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There are two types of showing in the 4H section. I'm not even sure how exactly to describe the first-it's kinda like a sub-section of open poultry, just between 4Hers. I stayed in the barn the whole day to observe, so I actually saw the judge doing his thing. He approached all of the birds, one by one, and picked them up, examined them. Only he handled them. I stayed back to watch and he asked if I owned the bird he was handling, which was mine. I said yes, and he gave my good criticism, telling me the faults and good qualities, but I was not meant to handle her. Then he commented on my number card on the cage.
The second is showmanship. Like showmanship with other animals, its about the owner handling their birds in front of a judge/knowing facts about their breed and chickens in general. You really gotta know your stuff. How to handle them, labeling different body parts, knowing how they work, what the bird was bred for, etc. I think there used to be a thread somewhere showing how to handle the birds, positions to put them in, stuff like that. But I can't seem to find it.
Is your Barred Rock show quality? Where'd you get him?
