This is mostly in reference to the Silkies I am raising, since Silkies really only have three purposes, pets, broody and showing.I show because its fun. I enjoy chatting with other knowledgable poultry people and learning. I'm also a very competitive person. If I can find a way to compete in something, I will.
I'm very interested in breeding programs and the genetics of improving my flocks. Showing also gives me a neutral eye evaluating an making sure that I don't end up with "coop blindness" when evaluating my own birds for confirmation.
I started very small, with a couple pair of Black Plymouth Rock Bantams that were kind of dropped on my family when I was 12. That fall I went to my first show and bought my first pair of Black Langshans. Kept things very small for the first couple years before ballooning.
This makes sense, I do like going and talking to other raisers of the stock I keep, they do have some knowledge, and local knowledge at that, that can greatly help! I know I also can't afford the week off work to do it though lol You are in Battleground, do you know any of the Walsh's down there?
Also, by showing and placing with a bird, when you are breeding it's line you can say it comes from show stock. It fetches a higher price for the offspring.
Good to know, but I have no plans yet to sell birds, I will keep that in mind. I really care more about the bird being productive like I said, and I'd hope a buyer would too, but this makes total sense.