How do poultry shows work?

[Crayonsmom]

We got some new ducklings earlier this week. It's been a couple years since we had ducks, but I can really see myself getting into them... aside from my horse of course.

Anyway, I have a little Blue Runner that I was thinking of taking to a poultry show if s/he grows into a nice duck. But I was wondering if somebody could eplain how the shows work to me? How are they set up? Do I just call in to enter? I haven't seen any entry forms on websites anywhere. Does my duck need to have any certain vaccinations or anything before I bring him to a show? They aren't like showing pigs where you have to slaughter the pig after taking it off the farm to prevent spreading anything, are they? Because if that's the way it works I'm not going to do it.

Thanks.

 

[Crayonsmom]

Anyboy care to explain?

 

[Ryu]

You need to contact the show secretary or the shows contact person, they will send you a show catalogue. It will have the show rules, dates, times, required testing, prices, and the entry form.

Good luck!

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
I entered my first show last fall. I emailed the person running it about 1.5 months before, to get the entry form and information. The show I entered requried pullorum testing (only chickens, not waterfowl), and you have to send the sheet in with your entry. Nope, you dont have to slaughter your birds after you enter them. I do, however, keep them in quarantine for at least 30 days after the show. They dont need any vaccinations. I *might* have read something that said if they were vaccinated for some disease within 30 days of the show they cant be entered, not sure what it was though.

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:
I just went to my first show this weekend. You submit and entry form with the fees before the deadline. Then there is a coop in. That is when you bring in your birds. I prefer to wait till the near last hour to coop in. This assures I know their clean as they can be before the judging starts. Then you get a cup or two to water and feed them while their in the cage at the show. Your responsible for feeding and watering. Then just sit back and enjoy. Or go somewhere and take in some views in the down time. You have to wait till coop out to take your birds out of the cage and take them home.
Each show is different. Some have online entry forms and take PAYPAL others require a call or send in entry form and money to the person iin charge.
The show I went to this weekend. It was recommended to me to wait to near the deadline before entering. Reasons being, the bird MAY go into a molt, or get sick or into a fight.
Coop In was on Fri 6 PM to 9 PM, and Sat mornin 5:30 AM to 8:45 AM
Coop out was Sat afternoon at 2:30 PM.

I could have dropped them off, gone home and come back at 2 and missed nothing. Most exhibitors will do that IF they live close enough.
APA/ABA shows only require the bird not being visibly sick to show. Your county and state fairs require an NPIP tester to check out the bird 90 days before or sooner prior to the show
good luck with your new babies.

 

[NYREDS]

I could have dropped them off, gone home and come back at 2 and missed nothing. Most exhibitors will do that IF they live close enough.

Actually you would have missed a great deal.
You would have missed the opportunity to look over other birds in the classes you were showing in to see how your birds compared.
You would have missed the opportunity to talk with other people who perhaps have more experience with your breed and with showing in general.
You would have missed the opportunity to look at breeds/varieties you are not familiar with.
You would have misses the opportunity to observe the judges to get an idea of how they evaluate the birds.
You would have missed the opportunity to possibly clerk for one of the judges which is an invaluable learning experience.
You would have missed the opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie that is so much a part of a poultry show.

Frankly,I don't know of anyone who drops off their birds & leaves regardless of where they live. Of course if they did do that I guess I wouldn't know it because they wouldn't have met me or anyone else at the show. That would have been a waste of many opportunities.​

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:
Actually you would have missed a great deal.
You would have missed the opportunity to look over other birds in the classes you were showing in to see how your birds compared.
You would have missed the opportunity to talk with other people who perhaps have more experience with your breed and with showing in general.
You would have missed the opportunity to look at breeds/varieties you are not familiar with.
You would have misses the opportunity to observe the judges to get an idea of how they evaluate the birds.
You would have missed the opportunity to possibly clerk for one of the judges which is an invaluable learning experience.
You would have missed the opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie that is so much a part of a poultry show.

Frankly,I don't know of anyone who drops off their birds & leaves regardless of where they live. Of course if they did do that I guess I wouldn't know it because they wouldn't have met me or anyone else at the show. That would have been a waste of many opportunities.

I did not see Doug till near the end of the show and his bird won Best English. Doug asked me to take a carrier back, cause he had no room in his car, with me to bring to him at the Columbus IN Show on May 1st. Plus he will have some Buff Orpington eggs for me.
I live an hour away. And I agree, I did stay, and watched both judges do their job. Read who did what in many LF breeds that I do not carry. Even tried to judge the birds without knowledge of the breeds and touching them before I read who won.
And talked to a couple of nicer people. A Jack Patterson who reffered me to a Mr Gary Overton for getting some new blood for my Red Speckled Sussex. I did my job in keeping my birds watered and fed.
Only breeds I did not care to check out were the Bantams. I am not a bantam guy. I don't plan on being an authority on them either. I did look at the waterfowl, Pigeons, and different species of who knows what. however, I am very focused on my breeds Ameraucana, Orpington, Red Speckled Sussex, and Cochins. The English and Asiatic breeds as a whole. I did look at all the American breeds. Just to look at. So I do not say not to do those things.
Plus, lets not forget the venders who have everything under the sun bird related. I did not miss that opportunity. I just mentioned the bare minmum of what to get done to show a bird.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
SOME states have rules for testing and others do not. In general, the eastern states require testing; the western ones do not. The specifics of what each state tests for vary according to state regulations. The Bantam Standard lists under general disqualifications, "any bantam showing a symptom of contagious or transmissible disease." And then goes on to state that the judge is not required to handle the bird, and it is to be removed from the premises. Most shows list in their rules that birds showing any sign of disease or infestation are not allowed.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Actually you would have missed a great deal.
You would have missed the opportunity to look over other birds in the classes you were showing in to see how your birds compared.
You would have missed the opportunity to talk with other people who perhaps have more experience with your breed and with showing in general.
You would have missed the opportunity to look at breeds/varieties you are not familiar with.
You would have misses the opportunity to observe the judges to get an idea of how they evaluate the birds.
You would have missed the opportunity to possibly clerk for one of the judges which is an invaluable learning experience.
You would have missed the opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie that is so much a part of a poultry show.

Frankly,I don't know of anyone who drops off their birds & leaves regardless of where they live. Of course if they did do that I guess I wouldn't know it because they wouldn't have met me or anyone else at the show. That would have been a waste of many opportunities.

I know people who go to the shows JUST for all that you have listed, without showing their birds for one reason or another.

 

[lildinkem]

One thing I forgot to mention, that I think is a huge perk for going to a show and Exhibiting. I got to ask Doug what he thought of my Black cockerel comparing him to Doug's Buff Orpington standard and to be blunt honest. We went outside after coop out and set my Black Orp cockerel on the ground and let Doug look him over with an experts eye that I value. Doug gave me what I wanted to know. And what parts of my birds I need to work on. Info like this is only made available by getting to know the right people for your given breed. Definitely well worth sticking around for.