Thank you for the responses regarding houses.
I went to a poultry exhibit this weekend where I met a Crevoceur for the first time, as well as Blue Andalusians, a S Sussex and several La Fleche. Two of the La Fleche took ribbons. There were more heritage breeds there than I anticipated but overall their quality was shockingly poor. I don't understand showing a bird for judging while it is missing feathers or rough, or not large if they are supposed to be-- my Black non SOP Orp was bigger than the Buff being shown and the dark RIR were just scraggly and smaller than I expected. The Blue Andalusian hen was bigger than the RIR cock. Maybe I need to get out more but it was a surprise. Examples: there was a Polish there whose crest was still 90% in the sheaths and Ameraucanas being shown that not only were not SOP colors but they had large combs!! It was nice to meet the unusual breeds though.
I went to the Boston Poultry Show and saw a buff orpington nearly the size of a pony! I didn't know at the time they were supposed to be this large. LOL
In horses, we have a standard, each horse is judged against this standard with points assigned. THen the horse with the most points takes the class. However, the point levels remain the same. For example, if none of the horses scored enough points to be a first premium, then the horse does not get first premium. It is still only second premium even if that is the best horse that day. In this system the points are posted publicly with verbal commentary from the head judge. Very educational.
Maybe Fowlman can address this , or BOB. Are the points the judge assigns posted somewhere? On the cards? Or only first, second, third?
Today judges judge by the comparison system fellows like Walt only have 8 hours to judge 350 chickens or maybe more. They are expected to handle each bird , look at their wings ect. Some judges like Walt may put xx on a card or some method of cuts per section in large classes. They do not put down points on the card. Walt is going to be a table judge for Seromas. He will look over a bird flip it up in the air and look at it on the table where he is sitting and tell the clerk. 94 points or 92 points. This is the closes you are going to see a judge score a bird. In the old days. A judge would cut each section and tell a clerk and he then would add up the points subtract from 100 and then the score would be put on the show coop card.
I have been a fan of this method and when I look at a bird I kind of give them a score. I do this in my head and my gut. When I had my Rhode Island Red large fowl I had them scoring very high for type and color. I had many that would score 95 points one male maybe a half or one point higher.
Some times these birds are just big fluff balls poor feathering. When weighed they are with in the range of the standard. Many think my White Rock large fowl are small but when I weigh them they are almost two pounds over weight. The reason they are tight feathered.
Good observation. Walt is not on line right now so he can comment latter. He is on the Judges committee and won of the top judges in the country. Also, New York Reds is a great judge and has seen so many chickens over the years he might comment.
My advice is always own a scale and weigh your birds. I would rather see you become a good breeder and breed your birds to the Standard than be a point chaser or Throphy hunter and win regards what the fads of the judges are.
Hope this helps. I am glad you got to go to the show. bob
Edited by Robert Blosl - 9/25/12 at 4:56am
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Need a gift for a love one go to my web site and look at my custom turned ink pens. A portion of my profits goes to charitys in our local area and one poultry club The Panhandle Poutlry Club in Penscola Florida. Two shows one in March and December
