Back from a poultry show [Pics!]

[Kanchii]

Went to the Angels Camp show today. It's a fun small show. I was a little peeved about the judging results, however. It was like all the chickens I brought that I thought would do very well got last and the one I didn't expect to do well got best AOCCL!

It was kinda odd.

Up first is a funny picture from last night, right after I finished bathing a very dirty silkie! I wish I took a pic before I gave her a bath too!

After:

There were only 2 other silkies, a blue pullet and a white hen (mines a pullet). My pullet had the fullest, most round crest and the least hard feathers in her tail. She was a bit more narrow than the others, but she's only about 6 months old. I still think she should have beaten the other two silkies, I wish I had pics of them. She got last.

Up next is Fabio, my bantam barred plymouth rock cockerel. He also got last out of the other two barred rock bantams. Here's Fabio:

And here's the other cockerel and the pullet that beat him:

The cockerel is pretty nice though I like Fabio's carriage better, and I don't like the pullets barring at all. Who do you think should have won, please be honest?

Rollie Pollie, my bantam partridge wyandotte didn't do well, but I didn't really expect her to:

Now here was the big surprise of the day. I was kinda emo about how my other birds did and the last one to get judged was my bantam wheaten ameraucana. THere was one other there, and she seemed to have better black on her tail and was fuller and her tail was more fanned out. My girl's feathers weren't even in very good condition, and there were some very nice bantam polish in the AOCCL class with them. So you can imagine my surprise when the judge awards her Best AOCCL!

It was a pleasant surprise, though.

Thoughts, critiques, and comments are always welcome!

 

[Smoky73]

Well, you have some very nice birds!

This is my opinion, though hard to judge the silkies without seeing the others that you were up against. Your silkie is very nice, full crest and all however, she appears to have a flat spot in the middle, so not quite globular. Also her tail is not really hard feathered, but I can see where it sticks more "out" for lack of a better word.

Your Fabio is nice as well I would pick him over the other however, the other cockerel is a bit older and more filled out than yours. Give him another year and he should do great! His comb is better than the other rooster too.

The other two you brought I cannot really comment on, they ar nice though too, your Rolie probably did not do better simply based on the fact she is a colored bird and usually its the black and whites that do the best. (general observation) the other color varieties are more of a rarety in shows it seems.

The other thing I want to add is that Judges have explained this before in shows I have been too, if a bird is young but very comparable to another of the same breed and variety, but the other one is older, the older one wins over the younger often times.

 

[Kanchii]

Quote:
Thanks for your reply, Smokey, I really appreciate it!

Yes my silkie does have a bit of a "dimple" in her crest. It'll be interesting to see what it looks like in a year, and once she widens up and fattens up!

I agree that Fabio should be great once he's a cock, thanks!

Rollie didn't do well with the other partridges, I meant.

Something I noticed, which kinda peeved me, was that I saw the of the owners/breeders of the other barred rocks and of the silkies chatting to the judges BEFORE the judges had gotten to their birds. They stood there chatting and being friends and evaluating their birds for a good 15 minutes. I can't help but think that might have leaned things in their favor.

 

[Kanchii]

Anyone else have any imput? I love critiques of my birds!

 

[Chickndaddy]

I think the barring on Fabio is much better than the pullet's and his comb and carriage is nicer than the other rooster's.

 

[Kanchii]

Quote:
Thank you, I thought so too. Though the other rooster was a bit more heavy set and "rockish" in how he was built. But I think next year, Fabio will be great.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

First, let me say I am new to chickens- (I have studied, read, looked at hundreds of pictures--trying to be a better informed owner) but I have ALWAY thought you Roo was beautiful. He looks like a painting to me. His barring is perfect and I love his comb.. He would have been my choice for 1st place.. I agree that his comb is much nicer than the other roo, and his barring is--sharper/clearer-- much nicer than the hen...

It's hard to tell from the pictures of your other bird.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I agree with Cara's assessment of your birds being young. Were any comments marked on the coop tags?

Did you talk to the judge afterwards? I always try to do that; not confrontational, but in an "I'd like to learn" mode. If you make that clear to the judge, you can then simply ask the question of "why did you place this bird over mine?" You can also ask what your bird lacks that the other has.

Occasionally you'll run into a judge who is an idiot, but most of them are pretty knowledgable.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

And while I realize it isn't the standard, I prefer the silkie crests that are shaped like yours. Reminds me of a sunbonnet.

 

[beakkeeper]

Quote:
Definitely. The other pullet looks almost like a Dominique!