How do you get into showing chickens?

[I Like Turkeys]

I am sorry if this isn’t the right place for this thread, but I am curious.
I am a minor and struggle to make connections and get out of the house, but I really enjoy chickens and domestic birds, and would I think breeding and showing birds would be a good way to get out, and see more of the chicken-owning world. How do I get into it?
Most of my current flock is mixed, hatchery quality and mutts, and unfortunately my turkeys are also hatchery quality, and not up to the standard of perfection.
I feel like i’m repeating myself, but what is the best way to get into it? It would be easier to select a single chicken breed to show, correct? Before I get into it, is there anything I should do? Buy a copy of the standard of perfection? Should I visit shows beforehand to see how they operate?

 

[I Like Turkeys]

You should always start out with the best animals you can afford. If hatchery birds is all you can afford it will take you a lot longer to get to your goal. If you can find a breeder ( going to shows does help to meet people).. maybe he will sell you some cheap or even free to get you started as a young person. Obtaining a copy of the standard for your breed is important and having someone who knows about the breed who is willing to support you is also important. I do understand that is not always possible.
And then showing your birds and talking to the judge to get information what he saw wrong and what was good. What to look out for in the future.
I have been breeding for show for 3 years now and boy that learning curve is steep.
This is a fantastic group for breeders https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125

Thank you! I made sure to join the group. I think at this point, i’m good on not using hatcheries. I’ve contacted several breeders who breed to standard, and the breed i’m looking for- Bantam blue wheaten ameraucanas- doesn’t seem to be available in hatcheries. I’m not sure how to get a copy of the standard of perfection right now, but other than that, I’m planning on visiting a show in October, seeing how it works and such.

 

[Pyxis]

Yep, you'd want to get an SOP so you can learn how to evaluate your breed! You can check out some shows first before you show yourself, and that's actually a really good way to get ahold of some starter stock - people bring birds to shows to sell

But the showing itself isn't too hard. Beforehand your birds need to be tested for pullorum, and more and more shows are requiring AI testing too. The easiest way to have that done and up to date is to get your flock enrolled in the NPIP program, where they come out every six months to test your birds.

Then, you enter the show ahead of time. You pay a small fee for each bird you enter. You bathe and ready your birds three days to a week before the show, then also do some prep on them the day of when you arrive. Get there before the show is scheduled to start, find your show cages, do the finishing touches on your birds, leave them in the cages for judging, and that's it. The rest of the show you spend time viewing the other birds and socializing.

After judging is done, it's always good to have the judge look at your birds with you, so can learn what they liked and what they would improve. Then stay after the show if you can and help break everything down and clean up.

 

[Amer]

A lot of places have them. A new edition comes out next November, and they are so expensive you could wait for that one

Nice pigeon.

Other than that, I’m meant to handle potential show birds regularly, so they are comfortable with it?
Yes, if they’re naturally flightier. I find that the amount of handling I do moving my birds, cleaning cages, filling feeders and waters is enough to not make special time to handle them, but the more handling, the better.
And soap to use for them, sorry if i’m asking too much or if you don’t know. Are there any specific poultry soap/shampoo brands that work better?
I like Adam’s Flea and Tick, the cat whitening shampoo (for white birds), and I use livestock shampoo but I currently can’t remember the brand. In a second bucket I use vinegar to cut the soap and the third I use glycerin so their feathers don’t dry out.

 

[abpatchy]

You should always start out with the best animals you can afford. If hatchery birds is all you can afford it will take you a lot longer to get to your goal. If you can find a breeder ( going to shows does help to meet people).. maybe he will sell you some cheap or even free to get you started as a young person. Obtaining a copy of the standard for your breed is important and having someone who knows about the breed who is willing to support you is also important. I do understand that is not always possible.
And then showing your birds and talking to the judge to get information what he saw wrong and what was good. What to look out for in the future.
I have been breeding for show for 3 years now and boy that learning curve is steep.
This is a fantastic group for breeders https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125

 

[I Like Turkeys]

you are not saying where you are in the world.
Where I live the County Fair has competitions for kids for raising poultry.
As I read the entry form, they are supplying the participant with young birds/chicks.

