Age for 4-H....

[muscovy94]

Hello everyone my 14 year old son decided he wants to start in 4h showing chickens. Is he too old? I know this question sounds a little ditsy, but I just wanted to make he sure he would be able to do it.

Thanks......

 

[Year of the Rooster]

No he is not too old. Here, the age limit is until you graduate I think. He should be fine with joining 4-H. I was in it a couple years ago and I enjoyed it, all three years. I would like to join again while I still have the time.

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

The minimum age for 4-h in our area is 18... sadly this is my last year T_T but I have already been... recruited to become a 4-h Leader

 

[moduckman]

I do believe it is 18 years of age by a certain date. Both of my boys started at eight years old and my youngest went until 18. My oldest switched to FFA when he was 17 and showed poultry in FFa until he turned 20.

 

[muscovy94]

ok thanks. are there any banty breeds that yall suggest that would place pretty decent?

 

[moduckman]

There are some breeds that show better than others. I guess the first thing is where will you get your chickens from? Breeders or Hatchery? Also, it depends on the type of show they will show in. Will there be a lot of birds in the competition. I'm not putting down the breed, but to have success as a first timer at shows stay away from the old English (highly competitive and a lot of quality). Moderns, like to Old English, have to have the cocks dubbed (combs and wattles cut off) to show. That's pretty tough for first-timers. That leaves the Feather-legged class, rose comb, single comb and all other comb classes. The get the best out of feather legged, you will need clean places for them to run to protect the feathers on their feet. Solid colors do the best for first timers since knowing the patterns and lacing can also be tricky. That still leaves about 25 to 30 breeds to chose from.

 

[Run-A-Muck Ranch]

Our daughters joined 4-H last year. They were 6 and 12 at the time (7 and 13 now going into there second year of 4-H). Not positive on this but I believe the age is 19 as of Jan. 1 of current year if already graduated from high school. Maybe it's 18 by Jan. 1 of current year if already graduated. Maybe I should of checked into this before I posted. If I find out different I will let you know.

Best of luck. I know our girls truely enjoy 4-H. And I am glad we got them into it. Only wish we would of done it sooner.

again Best of luck
Shawna

 

[muscovy94]

Quote:
Are moderns and OEGB the only breeds that have to be dubbed?

 

[moduckman]

Yes. They can be showed without dubbing as cockerels, but not as cocks.

 

[playswithfowl]

I started right before I turned 14, and used my Wyandotte bantam for my shows, and the judges always love her. She also was pretty easy to train for showmanship. Definitely practice doing the showmanship steps at home a lot, also knowing body parts of bird would really help for the real thing. I hope he has fun last year was my first year in 4-H, and it was soooo much fun!