Buyers,
Please keep in mind that there is no set time for the sale area to open. No one can say who will be selling what, and what time they will be there. The show only sells the space - they have no idea what that breeder is selling. When the exhibitors get done with their show birds will be when they get their sale birds set up. If that exhibitor comes right at three on Friday and is finished cooping in by 4, then his/her sale birds could be ready right after that. If an exhibitor shows up at 8am on Saturday and finishes cooping-in by nine, he/she can start bringing the sale birds in at that time. So basically, the sale area is open from 3pm Friday until the close of show on Sunday. The best time is first thing Saturday, but I've gotten some great birds by haunting the show on Friday after cooping-in. There is no set time for the best birds, and there's always a lot of luck involved. And, buy what you like when you see it - it probably won't be there later.
THAT SAID - it has been my experience that if I miss getting a bird I was looking at, it has turned out to be a good thing, because something better has usually come along. Also, if I'm really set on getting a certain breed or variety, I start researching breeders a couple of months BEFORE the show, and then make arrangements to meet and pick up birds the breeder has reserved for me. I don't go home empty-handed that way. Leave enough sale areas with no new birds and you'll be contacting breeders yourself. The quality of the birds in my flock has risen dramatically since I started purchasing birds with this method, rather than the take-my-chances buying method.
. I live in Northern VA and am always looking for something on the east coast. I wish it was easy to find like it is for dogs shows...
