Does Anyone Show there Chickens Anymore

[tellynpeep]

My daughter (10) and I went to our first show last year. It was a lot of fun, entertaining, and educational. BUT.. nearly all the birds there were bantams. Our LF Barnevelders easily won ribbons, as there was really no competition.
Also, my daughter felt very left out, as it was really geared toward the local 4-h kids, with lots of prizes in various categories ONLY for them. There was no info on the application about these, and we really felt like foreigners there.

But I have to say.... I used to show dogs, and I felt the judge was much more thorough, decent, and polite than any dog show judge I ever met. She actually admitted she didn't know our breed, and went back to the breed standard several times to do the judging fairly and accurately.

That's our experience. I'd do it again, but my daughter wasn't interested after that.

(As far as the testing, I had blood drawn from the two birds we took, sent it to the state lab, and they ran the required tests for something like $4.00. Of course, no one ever asked to see our paperwork for the testing, so it was sort of a waste at that...)

 

[hdowden]

a few of us in louisiana want to set up a show/swap/meet if possible but really dont know were to start or who to contact nor were to host it (or at least i dont) any ideas or help would be appreciated

heres the thread were we (at least 3 of us) have ideas and discussing things. it has just started to go so there arent that many post https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/666481/2012-louisiana-chickenstocks-shows-and-meet-ups

 

[HenThymes]

I've never even been to a poultry show. But this is the year I think.

I don't know where any are, no idea what I need to do, who to see or how to "show" our birds. But as I finally have some decent stock, I figure the only real way I'll ever know how good they are is to enter them in some shows, listen to the judges and other people showing the same breeds and try and learn. I'm a very visual person. I would learn better if I had someone to point out in person "Your bird has a poor back, here is a bird that has the correct back" or something like that. Then I could see for myself the differences. I don't expect to win any shows or even place the first few years, but I do expect to learn a lot and get a better understanding of how to improve my stock.

With that being said, I don't have a lot of money. I have no idea how much it will cost to show, but it's easy enough to see several hundred dollars with gas, motel and such. I've heard of a couple of shows in Alabama... maybe I'll start there.

The best way to keep up with what's going on in the poultry show world would be to subscribe to the Poultry Press. It will list all the upcoming shows and locations as well as give you results from recent shows. To show a bird it cost in general $2-$3 a bird, shows usually start at 9am and are thru about 2 in the afternoon. Shows are a great place to learn and a wonderful place to meet new friends with common interests.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote: Thank you HenThymes, I'll subscribe to the Poultry Press right away! If I remember, I used to get it, but let my subscription expire some years ago.
Of course back then I had no interest in showing either.

Just a few dollars per bird? Are you allowed to enter multiple birds in a single show? If I could enter several birds of several different varieties and breeds and age groups it would make more sense ($ cents $) to travel longer distances. I think I have some fair large fowl RC RIRs, large fowl Doms, and several varieties of waterfowl, might be worth showing. Do you need any paperwork other than our NPIP papers?

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[Narragansett]

It seems that hardy no one shows there chickens anymore. Why is this? Is it becasue the chickens are so hard to come by to get to show or people are affraid to show because the dont want to get beat.??

I know that you know the answer, it's just a function of today's society wanting the quick easy fix. They want instant gratification, video games and a ribbon for everyone who shows up, like in 4h. They don't want to put in the time and effort to learn what it takes to breed a successful line. It's not a barrel full of laughs reading the Standards or any other book. It's more fun keeping chickens in the bathtub, playing dress up or endlessly swapping mutts back and forth at gigglefests. The product of our public schools expects that their feelings are the most important thing, not the satisfaction from doing a job well. There are no rules or restrictions for crossing a Naked Neck into every breed that comes along, no accountability,and no judge to crush your spirit by telling you that your precious Henrietta is not the best chicken in the world, or even in the class.

 

[HenThymes]

Thank you HenThymes, I'll subscribe to the Poultry Press right away! If I remember, I used to get it, but let my subscription expire some years ago.
Of course back then I had no interest in showing either.

Just a few dollars per bird? Are you allowed to enter multiple birds in a single show? If I could enter several birds of several different varieties and breeds and age groups it would make more sense ($ cents $) to travel longer distances. I think I have some fair large fowl RC RIRs, large fowl Doms, and several varieties of waterfowl, might be worth showing. Do you need any paperwork other than our NPIP papers?

