How to show pekin ducks at the fair?

[JessyGii]

I have always wanted to show at the fair and this year will be my first time. I going to be showing a female Pekin duck and a barred rock hen. I cant find anything on showing ducks and how to prepare them for fair so I came here to ask. I'm going to be showing in open class, and I would like to know what I should do to prepare my duck for fair, and I would like to know how a duck is judged and shown. I have started preparing her a little by handling her allot. I feel a bit nervous now that fair is a month away I want to do the best I can and I feel kind of lost and not knowing what to do or what to expect. please give me some tips and some information on showing.

 

[duckins]

Not experienced with show ducks but the book storeys guide to raising ducks has a chapter on preparing and choosing the right duck it seems to have a lot of step by step info. Bought my copy at Tsc but u can buy it most anywhere. Sounds fun best of luck at the show.

 

[BattelSyrup]

Good for you for trying something new! My daughter just won Grand Champion Poultry Showperson at our competitive fair with her East Indies duck. I can tell you what she did to prepare.

I imagine that both of your birds will be judged for their breed or meat (if that's what you're raising your Pekin for) in their cages, so you will probably only select one for showmanship class. Check with your 4-H leader or the fair book to be sure. If that's the case, chickens are typically easier to handle for showmanship than ducks.

Either way, as you said you want to handle your birds plenty to get them used to being held without flapping. Practice turning them over. There are some YouTube videos that show how to show poultry. Ducks are pretty much the same as chickens except you tuck their head under your arm and, of course, a few parts are different when doing the inspection.

Keep your birds' feathers in good shape. Some people add a show conditioner feed to the diet as the fair approaches. We used black oil sunflower seeds for the chickens this year so the oil would help feathers shine.

Practice washing the birds.

Learn your bird parts, from the beak/bill to the sickle feathers and oil gland. Know how to describe what you're seeing when you do the inspection. Learn the history of your breeds and names of other breeds.

Practice cage training your birds so they won't go crazy in a cage. Practice posing them so they'll stay as still as possible with their heads up high.

Google "poultry showmanship site:.edu" for manuals written by folks at university animal science departments. Or try "yourstate 4-H poultry showmanship manual." You'll find a number of booklets online with a wealth of additional detail.

Good luck!

 

[BattelSyrup]

Almost forgot that you asked how a duck is judged. If it's a market bird, it's judged for its meat, particularly the breast and thighs for quantity of meat, finish and correct amount of fat. If it's a breeding duck, it's judged by condition and adherence to the breed standard, i.e., what makes an ideal bird of that breed.

 

[JessyGii]

Thank you so much for the information, Today I started cage training the hen and the duck they are both pretty calm already so I don't think it will take long , I also went to tractor supply and purchased a booklet and some supplements for them. I herd though that in an open class you don't have to hold your bird and do a talk about it, I herd that was a 4H thing and I am not in 4H but just to be sure I am studying up on the breeds and there parts. I am so excited to show!