Age for 4-H....

[CovenantCreek]

The best thing to do is check the web site for your local 4H. When I checked the Williamson County 4H to find out when my daughter could join, I found out that with poultry, they provide the chicks. It didn't indicate if the members could request a specific breed.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

I'm going to show fowl for the first time in June...

 

[Chickndaddy]

If you are competing with meat birds you will not be able to pick the breed. Your chapter will place an order for the chicks and you will pick them up. This way, all the chickens are the same age, theoretically should be fairly uniform, and to eliminate any other problems.

Unless you are in an area with a fairly large 4-H program you may not be able to compete with other breeds. Our show was really small and they had meat classes for the cattle, sheep, goats, rabbit, swine, and chickens. And they only had a breeding class for rabbits and cattle.

Now when we went to San Antonio the shows were huge. The had Dairy classes for cattle and goats. You could show cow/calf pairs, turkeys, ostrich, quail, I mean everything. And to win you had to have the best. At our show, if you entered a breeder rabbit, you just had to make sure that you were the only person to enter that particular breed in the show and you were guaranteed a blue ribbon because you were the only person with tat breed.

So I would advise looking into the show itself and make sure that you can show something other than meat chickens. You should be able to call your County Extension Office and they can find out for you, or point you in the right direction.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

The types of programs vary based upon your area and what the leaders are interested in pursuing. There is a big difference between raising meat birds and exhibition birds. If the program you prefer is not available, would you consider becoming a leader so that you can have the kind of program you want?

Even though not 4H, many poultry clubs have an excellent program for junior exhibitors.

As for breed, find the breed for which you kids have a passion--let them choose. If you select the breed, then it will be more your birds, your project and not theirs. And they are more likely to lose interest.

Once they've selected the breed and variety in which they are interested, get them the best birds you can afford. They will do far better and learn far more with good birds, even in a larger, more competative setting than they will with lesser quality birds in a less competative environment. Most breeders/exhibitors are more than willing to work with kids and teach them what they know.