I want to show chickens

[ChickenGirl555]

I currently have 3 pullet breeds, Buff Orpington, Barred Rock, and Easter egger. I'm getting polish this spring so I wouldn't show them until 2019 but are any of these breeds worthy of showing? I don't know much about showing but I'm going to learn over winter break. Any experienced chicken showers know?

 

[Poultrybreeder]

I have shown for 6 years now. I have learned so much! I could try to help you, really the only ones you can't show are Easter Eggers, because the are not registered as a breed. But all the rest listed are perfectly capable of showing. You just have to look at their quality. I can give you the information I know throug P.M. if you are ok with it, so that I don't stuff the thread, to give other people room to answer questions as well. I hope this helps! Have a great day and God Bless!

 

[MillersFarm]

I currently have 3 pullet breeds, Buff Orpington, Barred Rock, and Easter egger. I'm getting polish this spring so I wouldn't show them until 2019 but are any of these breeds worthy of showing? I don't know much about showing but I'm going to learn over winter break. Any experienced chicken showers know?

Yes you can Show those breeds but it's all about their quality not the breed. I'd need to see picture of what you want to show. If they come from hatcheries then they're most likely not show quality, If you want show quality birds you might want to look for a local breeder.

 

[gojira]

Yes you can Show those breeds but it's all about their quality not the breed. I'd need to see picture of what you want to show. If they come from hatcheries then they're most likely not show quality, If you want show quality birds you might want to look for a local breeder.

You can get show quality birds from hatcheries, and you can get inferior birds from breeders. On some breeds/varieties hatcheries are as good of a source as any. I have shown a Barred Plymouth Rock Bantam from a feed store at APA/ABA shows, and she gets best of variety. Yes, I have better birds, but shows are about having fun.

 

[I Love Layers]

You can show all of those except Easter Eggers.
In terms of "worthy" of showing assuming they are all hatchery, technically not.
There is a huge difference between getting a bird from a hatchery and a breeder and showing it.
Here is by far my favorite example
A hatchery LF Blue Cochin

And one of my show quality ones, who has some flaws

Hatchery birds may win at some shows, but if you go to competitive shows where that bird is not the only one in its Variety or Breed it will not get BV, RV, or BB, RB.


For your first year I would say just take the birds you have. Talk to people, learn, and find a breed that fits you and buy from a breeder

 

[gojira]

You can show all of those except Easter Eggers.
In terms of "worthy" of showing assuming they are all hatchery, technically not.
There is a huge difference between getting a bird from a hatchery and a breeder and showing it.
Here is by far my favorite example
A hatchery LF Blue Cochin
View attachment 1181928

And one of my show quality ones, who has some flaws
View attachment 1181931

Hatchery birds may win at some shows, but if you go to competitive shows where that bird is not the only one in its Variety or Breed it will not get BV, RV, or BB, RB.


For your first year I would say just take the birds you have. Talk to people, learn, and find a breed that fits you and buy from a breeder

There are some Easter Eggers that can be shown. True, not many qualify.

What is the difference between getting a bird from a hatchery and a breeder and showing it?

That may not be a good example. If your hatchery example were conditioned properly (feathers not broken, no sun damage, etc.), your hatchery example would most likely place over your "show quality" example. What flaws do you see in your "show quality" example? What positives do you see in your hatchery example?

 

[BantyChooks]

There are some Easter Eggers that can be shown. True, not many qualify.

Care to clarify on this?

 

[gojira]

Some Easter Eggers are of a recognized color variety of Ameraucana. They also have the proper slate shank and toes, as opposed to the typcal green seen in many Easter Eggers. Those are the two common areas where Easter Eggers and Ameraucanas differ.

 

[BantyChooks]

Some Easter Eggers are of a recognized color variety of Ameraucana. They also have the proper slate shank and toes, as opposed to the typcal green seen in many Easter Eggers. Those are the two common areas where Easter Eggers and Ameraucanas differ.

I'm not getting you. They would be Ameraucanas, not Easter Eggers, yes? I have yet to see a hatchery EE that comes anywhere close to AM looks...

 

[I Love Layers]

There are some Easter Eggers that can be shown. True, not many qualify.

What is the difference between getting a bird from a hatchery and a breeder and showing it?

That may not be a good example. If your hatchery example were conditioned properly (feathers not broken, no sun damage, etc.), your hatchery example would most likely place over your "show quality" example. What flaws do you see in your "show quality" example? What positives do you see in your hatchery example?

That is in no way correct for showing in a class other than in showmanship. I can get many people to agree with me also. An easter egger could never be shown, in an APA/ABA or most shows in fact, and place.

As for my example, even with proper conditioning the hatchery would never place over mine, I can also get many people to agree with me on that.
The flaws in my bird is she needs more lacing, and a better comb and face.
I find no positives in the hatchery quality, other then maybe a little of its coloring but it is very uneven