Sorry for all the questions.

You are allowed to enter as many birds as you would like in as many catagories/divisions you like. I show LF orpingtons in different colors/ages, bantams orpingtons (sccl) in several colors, seramas in open and my daughter shows silkies and bantam orps in Junior.

The paperwork needed would depend show to show and their requirements as well as the state you are showing in and their requirements.Some states don't require anything, others just proof of PT testing (your NPIP) and others like here in NC, if you are out of state you have to show proof of AI testing within so many weeks of the show, you can have PT testing at the door.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:
Thanks!
Lots of good information I needed there. I have heard about a show in Morgantown? NC, but I guess that one will be out of the question unless I can find a way to get a AI test done right before the show date. It took several months to get our State testers out here for our NPIP test. Mississippi does require AI, but only once a year when we get our PT tests done. Maybe a local vet can do it, I'll have to call around and check.

Thanks so much for answering my questions.

 

[Robert Blosl]

First off there is a show near you between Birmingham and Montgomery Alabama. It is a Bantam Show in Clanton Alabama and do have large fowl. Entry fees are about $2.50 per per. You can park your truck out side on the side of the parking lot and sell chicks and extra birds to people free. Many do it. There is a big show in Georgia in February. People buy the hundreds come there to buy any chicken that can breath. Its in New nan Georgia I plan to go there this year with my Ulitlity Trailer to sell my extra birds and ducks.

Next you need to get the Poultry Press I will list the web site for you and if you get this one and only new paper left on chickens it has all the shows that are going on in the USA.

https://secure.myserver.cc/~poultrypress.com/sample.html

There is a web site I was on the other day that Charlie V. made that had a nice list as there is a few other chicken club or brown egg blue egg sites that has all the shows.
http://heritagebreedpoultry.com/poultry_shows_swaps.php
You dont have to show to learn how to breed your favorite breeds. For example if we all showed up at Clan ton this October I would put on a Rhode Island Red and Plymouth Rock breed education class on the basic of breeding these breeds. I could teach you about color and maybe we could have some one video us and I can put this on a DVD to share with others around the country.

It costs money but its a lot of fun. I had a guy call me up Saturday AM and talk to me for a hour about Rhode Island Reds. He has been raising chickens and call ducks for ten years but never showed. He has good stock and a standard of perfection and is now ready to get down to brass tacks and show some of his birds. His reason he has a grand daughter that is interested in Poultry and is interested in showing as a junior. What a great way to enjoy your time with you Grand Children.

In fact I am swapping him two dozen Rhode Island Red Mohawk bantam eggs for two dozen White Silkie and Bantam Mauran eggs next spring. These birds are show birds but I want them for sitting hens to hatch my chicks and ducks in the future. He also will be breeder number four with my bantams to be part of my buddy line breeding program.

This will be good for the hobby of Heritage Poultry. It will not hurt the hobby of Back Yard chicken collecting with the feed store brand chickens. There are so many of those people its funny. For every 1,000 People that have feed store chickens there one Standard Breed Breeder.

I often wonder what will happen one day when we are not allowed to buy chickens from feed stores or have them shipped to the post office what will they do.???

Most of them lack the key ingredient in being a poultry person and that is incubator skills. They buy the $40. foam incubator at the feed store and wonder why they cant hatch chicks.

I will come back latter and post the address of the company's that you can contact to get help on showing. bob

Whar city in Lousiana do you wish to start a show and swap meet? I may have two freinds who can help you.

 

[galanie]

I know I struggle to get good LF Orpington birds. The only way I've been able to get even a few is to order eggs from out of state which always arrive with detached air sacs and I've gotten anywhere from zero hatch to 50%. I'd have an easier time if I could throw more money out the window and just pay $100 plus $80 shipping for some nice birds but I just don't have that kind of cash to be tossing around. $50 including shipping and up for dozen eggs is bad enough with the crap shoot that is. If you have any sources within 200 miles of Houston I'm all ears.

I do have one hen that I think would do very well at a show but as I mentioned in another thread, the testing is such a problem. Unless again I'm willing to throw a lot of cash at a vet. Which I am not. (By the way - not the one in the avatar - I just think she's cute)

 

[Narragansett]

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