First show disappointment, normal?

[meldyrg]

So this might be a little long winded because I'm still exhausted from a day at the fair.

I've really wanted to show chickens for a long time. Due to a few rookie mistakes I only entered one cockerel in the state fair. He is a mixed Ameracauna with non standard coloring, however he does meet the breed standards for ameracauna or at least I thought.

Well, I waited for about 3 hours today waiting for the judge to finish as my class was very last and in the end he didn't even open the coop. He just wrote utility on the tag and mumbled something to his partner.

Now, I'm not upset that my bird didn't place or that he isn't apparently show quality, but I am upset that he didn't even pick up the bird to exam it or anything.

I knew this show was just for fun but I was also looking forward to seeing how my bird handled being judged as I worked so hard training him. I also wanted feedback from the judge on type, standards and I was generally excited to learn.

I feel like I missed out on a great learning opportunity and I'm so upset that all of this work was in vain.

So, has this happened to anyone else? How do I learn from this?

Thanks

 

[Gray Farms]

The following may seem harsh but I promise you its not meant to.

If they don't fit the standard "including accepted color" they will be passed right by. I've not shown birds myself, though I plan to some day. But I personally wouldn't even think of placing a bird in a show that didn't fit the standard. Your basically guaranteed a loss before you even leave the house.

I'd like to see a picture of your cockerel. There may also have been other factors that the judge saw that you didn't.

 

[Cyprus]

This happened yesterday to someone I was showing against. 3 or 4 of their birds in my class got DQ'd. Judge didn't even touch them.

 

[gtaus]

I went to my first 4H Poultry Show at our local county fair yesterday. The judge took her time and talked to every kid while holding their bird(s) and telling them what she was looking for in their bird. She was very gentle with the kids and I think it was a positive experience for the children. She did DQ a number of birds, but she still took the time to handle the birds and show the children why the bird was DQ'd. Even so, she thanked all the kids for showing their birds even if they did not meet standard.

I can surely see where a different judge may not have been so compassionate and take the time to handle every bird if a visual inspection had already DQ'd a bird. Sorry to hear that your experience was so disappointing, but it was a learning experience none the less. I am sure next time you will be more familiar with the standard for your breed. Also, you said you spent a lot of time training your bird, so that was not for nothing. Next time, you will have a better idea of what the judge is looking for and you have more experience in show prep for yourself and the bird.

The 4H Poultry Show also had a category of Showmanship, where the person was judged by how well they showed their bird. The bird itself was not judged. I had to leave before that portion of the show, but I thought it was interesting and now, after reading your thread, I really wished I had been there for that category.

 

[meldyrg]

The following may seem harsh but I promise you its not meant to.

If they don't fit the standard "including accepted color" they will be passed right by. I've not shown birds myself, though I plan to some day. But I personally wouldn't even think of placing a bird in a show that didn't fit the standard. Your basically guaranteed a loss before you even leave the house.

I'd like to see a picture of your cockerel. There may also have been other factors that the judge saw that you didn't.

You weren't too harsh at all! I knew that the color wasn't standard but I was certain that's what the AOV class was for, or maybe I'm wrong. Here's a picture of him!

 

[meldyrg]

I went to my first 4H Poultry Show at our local county fair yesterday. The judge took her time and talked to every kid while holding their bird(s) and telling them what she was looking for in their bird. She was very gentle with the kids and I think it was a positive experience for the children. She did DQ a number of birds, but she still took the time to handle the birds and show the children why the bird was DQ'd. Even so, she thanked all the kids for showing their birds even if they did not meet standard.

I can surely see where a different judge may not have been so compassionate and take the time to handle every bird if a visual inspection had already DQ'd a bird. Sorry to hear that your experience was so disappointing, but it was a learning experience none the less. I am sure next time you will be more familiar with the standard for your breed. Also, you said you spent a lot of time training your bird, so that was not for nothing. Next time, you will have a better idea of what the judge is looking for and you have more experience in show prep for yourself and the bird.

The 4H Poultry Show also had a category of Showmanship, where the person was judged by how well they showed their bird. The bird itself was not judged. I had to leave before that portion of the show, but I thought it was interesting and now, after reading your thread, I really wished I had been there for that category.

Thanks for all your kind words! I'm not in 4H, at least I haven't been for a number of years haha!

This was an open show so I don't expect to be coddled but to be outright disqualified even in the all other varieties class was a surprise.

 

[tn_artist]

You weren't too harsh at all! I knew that the color wasn't standard but I was certain that's what the AOV class was for, or maybe I'm wrong. Here's a picture of him!

He's gorgeous!

 

[meldyrg]

He's gorgeous!

Thank you!! I was heartened by visitors at the fair enjoying him!

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

My little one wants to show our chickens when she is old enough, my biggest fear is her response from what the judges say or don't like your experience. My older kids showed horses and always had decent respectful judges.

 

[meldyrg]

My little one wants to show our chickens when she is old enough, my biggest fear is her response from what the judges say or don't like your experience. My older kids showed horses and always had decent respectful judges.

Well I think I was simply disqualified, so I'm not sure if he was obligated. The "seriousness" of the show didn't dawn on me until I went home and saw the judges picture in my APA SOP book!

Also...I'm not in 4H...I'm in my 20s