How do you show silkies?

[Silkie-Feet]

i got 3 silkies and i was wondering how to show them if i did dicide i wanted to. i have never been to a chicken show and would like to know how to prep the silkie before show and wat to do once i get to the show. here are some things i would like explained or proven fact/fictioon. pls help i would love pics.

- baby oil gell on combs and wattels?
- washing the silkie?
- is my hen show quality? ( pics below)
- how to (SHOW) silkies?

- here is a pic of my 4 MONTH OLD HEN. is she show quality.
full body:


pic of feet( there are 10 toes just some are coverd by the dense feathers)

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

I think show quality is a bit of an over-rated term. What does it really mean anyway? What you'd like to know, I'm sure, is 'will she do well in a show'? You really can't tell the quality of a bird just from pictures. It's up to you to determine her quality. She's pretty young, still. Silkies don't finish maturing until they are at least 8-9 months. Check for disqualifications or defects. The American Silkie Bantam Club has the Silkie standard on their site. Here:

http://www.americansilkiebantamclub.org/standard.asp

Try to be familiar with it. Also, don't be afraid to search for old threads. There's been tons on this topic recently.

I don't know how old you are, but if you're a kid, look into showmanship. I do it. Showmanship is for youth exhibitors, and basically they have to 'sell' ther bird (that is, answer questions based on that breed from the judge. It's a one on one thing, exhibitor talks to judge about the bird. Questions usually concern the origin of the breed, how one takes care of their bird, show prep, labeling parts of the bird, etc). The more you know, the better you do. Search that, too.

This is a guide I've taken to. Nothing about showmanship here, but it's a general 'adult exhibitor's guide' to preping for shows and actually being there. I really like it.

http://www.silkiechickens.com/showing_silkies.htm

I advise you to bathe the bird (although she looks pretty clean from the picture) 3-5 days before any show. I also advise you to look around Silkie threads as stated previously. There was a thread a few days ago having to do with bathing. But this is another nice article I've taken to. It's in my favorites.

http://www.silkiechickens.com/bathing_silkies.htm

You can use oil on combs and/or wattles. I like VetRX because it's not just for show preping. And lastly, my advice to you, READ, READ, READ!!! There's alot that can't be covered in just one thread. Good luck. I hope you find this useful.

 

[Silkie-Feet]

thanks so much i hope someone else can also help with more info and yes i'm a "KID" i'm 13.

 

[Silkie-Feet]

someone else pls help

 

[averytds]

The links provided pretty well cover everything unless you are talking about how to do showmanship. If you're not doing showmanship, getting them ready is about it. The judge does all the rest. You don't even have to be there while he does it.


If you're needing to know about how to do showmanship, that varies a bit depending upon how it's done at different places and by different judges. Knowing as much as you can about poultry in general and your breed specifically should see you through no matter the format used. For your age group, at a minimum, you should know the parts of the bird, it's breed, class, variety and sex, how to remove it and return it to it's cage and how to hold/handle it during showing. Know the differences between the sexes, why is your pullet called a pullet instead of a hen? The Silkie standard, what makes a Silkie a Silkie? Five toes, black skin, turquoise earlobes, etc. Know something about it's background, where Silkies come from and how they got here would be good. Possibly be able to name a few examples of other breeds within the same class. And be able to answer questions about general poultry care, feeding, how to trim nails, how to get it ready for show, treat for mites, etc.

There are several good Youtube videos of kid's demonstrating poultry showmanship. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=poultry+showmanship&aq=f

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

I couldn't have said that better myself.

I'd like to add that in Showmanship, (in MY fairs, it may differ for yours), 95 of the 100 points is all based on the answers YOU give. (There's a grading sheet with different topics all about the things mentioned above. The points for each topic are usually out of 5 and 10, the more important questions are out of 15 or 20. Added up, the total is usually 100.). So that means, at least in my competitions, 95% is primarily stationed around the exhibitor. That leaves 5% left for the bird. It's alot like reversed regular-showing. Showmanship is for the person, showing is for the chicken. Of that 5%, it's a pretty simple 'you have it or you don't'. If the bird is lice and mite free, looks clean and doesn't have any obvious DQs (even then, some judges won't care!), it will usually get the full 5 points. Great quality usually helps, but the bird does not necessarily have to be really special. At least that's how it works for me.

I forget, however, that this year our fair was out of 110 points. Point being, they can add questions/topics or remove them from the grading sheet every year if the judge feels it needs to be done.

Gather as much info on your breed and general chicken-stuff as you can. Go through how you take care of them, how to maintain healthy birds, etc. Practice alone or recite answers to a friend or family member. That way, when you're standing in front of a judge, you don't get nervous.

Showmanship has a dress-code. I wear a white lab coat. You're supposed to dress 'nice' in a nice pair of black pants and a nice white shirt, or a lab coat. Lab coat works better for me. Another important thing is to smile, really listen to the judge if he/she is responding to something you said or if he's/she's asking you a question. Be respectful and polite of course. In my fair, all of that together is a good 30 or so points.

As far as the parts of the chicken body, you can probably find a few good diagrams labeling the general stuff. I suggest, though, that you take a look at this page. It's also in my favorites.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=343605&p=1

I memorized the first wing diagram and well as the one of the feet, and drew my own silkie and labeled the parts of the body on the paper. VERY useful. Read up alot on here. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere if not for BYC. It's my deadly weapon against my fellow 4Hers.

 

[Silkie-Feet]

thanks for the help, but i'm not in 4-h.(idk wat it is) also i wasnt thinking of doing showmanship i thought i would just "show" my chicken. sry but i still dont understand showmanship if u can explain it in english i might think about it.

 

[Silkie-Feet]

how do you "show" chickens without showmanship?

 

[muddyhorse]

4 H is a great program that teaches kids many skills includeing how to handle livestock. It is kinda like girlscouts but with lots more critters. you can contact your county extension office and they can help you. If you are not doing showmanship and just want to show your bird first find a show, county fair or APA. get the show catalouge (gives rules and fees) then you sign your bird up. since you have a silkie bathe the bird 4 days before the show. then on the day of the show you take the bird there. you place the bird in their cage ( one is provided for you) do your final prep, remove poop ect. then you walk away and let the judge judge the bird. after the birds are released at the end of the show you pick them up and you are done. showing is a lot of fun good luck

 

[Silkie-Feet]

thanks i wont show till at least next year. but this saturday there is a chicken swap close wat is that i might go?