anyone else get upset when you see low quality

[horsejody]

Quote:
Ok that makes sense.

 

[Blackbird]

I agree with Momma Cluck, 4-H is definitely about learning and having fun, I think kids that are showing should get more credit than that, they aren't all showing because they think they're going to win everything and blow everyone away, a county fair is not someplace you should go into critizing people's birds expecting show quality.
I also don't think you should tell them 'Your bird is NOT show quality and NEVER will be!', saying that is not doing any good, however kindly explaining the faults and what the bird should look like will help them alot.

I remember my first year of showing pigeons was horrid, I think I probably did everything wrong; if the judge had said 'Your bird is NOT show quality and NEVER will be!', I probably would not have wanted to go to that certain show again because he would be there, and been a bit discouraged. But he did not, he helped me, explained it all and was very kind, the next year I went back and got grand, out of a class of 40+ birds.
Sure, not a whole lot to brag about, but kindness goes a long way.

Having said that, I do think that saying a bird is SQ, that obviously isn't, is very wrong, and those people who do that should not be selling any birds.

Also keep in mind that many 4-H clubs' regulations, rules, and programs often differ greatly in each county.

 

[banter]

I have never shown poultry, only dogs, but a good judge (and I truly believe most judges try to be) will point out virtues along with the faults. That is the learning process.

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

the shows we have been to lately have been very competitive in the Jrs section. Heck, a lot of the ducks would compete very well in the open shows. Some of these parents spend $300 on a show bird. That is just crazy....I guess it is the parent trying to live through their child?? I don't know...We have our son start with decent breeders and raise his own show birds. I am not familiar with 4-H. I guess it would be considered the same thing as Juniors???

 

[kees]

I'm a little bit confused. Do people show their birds as a hobby for the satisfaction of getting a ribbon? Or, is getting an award a way to sell eggs or offspring for more money?

Thanks,
Suzy

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

For me it's the fact that the birds I'm producing are doing well enough in the breeding program that they are considered to be matching their standard VERY well. If that means beating other breeders...so be it..

It's the competition that makes us strive to keep striving for the standard. The monetary gain from the sales is little to nothing compared to what we put into the eggs, feed, incubation, etc.

 

[seedcorn]

Quote:
Yes, and YEs. Ego, finances. Pretty much drives the whole world. Why should 4H be any different?

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

I would think people enjoy it, ours have a lot of work involved and we are a long ways from making a profit. We show ours as a hobby and sell them to support the hobby.

Our entry fees for a show are $200 sometimes plus travel expenses.....then you have to feed them at home and house them. Yup, not in it for the money.

 

[Southernbelle]

The term SQ gets tossed out a lot, but I just take that with a big grain of salt. If someone was trying to sell me any animal they claimed to be SQ, I would want to know where they'd shown the animal. If they're claiming SQ based on a local fair or 4-H show, that doesn't quite cut it for me to pay a premium price for it. I'd never insult their livestock, I just wouldn't buy it.

Personally, I don't even want to show my poultry. I'm too worried about them picking up some illness at a show. So SQ really doesn't mean much to me right now, even if it won at Nationals!

I used to show rabbits at our local fair as a teenager in 4-H. I had a lot of fun and won a lot of ribbons and prize money. But, I was often the only one who had rabbits in those classes, so of course I won all the top ribbons! The judge was very kind and pointed out good and a lot of bad about my rabbits, so I never tried to show them at the state level much less national, but it was still a really good time and fond memories.

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

I guess that is the reason people should do their homework and ask questions before buying "show quality" birds.