Proper Poultry Showmanship (USA)

[Hoopla]

If you have read my other thread Preparing for Poultry Showmanship (USA) then you are all set to understand the steps to poultry showmanship! Showmanship involves knowledge, handling, confidence, and care! Here are some steps I take to ensure a victory!

Walking up the judge:

1. Take your bird head first out of your cage with your hands holding down the wings
2. To properly hold the bird, take your left hand and separate your middle finger from your ring finger () and place that hand in-between your birds keel bone. Place your right hand on the wings so that the bird may not fly away.
3. If your bird is flighty, calm her/him down by tucking their head under your armpit. The bird's angle of vision will be minimized.

Greeting the judge:

1. Introduce yourself!
   1. Your name
   2. Age
   3. Where you are from
      1. For my fellow members of 4-H... what club are you in?
   4. Your bird's age, breed, color variety, sex, etc.
      1. Use information from Preparing for Poultry Showmanship (USA)
   5. The judge may ask questions or ask you to dive straight into the poultry showmanship portion of the judging.
      1. All judges are different!

Poultry showmanship steps:

First: what is poultry showmanship?
Various steps taken in order to show the judge your knowledge of the bird along with checking your bird for Standard of Perfection qualities.

1. If a table is present I highly recommend posing the bird as you are introducing yourself
   1. The bird should be shown on the table in an alert position with tail fluffed, head and beak raised, feathers smooth (unless frizzle), and wings in normal position.
   2. If you have a silkie or an Asiatic breed (cochin, brahman, etc.), pose the rump of the bird slightly up and fluffed to show off the beautiful feathers of the Asiatic breeds.
2. Examine head:
   1. Bird should be raised to shoulder height with free hand used to move the head. Make sure to examine both sides.
   2. Here, you are looking (and noting to the judge) any abnormalities, defects, or disqualifications. If your bird does not have any of these note how the head of the bird is up to standards with the standard of perfect. This includes symmetry, coloring, and size of eyes, beak, comb, wattles, (optional) crest, (optional) beard.
3. Examine wings:
   1. Bird should be held in standard position () with head parallel to your body
   2. Spread out a wing by grouping wing tip with free hand and gently pulling to show off feathering. Examine second wing by placing free hand across the body of the bird and applying pressure to the last wing joint with thumb and finger's to extend wing.
   3. Note color, absence of feathers, split wings (missing axial feather) (a disqualification except for Ko shamos), slipped wings, and twisted feathers.
   4. Lift wing up and down to show flexibility
   5. Note feather types present and parts of the wing
      1. Front (wing part)
      2. Bow (wing part)
      3. Bar (wing part)
      4. Secondary's (feather)
      5. Primaries (feather)
      6. Primary coverts (feather)
      7. Wing shoulder (wing part)
      8. (optional) Axial feather or blood feather (feather)
4. Examine under color:
   1. Bird should be held in standard position () with head faced towards you (remember, you're showing the judge)
      1. (Optional) place birds head under your shoulder
   2. Finger tips used to pull feathers "against the grain"
   3. Note the color of the plumage and if it matches your breeds standards
   4. Check for any parasites such as lice or mites that stick to the under plumage of feathers
   5. Note skin color
5. Showing width of the body:
   1. Bird should be held in standard position () with head faced towards you
      1. (Optional) place birds head under your shoulder
   2. Place your thumb and index finger of free hand across the bird's body, directly behind the base of the wings.
   3. This is to determine the width and shape of the body. Show the shape of your thumb and index finger to the judge.
   4. Note any body defects
   5. Width of the body helps determine egg laying capabilities. Important to note for male birds as well as a standard width of the body portrays good breeding genetics.
6. (Optional) Showing preen gland:
   1. Bird should be held in standard position () with head faced towards you
      1. (Optional) place birds head under your shoulder
   2. Right above the base of the birds tale lies the preen gland. An oil gland that secretes preen oils used for the birds to smooth/waterproof their feathers.
   3. Using your free hand, spread out the feathers on the base of the tail revealing the preen gland.
7. Check the breast:
   1. Two ways to do this:
      1. Bird's head help downward with it's back against the show-person's thigh.
      2. Birds head held upward with it's back against the show-person's chest.
      3. In both, one hand firmly holds feet together while the other measures the width.
   2. Free hand used to measure breast bone (keel bone). Show this measurement to the judge.
   3. Note straightness, breast blisters, or other indentations/defects.
8. Measure depth of abdomen:
   1. Bird should be held in standard position () with head faced towards you.
      1. (Optional) place birds head under your shoulder
   2. Place as many fingers possible of free hand between the tip of the keel bone and pubic bones
      1. Show amount of fingers to the judge
   3. Shows laying capabilities and the ability of egg formation.
   4. Non layers will usually have a smaller body with a shallow and firm abdomen.
   5. Note any abnormalities or defects (undesirable depth of body for breed- usually smaller)
9. Showing vent
   1. Following the depth of the abdomen, hold the bird in the same position.
   2. The vent is where eggs and feces are passed
   3. Spread the feathers until the vent is exposed
   4. Note cleanliness and if there is a prescience of parasites.
10. Measure width of pubic bones
    1. Bird should be held in standard position () with head faced towards you
       1. (Optional) place birds head under your shoulder
    2. Using your free hand, place as many fingers as possible between the tips of the pubic bones
       1. Show fingers to the judge
    3. Squeeze the pubic bones towards each other to show flexibility
    4. Measuring the width of the pubic bone shows the ability of an egg to pass
11. Examine feet and legs
    1. Bird should be held in standard position () with head faced towards you
       1. (Optional) place birds head under your shoulder
    2. Note shank and toe coloring and if that is standard for your breed
    3. Note amount of toes present and if that is standard for your breed
    4. Note of feathers on feet and if this is standard for your breed
    5. Show flexibility of each toe
    6. Show flexibility of legs
    7. Swivel the bird to show front of feet and legs
12. (Optional) Hand the bird to the judge
    1. The judge may wish to examine your bird further
       1. They will usually ask for the bird
    2. Hand the bird head first to the judge with your free hand holding the bird's wings down
13. Return bird to cage
    1. Head first and free hand holding the bird's wings down
       1. Prevent injury to the wings and to keep the bird's feathers smooth and unruffled
    2. When the bird is in cage, stand off to the side so the judge can see the bird.
14. The judge may ask you further questions
    1. Use information from Preparing for Poultry Showmanship (USA)

 

[MGG]

Awesome informative post! Thank you!
I bookmarked this!!!

 

[MGG]

Also, welcome to BYC, Hoopla! I see you're new.