Show ducks?

[donkeydew2farms]

thanks learycow for the input. we do have a state fair in july I will look into it for next year.

 

[HumbleHen207]

At the show they will have specific cages for different species and bird sizes, they will show you to your designated cage. Feed and water is usually provided, however you can bring your own if desired, and it is left in the cage during the judging process. I work in the poultry barn at a local fair in the fall and we attend to all the chores such as feeding, watering, and cage cleaning in the morning and afternoon. There is very little you need to do during the show, your biggest job is preparation. Most states require that you have Pullorum/Typoid testing done prior to the show, or have a tester on site to test your birds to the disease, this usually only costs a few dollars per bird. I do not keep my birds caged before show. The most I do with my ducks before bringing them to the show grounds is give them a good look over, make sure they are free of parasites and diseases, and spray them down with clean water to clean them up a bit.

 

[donkeydew2farms]

thanks humblehen207 I am going to retire in three years and that is something I could get in to. I figure it will take that long to get things going. also do you keep your show birds apart from your others. my girls and guys are so bonded they freak when the get separated .

 

[learycow]

thanks humblehen207 I am going to retire in three years and that is something I could get in to. I figure it will take that long to get things going. also do you keep your show birds apart from your others. my girls and guys are so bonded they freak when the get separated .

No. I keep all of them together. I only separate if they need a separate area to keep clean, but for me that's only necessary if it's raining and muddy before I show. Then I'll keep the show birds inside on clean bedding to keep from getting mud stains

 

[Amykins]

Do you have to wait until their after their first molt, or will their teenage feathers ever be pretty enough to show? Do they have a juvenile category, like they do for cats and other livestock?

 

[HumbleHen207]

For ducks they have four categories; young duck, old duck, young drake, old drake. Young ducks and drakes are birds under a year old. I usually wait till first moult to show mine if possible mainly because they have not reached full size before then. I also keep all my birds together unless I am breeding birds, then I seperate them into breed groups.

 

[Amykins]

Yeah...I guess I may have to wait, since her teenage feathers don't look so hot. :/ She hasn't quite gotten the hang of preening yet, hehe!

 

[learycow]

Do you have to wait until their after their first molt, or will their teenage feathers ever be pretty enough to show? Do they have a juvenile category, like they do for cats and other livestock?

If they are somewhat filled out and look great, then I will show them before their adult molt. Some teens do fill out before others and a proper judge will be able to tell they are young and will take that into consideration. Otherwise, I only show them if they have molted and look 100% (or close to it). Scruffy feathers and molting can disqualify them from some shows. Plus its not what the public want to see or is used to seeing. They want perfect birds displayed