Chicken Swap & Farm Fest, Sunday, August 30, 12-4, TSC Augusta, Maine

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free(range)bird :

I'd value your opinions as to what appeals and draws a good crowd to a chicken swap - this is new territory for us! We'll see what the turn out is for this one and then perhaps do one in the fall if theres enough interest.
One person suggested doing a poultry show with a judge - what do you folks think?
Thanks!
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I'd like to suggest earlier in the day when it not so hot. This TSC doesn't appear to have any shade unless they were planting trees when I was there the other day.​
 
Absolutely use caution in Maine with words or events at the chickenstocks. If you use SHOW with Judge, then you will need the poultry to be insured if anyone gets hurt by one. Also, you will want to make sure NPIP cert. are in place, and a lot of to many other things. Also a lot of folks do not understand the Book of Standards as if its a judging event. I would suggest that you contact one of the poultry clubs in Maine to ask what regulations are. Fairs/shows have to be monitored and strict health rules.
Chickenstocks are basic and the laws are not strict yet.
Its best to hang low from those eyes ! Not only that, you will need other provisions, roof from sun as birds will be standing in show cages for extended periods of time.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing any more fun then a show, meet and greet, but watch the laws and who will be alerted to steward the show.
One thing that we had at our event was lack of water or food in some of the pens, over crowding etc. Technically one in particular had water available, so, I couldn't say anything. But we have these folks that you will be shocked over their idea of health and welfare for any animals.
 
Hey, does anyone in Maine have a pair of standard cochin pullets or hens that they want to sell? Just curious, my neighbor wants 2 for her mini flock of hens, also a fellow Chickenstock guy has been looking for a Frizzle, I am currently asking him what type of frizzle... is that correct? Thanks
 
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Hoppy - thanks again for your early day suggestion. You're right, we don't have alot of shade there... I was hoping that people would be bringing their own ez-ups - we have one good size one 10x20 which will be up and a good place for 4-H'er Sarah Castle's workshop at 1:30 for Jr. Showmanship and Grooming. Hopefully it will be overcast that day - the way the weather changes in Maine, we have a hope that it will cooperate. The fall seems like a good time and if people think they want to try it again, we'll try to arrange on in October, say.
Best -
free(range)bird
 
spook -
Many thanks for a heads up on the show idea. Maybe in the fall we can incorporate something that will be low key but fun.
Where do you look for a judge for such a thing and what do you suggest in terms of exactly what would be judged?
best-
free(range)bird
 
I too think that it would be nice to have it in the morning. The animals get too hot this time of year after noon time. It was nice at the last swap to be out of there before the heat kicked in. Makes it look nicer to the public too that we care to keep them cool.
 
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spook, I have frizzles but they are bantam cochins and I have not sorted out what I'm keeping. I do have one barred cockeral that
will for sure be going, mostly I'm keeping female visual frizzles, any others will be up for sale. very limited number.
 
Quote:
Only if you take a Rooster!

free(range)bird
New Egg
Registered: 08/04/2009
Posts: 6
E-mail PM Re: Chicken Swap & Farm Fest, Sunday, August 30, 12-4, TSC Augusta, Mainespook -
Many thanks for a heads up on the show idea. Maybe in the fall we can incorporate something that will be low key but fun.
Where do you look for a judge for such a thing and what do you suggest in terms of exactly what would be judged?
best-
free(range)bird

I would suggest speaking with one of the poultry clubs. I for one of a handful that are on the Maine forums belong to Northern New England Bird Fanciers Association -
http://northernnewenglandbirdfanciers.webs.com/ this is the link to the club page, there is also a Central Maine Bird club (clarify this PRF) and it will give you the address to the pres, sec, treasurer where you can ask about judges. (their phone numbers are also on the web page! hint hint *giggle)

At the next club meeting, I'll try to get details on laws (I knew the diff, but it didn't stick) and why you do or don't want to call it a show or fair. Seems like insurance as one, Bill Morrison state poultry tech, in which I have very little fear of. He will probably wander through and test for AI.
If any of you are close to Farmington, please, please feel free to come to a meeting. I know that a family membership is $12. Now the CMBFC I'm not certain, but its around the same. Most folks that have show birds will belong to both clubs.
I believe the next meeting is September 13, 10 am at the Farmington Fair Grounds. Its a pretty neat to sit and topics that stem from curiousity's of its members. I could not imagine knowing a 1/2 of what these guys are aware of.
Also, Thank you for taking my show comment so well. I read it again and it does sound blunt. I don't mean to make life difficult, but the dang legalities are tough. I do plan on bringing information, that is from the Extention Service and state of Maine.
TC today, stay cool!!​
 
With doing a poultry "show" there are lots of things to consider, do you want to have a bark yard fun show (pets, commercial, purebred and non-purebred categories?) or a full ABA/APA show (this would of course be loads more paperwork, only breeds that meet the ABA/APA standard of perfection). Plus as spook mentioned the differences in the laws between exhibition and sale birds, I'm not even sure what those would be, I know one big thing here would be the blood testing (pullorum typhoid) for any show or fair.

Most of the members of the poultry clubs are great to deal with I'm sure any of them would be happy to answer any questions. CMBF (Central Maine Bird Fanciers) http://centralmainebirdfanciers.org/ our next meeting is Sept. 20th, at the Grange in Washington.. Spook mentioned Northern New England Bird Fanciers Association, there is also Positively Poultry, they put on and organize the Skowhegan and Clinton fair shows.

I feel keeping it on the education side works well, with poultry club displays and 4-Her's doing talks, nothing like a young person out their talking about their birds and what they do and seeing the pride on their faces. Plus of course birds for sale or swap to help get people started, helps save them from driving all over the State looking for that special bird. We are pretty much there for any event, be it swap or show that promotes the health and safety of our feathered friends. There are lots of people getting into this hobby for lots of different reasons and education is the key to help them get on the right track, we are still learning everyday and it's great!!! It just amazes me at all the young people that are really interested in this, we want to for sure continue to encourage that.
 

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