You can also check out 4H clubs and see if there are any shows in your area.
the one club organizing shows (as far as I could find) is only doing shows for Bantams though.
you have to consider that taking a bird to events does open it up to contracting illnesses and bringing them back to your flock.
Your best bet is to find folks who are active in the show circuit and pick their brains.
They can give you pointers (and likely will be thrilled to find young blood to take up the hobby!)

My apologies, I didn’t realize it would be necessary to state where I was because when I made the thread I was looking for general tips on how to show birds, take care of them, etc. I am in Florida, marion county, if that’s helpful and specific enough.
I’ve been looking up clubs, I haven’t really checked 4-H yet. I have a show i’m planning to visit on the 22nd of this month, so i’m hoping to see how shows go and speak to some breeders there.

 

[Alagirl]

My apologies, I didn’t realize it would be necessary to state where I was because when I made the thread I was looking for general tips on how to show birds, take care of them, etc. I am in Florida, marion county, if that’s helpful and specific enough.
I’ve been looking up clubs, I haven’t really checked 4-H yet. I have a show i’m planning to visit on the 22nd of this month, so i’m hoping to see how shows go and speak to some breeders there.

I could have read through the thread as well, then I would have seen the addition of your location. What I get for jumping the gun.
I had (very briefly) looked into showing - I want to support our county fair - but found they are really more geared toward kids, and the club is only interested in Bantam type poultry.
It is a start though.

I would be surprised if the breeders would not be excited to share their knowledge with you! (Just keep in mind that show folk are a special breed of people! You think some of the BYC members are excentric with their flock.....I think you will find some new extremes! )

 

[Amer]

I could have read through the thread as well, then I would have seen the addition of your location. What I get for jumping the gun.
I had (very briefly) looked into showing - I want to support our county fair - but found they are really more geared toward kids, and the club is only interested in Bantam type poultry.
It is a start though.

I would be surprised if the breeders would not be excited to share their knowledge with you! (Just keep in mind that show folk are a special breed of people! You think some of the BYC members are excentric with their flock.....I think you will find some new extremes! )

Maybe we are special, but I’ve been to cat and heard of a poultryman’s experience in rabbit shows. A cat person said “I’m going to go to the litterbox.”
The rabbit folks whisper. Absolute, creepy silence in the showhall. Until a rabbit screams. That said, when I was at a rabbit show I just thought it was crowded.
Meanwhile us poultry poultry folks are just loud and deaf. Nothing weird about that, considering all the geese and call ducks that assault our poor ears.
That said, Silkie folks are basically cat people that should have bred a cat but instead bred a chicken to look like a cat but will never be quite like one, and Serama folks are people who should have showed pigeons but brought chickens instead. Those folks are pretty strange sometimes.

 

[Alagirl]

Maybe we are special, but I’ve been to cat and heard of a poultryman’s experience in rabbit shows. A cat person said “I’m going to go to the litterbox.”
The rabbit folks whisper. Absolute, creepy silence in the showhall. Until a rabbit screams. That said, when I was at a rabbit show I just thought it was crowded.
Meanwhile us poultry poultry folks are just loud and deaf. Nothing weird about that, considering all the geese and call ducks that assault our poor ears.
That said, Silkie folks are basically cat people that should have bred a cat but instead bred a chicken to look like a cat but will never be quite like one, and Serama folks are people who should have showed pigeons but brought chickens instead. Those folks are pretty strange sometimes.

As long as it is enjoyable.
There is always a lot of knowledge to be gained if one attends (active or passive) with an open mind.

 

[Amer]

I agree with Pyxis here, just a few things to add. In some states enrolling in NPIP isn't the necessary plan of action. You can just get birds Pullorum Typhoid testing once a year. That said, I am going to have my birds NPIP tested for the first time so I can sell out of state.
It is a good idea to go to a show and see what it's like and connect with breeders, but keep in mind what breeds you wish to exhibit ahead of time so you can ask around. They may have birds available that they didn’t bring or may know someone with the breed you want that isn’t there that might have birds available.
It’s good to have just one or two breeds but it’s okay to experiment to find your preferences first. People who owned many breeds often find the others just don’t please them as much. Of course, since you’ve already owned hatchery birds you might already know your favorite, so you can skip that step.