Four year old son wants to enter his chicken in a chicken show.

[redbuffalo]

My son who is in love with his black Americauna chick, Heart, has been asking me about entering her in a chicken show. I don't have any idea if she is even show quality or anything about showing chickens. Should we pursue this through 4-H or through the fairs this summer? Any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated I live in Honeoye Falls NY.

 

[rooster0209]

Definately. I was in 4-H and loved it. The pet shows for the younger kids are awesome! I started showing my rabbits then a raccoon, (rabbits were just plain ole rabbits) then to pigs and sheep in 4-H as i got older then to FFA.

 

[ginbart]

From what I understand they need to be tested in your state by a vet. I would call your local fair he wants to put them in and see what they need to be tested for. They should have a book for you also. They should be able to help you. We test here for Avian Influenza. It's only a blood test and I don't know what they will charge you but here even if you only want to put one bird in, all the birds will need to be tested. Here they need to be tested within 90 days of the fair. Good luck let us know how you make out. It sounds like a lot but it's not. I hope you do it for him.

 

[Davaroo]

Do whatever it takes to get the bird in a show. And make him do as much of the work as he is capable of doing.

Your son will learn valuable lessons that will carry him though life... lessons no purple dinosaur or academia can teach.

 

[BellLisamo]

my daughter will be 4 in sept. what is the starting age for 4-h?

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

The bird needs to be about breeding age in order to stand a chance with the other birds in the show. Fall shows (free fairs) are generally a good starting place for that. In my county, the 4H puts on the poultry show...so you'll need to contact them about it.

 

[rooster0209]

http://ag.arizona.edu/4-h/

Not sure what the start up age is.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I don't think 4 year olds are old enough to participate in 4H. I think the minimum age is 8 or 9; they do have an abbreviated program for younger kids, but not as young as your son.

However, neither ABA nor APA have minimum ages, and I have never been to a poultry show that did. Some shows have separate shows for juniors (anyone under 18) and others judge all birds together.

Most shows also have Showmanship for the kids. This is really where the kids are being judged rather than the bird shown: their knowledge and handling of their bird--it can be any bird they want, and it doesn't need to be an exhibition bird. They do need to know about thier bird. Kids are divided into groups by age; with the smallest it is primarily a teaching experience with the judge prompting them with leading questions when they don't know an answer immediately. For the teenagers it can be like watching Jeapardy--lots of very detailed information. And progressive levels in between.

And one other point I should bring up is that Ameraucanas are a very specific breed, and their breeders and club tend to be picky about how the word is spelled. This is because hatcheries sell Easter Eggers, which are a mixed breed chicken that lays colourful eggs. They often misname these birds Americanas.

If your son's bird is one of these, he can certainly use the bird in showmanship, but shouldn't enter it in exhibition, where it will fare poorly. You might want to consider purchasing him a different bird or birds to exhibit. If it is a true ameraucana, then by all means have him exhibit it as well.

 

[BellLisamo]

Quote:
thank you!!! it says "4-H is open to all youth ages 5-19 years of age regardless of where you live."

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I stand corrected.

I do know that there are several good poultry 4H programs in Tucson & its surrounds. Not much of anything in Maricopa County, though.

I believe there is a small lawn show in Tucson this coming Saturday--it would be the perfect place for your daughter to try showing.