Hopeful Newbie to Showing Chickens

[tviss711]

Hi all! I am very interested in showing chickens as a hobby. None of my current birds are show quality (some crossbreeds, and the rest are hatchery stock). I'm having a hard time finding a "how-to" or figuring out what essentials to know before getting started. The best advice I've found is to go to a local poultry show to find good local breeders and mentors. The sad part about that is that I'm located in CA, and all poultry shows and exhibitions have been banned for this year due to the Avian Flu (totally understand, but is still sad!). I'm wondering if there is maybe anything I can do to get my foot in the door, or try to fill my brain with knowledge before the next showing season (hopefully next year but who knows).

Here are the few things I've been able to gather online:

-try to find local breeders to begin with, and not buy from hatcheries
-stick to one breed (avoid patterned breeds as a beginner - please tell me if this is good advice, or not..I'm not necessarily trying to win anything major, it would be more of a passion project and as a hobbyist, but who knows) I like the idea of challenging myself to breed birds towards the SOP, but I have a LOT to learn.
-bantam breeds can be easier to start with (smaller and easier to keep - only have standard breeds right now, but if I end up doing shows I would keep a separate flock of bantams. I think this would be easier for me in terms of feed and space).
-clean legged breeds to begin with, as feathered feet are hard to keep clean

My only trouble is, I don't know how to find local breeders in my area to get started. I loved the idea of going to a poultry show to see all the different breeds available and meet people in the area, find a mentor and breed I love, and even purchase some birds. That's not an option for me this year.

I've done a little research on different bantam breeds and I kind of like the Antwerp Belgian Bantams, but they seem a little niche (maybe I'm wrong about that) and I wouldn't know where to get them. Maybe I should just go with what I can find available in my area. Let me know if that's not the greatest breed to start with.

I would love to gather as much knowledge as possible from anyone here who is able to offer advice to someone who just wants to find a new way to interact with and enjoy my birds.

Thanks for reading!

 

[Amer]

(avoid patterned breeds as a beginner - please tell me if this is good advice, or not..

I am not a fan of the advice that tells beginners what to "avoid."
Obviously, it is good advice to say what is lower maintenance and easier to start with, but in my opinion, people should breed what they are interested in and passionate about.
Solid black and solid black birds are easy to win with, yes, but it's this advice that has made pattern birds rare and black and white birds dominate champion row. As a patterned breed enthusiast, this makes me sad.

I raise Belgian d'Anvers bantams and I enjoy their low maintenance qualities but it's not all easy: while others have different experiences I find breeding and hatching them to be challenging.
I wouldn't consider them niche at all, though they aren't as popular as d'Uccles in this country.
If you want to see my flock, feel free to check out My Coop on my profile block.
I can also probably help you find local breeders.

 

[Amer]

Oh it's worth mentioning quail is the easiest variety to win with because it has the highest level of perfection in d'Anvers but if you do want solid colored birds, try

 

[tviss711]

I am not a fan of the advice that tells beginners what to "avoid."
Obviously, it is good advice to say what is lower maintenance and easier to start with, but in my opinion, people should breed what they are interested in and passionate about.
Solid black and solid black birds are easy to win with, yes, but it's this advice that has made pattern birds rare and black and white birds dominate champion row. As a patterned breed enthusiast, this makes me sad.

I raise Belgian d'Anvers bantams and I enjoy their low maintenance qualities but it's not all easy: while others have different experiences I find breeding and hatching them to be challenging.
I wouldn't consider them niche at all, though they aren't as popular as d'Uccles in this country.
If you want to see my flock, feel free to check out My Coop on my profile block.
I can also probably help you find local breeders.

Thank you for this advice. I also very much enjoy patterned birds, and think they are beautiful, I’d like to try them!

I think in my mind I thought they were niche because everywhere I look online I cannot find where to get some!!! Lol.

I would love some help locating breeders in my area. I absolutely adore bantam breeds, but never got any since we were only looking for some backyard layers at first. My husband and I both caught the chicken bug after our first four, and one of my friends is a fellow chicken enthusiast. She has more breeds than I, all kinds and varieties, I think I’d like to choose one breed to focus on and stick with since I feel that will be more rewarding and fun for me as a hobbyist.

 

[Amer]

Thank you for this advice. I also very much enjoy patterned birds, and think they are beautiful, I’d like to try them!

I think in my mind I thought they were niche because everywhere I look online I cannot find where to get some!!! Lol.

I would love some help locating breeders in my area. I absolutely adore bantam breeds, but never got any since we were only looking for some backyard layers at first. My husband and I both caught the chicken bug after our first four, and one of my friends is a fellow chicken enthusiast. She has more breeds than I, all kinds and varieties, I think I’d like to choose one breed to focus on and stick with since I feel that will be more rewarding and fun for me as a hobbyist.

I agree, I'd rather focus on d'Anvers than have other breeds.
But if I hadn't tried a lot of breeds to begin with I never would have discovered how much I love d'Anvers.

 

[tviss711]

I checked out your recommended breeder's website, and she is sadly sold out of everything right now. That's okay though, I will check back regularly. I am also not opposed to buying hatching eggs from breeders in other parts of the country and trying my luck that way. I know hatch rates on shipped eggs aren't always great, which is fine, because I wouldn't want to end up with an excess of birds. How many do you think is a good place to start? 4-5 birds?Keeping the best 4-5 from whatever I'm able to hatch?

 

[Amer]

Try contacting your district directors. They are the most likely to know your local breeders.

I checked out your recommended breeder's website, and she is sadly sold out of everything right now. That's okay though, I will check back regularly. I am also not opposed to buying hatching eggs from breeders in other parts of the country and trying my luck that way. I know hatch rates on shipped eggs aren't always great, which is fine, because I wouldn't want to end up with an excess of birds. How many do you think is a good place to start? 4-5 birds?Keeping the best 4-5 from whatever I'm able to hatch?

I started with just a pair, but I think 4-5 gives you a better base to hatch from, more diverse and you can hatch lots (ideally hatch as many as you can house. Like 30.)
Also to note, I like to have at least two roosters and two hens at any time because birds are delicate and you can easily lose a bird very suddenly to predation, etc, or one might turn out to be a dud when it comes to breeding.
Since you really only want to hold on to the top 20 percent.

It's good to start with a couple adult birds (then you can choose the best) but if you get hatching eggs 1-2 dozen is better so you get a selection, of course.