How Many Of You Take Your Birds To Show?

[Birch Run Farm]

I see a lot of you working on some awesome breed projects on these forums.

I'm kind of getting the bug even though there are no poultry shows within Vermont, there are some in neighboring states. I'm considering a show in Mass in January even though my araucana cockerel has some bleed through color. He has everything else, correct size, big tufts and rumpless. He has a nice sister with small bilateral tufts, correct color, rumpless.

This to get my feet wet, see a lot of birds and also see/meet what other breeders are doing. Way new territory for me but it seems natural after being an egg collector for a lot of years now I want to 'give something back' by working on some worthy standard breds.

I am not sured if this is the thing to do though. I love my birds and trying to produce better but I often think about the following:

Are the breed standards better for an over all bird?

Who decides breed standards?

As such, if you have shown, what are your thoughts and experiences?

I would like to also have fun with this.

What are your thoughts on improving a particular breed or even making new in roads into it? (Such as new color varieties, etc). Sometimes when I see what is considered show quality in a breed or species it does not look natural at all (example: Muscovy ducks, OMG, the caruncles for show quality seem excessive).

I'd even like to hear from show judges to 4-H fair kids, ruthless or not, please pipe in all!

 

[Kanchii]

I LOVE showing, I get so excited and pumped and competitive, and the pride when you do well cant be beat! I highly recommend giving it a try.

Try to find out how big the show is that you're planning on going to, though. You don't want to travel all that distance for one of the tiny shows, that'd be a bummer.

 

[Tailfeathers]

I am pleased to see that you are interested in "giving something back". I think that is what motivates many of us to do this. And seeing one of my birds receive an award at a show is part of that experience. It is the bird that gets the credit and I give all glory to God for His magnificent creation that he has allowed me to be a steward of. I only try to be the best steward I can.

I have been overwhelmingly pleasantly pleased by all the Shows I've attended.

The APA and/or The ABA decides the breed standards. They are defined in the appropriate SOP.

Yes, I think breeding to SOP is good overall for the breed. Imagine what would happen to any breed if there was not someone who could define what the breed is and what is must continue to be like? Eventually it would just disappear and be absorbed into something else.

By all means go to a show and I see NO reason why you can't have fun doing it. The first show my wife and I went to, we entered I think four birds. I went there with absolutely NO expectations and I would encourage you to do the same. I went there for the sole purpose of being a sponge and soaking up as much knowledge and information as I could for those in the know. Imagine our utter elation when one of our ducks took Best of Breed!!

Another thing I'd encourage you to try is a local County or State Fair. They are a blast as well.

My advice to you on trying to improve a breed is to start small. Stay with one breed - two at the max. I have had to do that same thing myself and am down to just my Ameraucanas and Welsummers.

As for trying to develop a new variety, I will let you know. I am trying to develop a "tri-colored Wheaten Ameraucana" that looks like Bev Davis' Wheaten Marans hen at www.bevsmarans.com . If you are like me and no geneticist, then it will likely be a long, hard road to haul but a tremendously fun experience while traveling down it.

I hope that helps answer your questions.

God Bless,

 

[KKluckers]

I think you would have a blast. I really enjoy showing and the people there. You can make many friends and people are always willing to help you out and answer questions. I'd take that Araucana Cockerel and see how he does. Its good to go and get the experience and I think you'll really enjoy yourself. I know I have fun and look forward to every show.

Tailfeathers (Royce) are you going to the Chehalis show in December? OR the Stockton show in January?

 

[MagsC]

I think showing chickens would be great, but like me wanting to show dogs, timing for any of that has really been off.

 

[LilPeeps]

The Northeastern Poultry Congress in January is the largest show in the northeast. This year, it will be held on Jan. 17 & 18. Here's their site: http://www.poultrycongress.com

I hope you can make it, it's a great show!

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Lilpeeps,

That's the show I am thinking about attending.

 

[Tailfeathers]

Christina, I'm gonna sure try to make Chehalis. I'm hesitant to say "I will" make it to the show because it seems that I have so many things going on now that I never know what I will do or won't be able to do.

My birds are out free-ranging and I'm not sure what kind of condition they're gonna be in but I can tell you this, I'll make every effort to be there even if I have to show up with just one or two birds.

God Bless,