Poultry Show day - When to arrive and what to bring etc

[SegiDream]

We're participating in our first poultry show this spring, still several weeks away. We wanted to start small but since our local fair has been cancelled 2yrs in a row so we're going to a bigger apa show. I've been researching as best I can, but I still have a few questions about what to expect and what to do and bring on the day of the show. I don't want to bug the show people too much and the answers I get from them have been 1 word responses, not complaining it's just why I'm asking some of those questions here.

1. In regards to washing a silver rooster/penciled hens that have white. Can I use a whitening shampoo? I read somewhere that you can use whitening shampoo on a multi-color chicken you just have to be faster at washing it off...? Their feathers have yellowed ever so slightly since I've had them and it has me nervous.
2. The show says they have to be cooped in by a certain hour, but they're going to be tested prior to entering. No hours given for that. Do you think I should be there a couple hours early for testing? 3-4 hours early?
3. Should we bring our own bedding, feed and water, feed/water cups to put in the show cages? Bring our own trashbag for messes?
4. Is it safe or acceptable to wipe down their show cages with a lysol wipe or alcohol?
5. If you're traveling and decide to stay overnight at a hotel prior to the show.. where do you keep your birds?
6. I use flexible plastic legbands on my birds. Is it ok to leave them on or is that a big no no?
7. What anti-theft measures do you use? Do you secure the cage doors somehow? Is that frowned upon?
8. Judging usually goes down the rows in order(?) and you can primp or clean until they reach your row?
9. If a hen lays an egg, leave it in the cage with her or..?
10. What typically happens when the judging is finished? Ribbons for best of class? Rejudge to determine champion?
11. Showing with a junior (NOT 4H club) it says a parent cannot assist them with cleaning and caring for the bird. Assuming I should zip my lips and sit on my hands... If I'm asked a question I should tell her sorry I can't answer?

Any other tips are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Amer]

• In regards to washing a silver rooster/penciled hens that have white. Can I use a whitening shampoo? Yes
• The show says they have to be cooped in by a certain hour, but they're going to be tested prior to entering. No hours given for that. Do you think I should be there a couple hours early for testing? 3-4 hours early? I don’t know; in my state testing rules are different from yours
• Should we bring our own bedding, feed and water, feed/water cups to put in the show cages? Bring our own trashbag for messes? Bring bedding, feed/water cups, feed and water yes. They will be provided and use what is given to you but there’s might not be enough or it might not be to your liking. I have a designated bag to bring this all in. I don’t always need to use it. Sometimes I come home with souvineers if they have especially nice cups. Also bring a watering can. The trash bag shouldn’t be necessary though.
• Is it safe or acceptable to wipe down their show cages with a lysol wipe or alcohol? You can if you’d like, though I’ve never seen anyone do so.
• If you're traveling and decide to stay overnight at a hotel prior to the show.. where do you keep your birds? In the car.
• I use flexible plastic legbands on my birds. Is it ok to leave them on or is that a big no no?
• What anti-theft measures do you use? Do you secure the cage doors somehow? Is that frowned upon? You can zip tie a cage door shut, and some people do, but keep in mind that while it prevents people from randomly grabbing them, they can cut the ties. Except at the State Fair, I’ve never done this and my birds haven’t been stolen, though it can happen. Most people are honest though, as far as I’ve seen only about 1 out of a thousand birds will be stolen.
• Judging usually goes down the rows in order(?) and you can primp or clean until they reach your row? Get to the show an hour early, bring a tackle box or something of vaseline, toothbrushes, nail clippers (hopefully you’ve already clipped them though), wet wipes, towels and shampoo spray and primp them up. It would be frowned upon to do that when the judging has already begun, plus it gives you time for fellowship and a time for birds to last-minute dry off.
• If a hen lays an egg, leave it in the cage with her or..? You can. You could throw it away, give it to a friend, keep it, or just let it fall with all the shavings when everything is cleaned up.
• What typically happens when the judging is finished? Ribbons for best of class? Rejudge to determine champion? All best and reserves of class go to the Champion row and best and reserves in show are determined. Then winners in various classes are announced and awards are given.
• Showing with a junior (NOT 4H club) it says a parent cannot assist them with cleaning and caring for the bird. Assuming I should zip my lips and sit on my hands... If I'm asked a question I should tell her sorry I can't answer? Yeah during showmanship you can’t say anything. However you can help in the care and washing of the bird.
• How to do your part (since poultry clubs put up these shows as a labor of love and certainly aren’t really profitting): After coop out, don’t pack up and leave. Do pack up your birds and put them in your vehicle. After that, assist in taking down the cages. Take down at least as many as you have birds. If everyone did that, there would be a negative number of cages to clean up but I usually find myself spending a long time cleaning up after because a lot of people do leave, which is justified if you’re in a hurry, but many aren’t. This really helps the show people and they will appreciate it.

 

[SegiDream]

Oh my gosh you are a gem! Thank you thank you thank you so much for all the great info!! I think I may leave the legbands on. I found pics from last year and I see some have legbands. They have feathered feet, I just hope that doesn't detract in some way. Wish I'd thought of it before I put them on but I needed a way to distinguish the birds and keep notes. I'll bring binder clips just in case there are any issues closing the cage door.

Thanks also for the tip about helping with breakdown cleanup. I'm bringing DH with so there will be extra help with us. We'll make sure and break down our cages etc, but extra help will depend on how late it gets because we'll still have a long drive home. I have no idea how long these shows go.

 

[Amer]

Oh my gosh you are a gem! Thank you thank you thank you so much for all the great info!! I think I may leave the legbands on. I found pics from last year and I see some have legbands. They have feathered feet, I just hope that doesn't detract in some way. Wish I'd thought of it before I put them on but I needed a way to distinguish the birds and keep notes. I'll bring binder clips just in case there are any issues closing the cage door.

Thanks also for the tip about helping with breakdown cleanup. I'm bringing DH with so there will be extra help with us. We'll make sure and break down our cages etc, but extra help will depend on how late it gets because we'll still have a long drive home. I have no idea how long these shows go.

Oh I missed that point. Yes, you may leave the leg bands on.

 

[Amer]

You’re welcome.

 

[SegiDream]

Ugh unfortunately I just found out they cancelled it went to check for updates and bam. State of TN will not allow out of state birds that have confirmed cases of AI to show. So it looks like all shows are either cancelled or postponed until fall. We've been waiting since 2020 to show. When the stars finally aligned this happens. I guess I can shelve everything for now. Thanks again for the advice. I will save this info for the next attempt.

 

[Amer]

Oh, that’s too bad.

 

[artbykarenehaley]

I hope you do get to show your birds at some point! We couldn't this year due to Avian Flu too