Ohio National...

[BamaChicken]

It is a very long 16 hrs drive for me also. That is my only concern about showing birds. I don't know what kind of shape they would be in after riding in a cage for that length of time. Laura, do you have any knowlege or suggestions on this?
Do you show when you go from Kentucky?
We have room for the reccomended Hotel from the Ohio National site.
The UOC will be having their Nationals there this year.
I am hoping to see some great exhibition Orps there.
I should have some blue and black Orp Cockerels breeding age by then if anyone wants me to take a photo and bring one for you to purchase.

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

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If it were me I would take someone with me and drive without stopping at a hotel for the night. If you have the chickens in show boxes or the plastic dog crates they should do fine. Don't put any food or water in the box with them because that is where the mess comes from. Put plenty of shavings in the boxes to help them stay clean.

 

[BamaChicken]

There are a few coming with me but I think we are stopping and spending the nite at someones house. We are not young. Can't burn the candle at both ends anymore without paying for it

 

[wren]

Just an idea here.

Maybe if a large group is going you could hire someone to drive a large vehicle towing a small trailer with the chickens in it. The cost would be dispersed that way.
Sounds like you have a plan already.

It's better to transport birds in a cardboard box than using a wire cage. Make sure you have air holes and litter. Show boxes are the best.

 

[JessaLynn]

Why is it better to transport them in a cardboard box rather then a wire cage? Is it less stressful for them because of it being dark?

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

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The wire cage will mess up the feathers.....a cheap way to transport them is go to your local fruit stand and buy some fruit boxes....ours cost $0.25 each.....cut a hole out of the lid and zip tie some hardware cloth to the hole.....a nice box for your bantam chickens and bantam ducks.....

If you need something bigger buy a plastic tote from walmart and drill a bunch of air holes in it....

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

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just put the birds in a shed or garage for the night.....give them a little to drink and eat and take the food away before you lock them up.

 

[jen5680]

Does anyone no what day they do the sales?
Thanks.

 

[Ryu]

Sales start as soon as the birds hit the coops.

Last year, there wasn't a lot of sale birds the evening before the show. Some of the birds we bought were shown, so we honored the Coop-out time for the previous owners.

We had arranged to meet a breeder in a parking lot (he wasn't showing, just passing through) and those birds spent the night in the car.

It seems like more and more birds come in every day to the sales coops. I don't know if that's how it's supposed to be, but the one of the birds I bought wasn't there until the last day.

It's a loooong trip, we are trying to get fired up for it. The drive is long, but it's one of, if not the best, show we go to.

 

[Ryu]

I'd like to mention that if one of the main reasons for going is to buy birds--I'd get hold of the breeders before the show.

The drive is soooo much shorter if you know you have at least a pair waiting for you!