Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[EweSheep]

Good question, Denise!

Sometimes some good judges would go out of their way to give you their input why they selected your bird. A few bad ones would ruin the party and when you do find a bad one, don't show your birds in his class or go ahead and see if he changes his mind next time around. It does happen alot.

 

[EweSheep]

http://www.herald-review.com/news/local/state-and-regional/article_4773cb14-d206-11e0-8ef3-001cc4c03286.html

Looks like this gentleman needs to come on BYC and read up on the Ameraucana and EE threads. I am glad he enjoyed them! Had to laugh about the cholestrol and quail tasting meat....uh, none of mine tasted like quail nor the cholestrol went down LOL!

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
These hatcheries are not just selling AM's. Hatcheries are a huge problem to exhibition poultry and education in a humane way is the only way to keep those birds down on the farm. You as breeders can do the most good, but just talking about it won't cut it. Talk to judges, fair management, show sups etc.

How does it go..."The Lord will help those that help themselves". If it is important to you, don't count on other people to do it.

Walt

Dear Walt:
I tried to speak to the judge but was not allowed near him either during ( understandable) or after the judging. We waited 3 1/2 hours after the judging was completed to speak with our APA judge and was not allowed near him. I suppose I could have yelled to him that I wanted a moment of his time but felt that would be rude. When is the correct time to "push" yourself towards the judge and get his/her attention that you would like to speak to them? What is an acceptable amout of "push"? How is this done without offending anyone or being, well, pushy?

Edited for spelling

Judges are usually well protected while judging, but you should have access after the judging. I would recommend contacting the show staff while the judge is working and let them know that you would like to talk to the judge when he is finished. This way you don't interrupt anything and they will hopefully tell the judge that you want to talk with him after the judging. Some judges just don't want to talk to the exhibitors, but IMO it is part of their job to explain their placings if asked. Not only explain their placings, but they should be helpful as they are representatives of the APA/ABA while they are doing their job.

Judges are people....so you get some that are not social, some that are not confident in their placings etc, etc. Not all doctors are good doctors, not all lawyers are good lawyers and not all judges are good judges. What I like to see in a judge is a person who is consistent, pays attention and teaches. I think most judges are good judges and are willing to discuss their placings.

Keep in mind that judges only have a minute or less to make a decision about the bird they are handling. Owners have had the time to look at their birds for months and know every intimate detail of the bird. Many exhibitors also do not know what is important in judging. The type is number one, so you may see birds place high that in your opinion are off colored or have some other imperfection. As an example some people get overly hung up on some color points or how many points on a single comb and other things that really don't make that much difference point wise. Most people really have no idea how birds should be placed. They also have no idea what the bird really looks like opened up and examined......they only see what they can see from outside the cage. You can't judge a bird from outside the cage!

I highly recommend that everyone read pages 3-34 of the APA SOP. Most people never pay attention to that section and it is the most important part of the Standard.
If you read that section, you will have a much better understanding of why a bird is placed. If you know that section the judges placements will make much more sense.

Walt

 

[Phage]

Quote:
OMG what a beautiful bird!!!!!

 

[pips&peeps]

Quote:
Dear Walt:
I tried to speak to the judge but was not allowed near him either during ( understandable) or after the judging. We waited 3 1/2 hours after the judging was completed to speak with our APA judge and was not allowed near him. I suppose I could have yelled to him that I wanted a moment of his time but felt that would be rude. When is the correct time to "push" yourself towards the judge and get his/her attention that you would like to speak to them? What is an acceptable amout of "push"? How is this done without offending anyone or being, well, pushy?

Edited for spelling

Judges are usually well protected while judging, but you should have access after the judging. I would recommend contacting the show staff while the judge is working and let them know that you would like to talk to the judge when he is finished. This way you don't interrupt anything and they will hopefully tell the judge that you want to talk with him after the judging. Some judges just don't want to talk to the exhibitors, but IMO it is part of their job to explain their placings if asked. Not only explain their placings, but they should be helpful as they are representatives of the APA/ABA while they are doing their job.

Judges are people....so you get some that are not social, some that are not confident in their placings etc, etc. Not all doctors are good doctors, not all lawyers are good lawyers and not all judges are good judges. What I like to see in a judge is a person who is consistent, pays attention and teaches. I think most judges are good judges and are willing to discuss their placings.

Keep in mind that judges only have a minute or less to make a decision about the bird they are handling. Owners have had the time to look at their birds for months and know every intimate detail of the bird. Many exhibitors also do not know what is important in judging. The type is number one, so you may see birds place high that in your opinion are off colored or have some other imperfection. As an example some people get overly hung up on some color points or how many points on a single comb and other things that really don't make that much difference point wise. Most people really have no idea how birds should be placed. They also have no idea what the bird really looks like opened up and examined......they only see what they can see from outside the cage. You can't judge a bird from outside the cage!

I highly recommend that everyone read pages 3-34 of the APA SOP. Most people never pay attention to that section and it is the most important part of the Standard.
If you read that section, you will have a much better understanding of why a bird is placed. If you know that section the judges placements will make much more sense.

Walt

Hey Walt,

I wanted to thank you for taking the time to come to BYC and help us get educated on judging birds! So THANKS!!!!

I have always found that the judges were very approachable at all the shows I have been to. It may be hard to get to them because they are always being spoken to; someone is always trying to pick their brain.....

 

[Ivywoods]

"SOMEONE IS ALWAYS TRYING TO PICK THEIR BRAIN"..... yes... someone like me that is trying to learn all I can.

My opinion about judging is the same as it is for referees. You may see things different than they do, but they are still in charge and you need to respect their decisions. I have tried to teach my children this. If you feel something was wrong it is okay to question it, but you need to do it respectfully. Two people can look at the exact same thing and have totally different opinions about it. If you think you can do their job better than they can, then why are you not the one doing it?

Recently I was asked if I would be a judge at a nearby county fair. I feel TOTALLY unqualified to do this. However, when asking around, I may be the most qualified person around to do it. Around this area, simply having a copy of the SOP might make me more qualified than anyone else around, and my copy is 10 year old! (Yes, I'm going to order another one soon.)

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
Exactly!

I had one person ask me to judge Welsummers at a non APA sanctioned show and I declined. I do not have the newest copy of the APA, only the old one that didnt have Welsummers in there. If I don't know, I would ask around, even Walt himself, or Royce, or Nate to pick their brains. I can call on the oldest breeders that contributed to the APA to get Welsummers accepted if there is an ongoing question about the SOP.

I can pick out a good looking bird at a show but still not qualified to judge.

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

Quote:

Poor IvyWoods!

I hope you don't have a WIC like I did. Not having a current SOP is just as bad as never having had one. Remember: Anything you say after "No, I don't have a current copy of the SOP" will be irrelevant. Just my experience.

But yes! Go judge! Please allow the "Non current SOP owning people" to ask a question or 3 of you. I would be grateful of your opinion.

 

[EweSheep]

In my personal opinion, usually the best judges are the ones they breed and exhibit their own birds. They have a more in depth in the breed than "all around" breed judges that has little or no experience in breeding/showing them. Some judges may not own certain breeds but been exposed to them ALOT for them to decide what goes and not.

 

[Ivywoods]

I agree that the ones that breed and raise these birds are the ones that know the most about them. I can't imagine trying to judge them and having no experience with raising them. There are so many breeds, though, it would be impossible to have breeding experience with all of them. Consequently, there are going to be breeders out there that know more about their breed than perhaps one of the very best judges that just hasn't had experience with that particular breed. I say kudos to the breeders AND the judges.