First show coming up, a couple of questions

[mcdaid36]

My kids are entering a few of our chickens into a local fair. My question is what is the difference between show quality and production quality? I'm sure we only have production quality, but wanted to find out the difference anyway. Also, do people bathe their chickens before a show, and if so, how does one go about doing that?

Thanks!!!

 

[texasgal]

I don't know the answer but maybe someone can lead you in the right direction.. Good luck!

 

[standardbanty]

Well, show quality means that the bird is very close to the APA standard of perfection . When you mean production quality you probably think that is a quality but its not. If you have a productive hen (selink comet....) Those are bred for egg production, its not a quality. All purbreds usally wont be judged in an egg production but in the class such as a RIR is in the American class.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

If you purchase birds from a hatchery they will be production quality--they are bred not to meet the recognised standard, but for quantity of eggs or fast growing meat. Production birds of egglaying breeds tend to be much smaller than exhibition birds. Plumage colour and patterns tend to be less exacting.

Breeders, on the other hand breed to meet the standard.

 

[Pathfinders]

I've written some articles about how to show, and prepare for a show, that might be of help to you. See them here:

How to Show Your Chickens

http://www.pathfindersfarm.com/Showing.html

How to wash a chicken:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4512807_wash-a-chicken.html

Conditioning & Prepping for Shows

http://www.pathfindersfarm.com/Prepping.html

Hope these help!

Best,

 

[Pathfinders]

p.s. we're Great Dane lovers too, here's our newest, Ziva, who is about 4 months old in this pic (she's 8 months old now):

And here's our beloved Babe, and her friend Kitzel, both of whom who died this past Christmas season: