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Please don't think that ALL shows are like a fair. Sanctioned poultry shows are most commonly a one day event that you attend and take your birds home that same afternoon. There are some excellent quality poultry and very knowledgeable poultry people in attendance that will know if something is wrong with a bird or it looks ill.
I agree in regards to the condition of most poultry this time of year. It is molting season for most of us and they are definitely not going to looking their best. Right now around here is looks like a feather bomb went off in my barn.
Also with the drastic change in weather we have had this week it is going to affect some birds. Some may become stressed over the temp change and express it in pale combs and faces or look lethargic as they try to adjust.
I absolutely agree with you and Miss Lydia. I have been to Morganton show in March and the Salisbury show from last year and there was nothing like this.
People with birds in the show took pride in the look of their chickens, polishing their feet and the comb and get them to look their best. This was very different. I am certain that some of those chickens could never even enter in a real show. A judge would not even take out of the cage a turkey with no toes and the remaining of the feet were so swollen (they were the size of my wrist) and black with scaly leg mites, or a rooster with the white foamy mold and black spots all over his comb. I regret that I didn't took any pictures. It was a mix of chickens. Some of those chickens were beautiful and very healthy looking. There was a beautiful OEG cockerel with shiny comb and very healthy looking, in a cage next to an OE Silver Duckwing pullet anemic looking who had the typical head shaking of heavy parasite infestation. I felt bad for the rooster (and its owner). And those ribbons, I think they were just handed to people in the show just for being there.
However this is not your typical poultry show site, this was very different. Anyone who wants to enter a show don't be affray to do it. It will be very different than this.
The rest of the Fair was wonderful, my 3 year old had a great time. Most people probable didnt even noticed the chickens, only a chicken owner would care about their condition, when there was so much fun to have around.
Well I have to say that the place where we got our 3 new little muscovies was horrible, this man said he loved his animals but if you looked at the condition of his coops or rather cages the poop was piled up high and dried hard as a rock, I was sick. thank goodness ducks are hardy because their living conditions were terrible too. but he does this to make money so even though he says he loves his animals it sure doesn't show in their living conditions. We just had to walk around very sick and sad that they were there. I honestly felt like crying. He seemed like a very nice man 70's but leaves alot to be desired as far as care taker of animals. He had very young baby calves[ males] goats, rabbits, peacocks and I saw 1 pea chick, 2 Emden geese I would have loved to have rescued, but haven't any place for them. call ducks, crested pekins look like some other kind of large duck beside the muscovies, I just wanted to round them all up and get them out of there. so very sad
