PPBA Show in Stockton, CA in January?

[cherylcohen]

Oh I'm happy, why wouldn't I be??...I was only stressing getting the hens ready etc, because Larry was in LA all week and I didn't have help and work was a stressful week.

ANYWAY heres my report...all my hens placed...well by default!

Oprah won first/best variety because she was the only black orpington!

She looked very good next to the hen that one best of breed but was about 25% smaller! WOW the cock that won in the oprington breed was SPECTACULAR!!!

Silver pencil rocks girls - Sadie and Fanny also placed. Fanny first/best of variety and Sadie bringing up the rear second/reserve variety. Ha Ha again by default no other silver pencils. I really really learned so much! This is really the project I'm most excited about!!

Met a ton of people and had a blast...well there is still today as well....doors open early and birds start being cooped out by 10:30. I can't wait to get my girls home and on ground again. I have adams lice/mite spray to really get anything off of them...quarantine....I know ziggy misses his girls, maybe I'll give him visiting rights!!

The sale barn...well I'm not a bantam person so I was a bit disappointed. cage after cage of those little guys and very little large fowl...ok yes I know I don't NEED anything. I saw a couple of salmon favoralles that were sold that I would have scooped up but beside that, nothing interested me...

I sold one of my little Wheaten Marans cockerels and have two left as off last night.

I'll take more pics this am and try to post the link if people are interested. I have some really fun shots of the two wellies camping out in Annaraven's trunk - now we are not talking a SUV trunk, we are talking about a regular car and the wellies were just eating, hanging out and of course pooing all over her car trunk - hysterical and really really pretty birds.

All in all, it was great fun (in fact there were moments I laughed the hardest I've ever laughed!!) but most importantly was a great learning experience.

oh and something important I learned...when driving with 5 cages full of chickens and pine shavings in the truck cab, DON'T ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS!! Does the image of those money machines on TV come to mind...yep that was it!

I need coffee...

 

[Happy Chooks]

Cheryl, I'm glad our girls did well, even if by default!

I'm sure you and Wynette will do great things with them with Bob's help. Although I already think they are gorgeous.

 

[The Sheriff]

Yeah Cheryl, a winner's still a winner! Congrats. I can't wait to see the pics.

 

[dmiravalle]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I couldn't wait for the meet up, I am just getting over being really sick and the fog and cold was killing me.

I got my trio of brahma's and he threw in a 4th hen. They are just amazing.

Congrats to everyone for even trying to go and show, it takes a lot of work!!!!

Oh and Silverphoenix, my son was desperately trying to find some of the little black east indies ducks! Let us know if you hatch out any ducklings!!

And that goose was amazing!!!!! He was HUGE!

 

[annaraven]

I ended up just putting the Wellies in the coop last night onto the roost. We lost a chicken yesterday to a predator so it seemed a better thing to just make the changes all at once. (I know I know... quarantine...) They seem to be getting along okay so far today. I threw them all a bunch of scratch and BOSS. I'm looking forward to the photos Cheryl.

I didn't take any photos yesterday - it was all so overwhelming. I think it was a good experience though. I was surprised at the poor quality of some of the show birds - especially some of the Sicilian Buttercups. My Stella would have rocked that category.

Cheryl - your birds are awesome and beautiful. Glad to see you have a plan in place.

 

[cherylcohen]

ah thanks everyone, it will really be a joy to see this breed shine. I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful start with sadie, fanny & ziggy. The girls have really not been happy in the cages and I for one really don't like it either...chickens need to be chickens.. on the ground getting muddy and finding worms! IMO

 

[dmiravalle]

The one thing I don't understand about chicken showing, is I was always taught the point of showing is to improve your stock. To have a judge ( I do realize they can be biased) give their opinion on a given animal and learn what you need to work on. I found it was hard to hear from an isle over and I really didn't learn anything other than talking with breeders and some had VERY different opinions. It was educational to go to such a large show.

I personally didn't care for the sales barn, I know the birds are only there a couple of days, but boy it didn't seem like a very "healthy" environment. It seems to me, diseases would spread like wild fire in there. I personally, won't bring sales birds to next years show unless they can stay in my car. Maybe post a picture and my number in an empty cage???

 

[kelseygirl707]

Quote:
Aww, well thanks for thinking of me. Honestly though, I already don't have room for all the eggs I have, not sure what I am going to do. If the Emus didn't need only 30-35% Humidity, I would throw them all in the new GQF, then my other incubator was supposed to limit me, it's an R-com Mini, only supposed to hold 3, as that is how many it turns, but I can probably fit 6 maybe more because of the Serama size in there and I will hand turn them. So I will hvae about 15 eggs between the Serama's and the BCM, so leftovers may go in with the Emu's as a dry hatch method experament.

But I may hit you up in the future.

 

[kelseygirl707]

Quote:
I know Disease still happens, but I think birds have to be NPIP tested and Certified to be able to be at the show at all. But I could be wrong.

 

[wolftracks]

Quote:
Cheryl I'm so glad they placed. You looked a little frustrated, so I'm glad you got placements.

They are beautiful birds. I love their lacing.

I think this is going to be a great project for you. Just imagine what you can come up with from here.

I started showing dogs when I was 12 and over the years I would show my breed of choice and also work on a breed that was either rare or needed work. Dog shows are political arenas and I loved being able to take my dogs in and win, when no one thought I could do it. I rarely worked with groups that were improving breeds, but I could always place first. LOL This is what I see for you and the rocks.

I have never been a lover or Rocks. OK l loved my ggrandmother's white rocks when I was little. I did see some that I liked yesterday. They problem with mine was they were never the sweet friendly birds everyone else seems to have. They were my bullies, but your girls are so pretty, I would have some if I didn't have all my other breeds. Maybe one of these days when I have my own home and more space.

Kelsey, my grand daughter was in awwwe over those Emu eggs. She wanted to see the chicken that laid those. Kept telling her they were Emu eggs and they were from the big birds I've shown her, but she wanted to see where they were. Gotta hunt some pics on here of them so I can refresh her memory, but she still thought they should have them at the show if their eggs were there. LOL

Something I did notice while walking around was I have some pretty nice birds! I think once the ggs start showing up here I'm going to hatch a out enough to find my own show birds for next year, Plus Makayla wants to stand up with the other kids and show chickens, so there ya go!