4H shows - what are the requirements?

[heksa]

I have a 7 year old daughter, that I would like to show some of our chickens at the fair next year.

Are there any specific requirements for the birds?

Do they have to be show birds for 4H?

I only wanted to have fun, and doubt any of our birds are up to standards. How does it work?

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

Well, I think you have to be 8 a of January 1 to be in a 4-H club (that's how it is in my state anyway). So you might have to wait 'til next year.

You could enter any bird you wanted. The kids in my club have some pretty nice birds, and it's treated like an actual poultry show (I hear that some 4-H fairs don't work like a poultry show...?). So if the club your daughter will be in takes it serious, she might not do as well if all you have are pet qality birds, but it's still a lot of fun.

 

[()relics]

contact your county extension office. They will be able to give you any information/requirements that you would need to know. Your county may have a poultry superintendant as well. He/She would be a worthwhile contact too.

 

[heksa]

Thanks for your replies!

I think our county has Mini 4H for kidergartners up to grade 3 and it's just for fun, no judging at this stage.

I just wasn't sure if those chickens had to be something special - pure breed and such, but I've seen lots of Easter Eggers there, so I guess not.

My daughter wants to show our silkies.

I will have to work on signing her up.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

If your 4-H and fair are anything like ours, First, the child must be 8yrs old and in the 3rd grade, the birds do not have to be show quality or even purebread for the showmanship classes. Of course for our rooster, hen, cockeral or pullet (standard or batam) classes, birds must be purebred if you want to place. Our kids are required to know the parts of the chicken, a little history on your bird, how to properly take a bird from a cage and put it back in and how to display the wings of the bird. Hope this helps. My kids loved to show birds.

 

[95yj]

in my area the age is 4, however the child is fully responsible for the bird, no adult is allowed to touch, handle or feed the bird at any point, if the bird is too big or wild for the kid to get it into the cage another 4h'er can help, i have seen people disqualified. 4h shows get a really bad rap, the kids in my club have really nice birds, as do the leaders, we regularly show in bigger non 4h shows (last year the bantam nationals at the northeast congress) and often place really well not only in the junior section but also in the open division. We also have people with hatchery quality birds who show just for fun, they sometimes do well just because their birds are perfectly groomed and there aren't many other birds in the division, in any case i would encourage you to show and join the poultry club if you can, all the same rules as a normal show should apply, that means the birds must be pullorum tested and pure breeds unless entered in a production/mixed breed category. With hatchery birds 99 out of 100 will be poor quality when compared to the standard, but occasionaly there will be one that comes out alright. I'm not sure what the 4h program is like around you and i would encourage you to contact the poultry organizer or leader to get the details.

 

[heksa]

Thanks, my daughter is already excited about it. I think she will be able to show them next year in Mini 4H. I already inquired a little bit with our extension office and even called the poultry lady, but haven't officialy signed her up.

I'm sure it will be fun. I love these shows!