 2nd. out of 2. We were lucky to get that because my dog started screaming when the judge tried to touch him. In all, I was so excited to get a ribbon I couldn't wait to plan his next show.

Well I never learned to show well BUT, when I got out of high school, I got some real show/breeding stock - my first litter (4) produced 2 champions. My second litter of 3, produced one champion. Breeding was much more successful for me. But, at least I still got to do things with dogs and had my own grooming shop too.

donrae said:

Your hatchery pure bred birds are exactly what I see in our local county fair each year. Those birds do get ribbons, because the judge has to pick someone to be the winner

.

But, is it just about getting a ribbon? or is more about knowing you have the better animal? And have put the work into obtaining that better animal.....I think for a child just starting out, first year of showing with no previous experience breeding their own stock, your birds are the perfect place to start. You don't start at the top, after all. These birds would be a great learning experience.

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Thank you! That is very helpful. DS just loves working with the animals and thinks they are all perfect. With FFA he will be learning about animal husbandry, selecting quality animals, and so much more. Showing the animals is just the icing on the agricultural cake. Thanks for helping me put this back in its proper perspective.