Quote:
I recall last year someone showing here how at a Junior show there were numerous Easter Egger cockerels, plus a hen that had a single comb, white earlobes, yellow legs, and no beard/muffs. Wow.
I seriously wonder, what makes some people think they have Ameraucanas? Do they seriously follow what the seller says and never research it? Take for example a while ago if you Googled "Blue Wheaten Ameraucana" - You would find a clean faced EE with a color that has absolutely no similarity to Blue Wheatens at all. In fact there were quite a few. . .
I'd hate to sound rude saying it, but I'm quite serious. Do people really just not research what they have and go with the flow?
Quote:
I recall last year someone showing here how at a Junior show there were numerous Easter Egger cockerels, plus a hen that had a single comb, white earlobes, yellow legs, and no beard/muffs. Wow.
I seriously wonder, what makes some people think they have Ameraucanas? Do they seriously follow what the seller says and never research it? Take for example a while ago if you Googled "Blue Wheaten Ameraucana" - You would find a clean faced EE with a color that has absolutely no similarity to Blue Wheatens at all. In fact there were quite a few. . .
I'd hate to sound rude saying it, but I'm quite serious. Do people really just not research what they have and go with the flow?
No they don't.
I was a 4H Poultry educator for my coop extension. I was appauled at the birds that kids brought in as pure breds. I tried to make them understand that showing poultry was for pure breed birds, but I ran into the problem with parents that they thought there should be areas for "pet birds", etc. and no one was against it. I'm all for a pet class, but also there should be breed classes. Mostly parent aren't interested in it, and are just happy their kids have a bird and want to show. We couldn't discorage them....
I was a 4H Poultry educator for my coop extension. I was appauled at the birds that kids brought in as pure breds. I tried to make them understand that showing poultry was for pure breed birds, but I ran into the problem with parents that they thought there should be areas for "pet birds", etc. and no one was against it. I'm all for a pet class, but also there should be breed classes. Mostly parent aren't interested in it, and are just happy their kids have a bird and want to show. We couldn't discorage them....
Try telling this to our 4-H leader here. They want to buy the Sexlink pullets for our 4-h er's. I don't believe this is very good on our kids as far as showing goes. They do however auction the pullets, 3 in a pen off after the show. I just think that they ought to encourage showing the full bred chickens instead of these.
I guess I don't have a problem with them showing crosses as long as it is a class of it's own, such a "Pen of 3 for egg production" or "pen of 3 for meat production" etc. Pet class? I guess I have mixed feelings about that. I like to see everything done to educate and encourage the kids, but showing a cross in a purebred class I think should be a No-no. Ideally, it would be nice if the show superintendant or the poultry leader for the kids has enough knowlege to help them enter their birds in the right class so they don't get DQ'd.
Quote:
Try telling this to our 4-H leader here. They want to buy the Sexlink pullets for our 4-h er's. I don't believe this is very good on our kids as far as showing goes. They do however auction the pullets, 3 in a pen off after the show. I just think that they ought to encourage showing the full bred chickens instead of these.
4H stresses the egg & meat production. And that is good. But those are just 2 aspects and of course, never win the Best in Show, so those kids are disappointed.
Also, its hard when they do showmanship, which is required in my county. Try holding still an egg laying breed while giving a demonstration...or its usually the smallest kid that has the biggest rooster trying to do showmanship.....yikes
When I was assigned to 4H, there was no poultry program. My last year, after workinng to prommote poultry for 3 years, there were over 40 4H birds shown at the local fair. I left 3 years ago, and last year there were 3 chickens there. Just thinking about it makes me mad...