"Show quality"??? Who's going to all these shows?

[Chickenmaven]

I just wanted to rant a bit about "show quality." I am cranky when I read about people asking if their favorite hatchery bird is SQ. Are they going to a show? I didn't think so!

Two things:
1) If you want SQ, go to a show & buy from people who are in that world. I don't hear people ask if the lab pppy they got off of Craigslist should compete.
2) Because I think most chickens are pretty special, I would like to propose that someone start a Pet Quality chicken show!

Who cares about SQ? We can have shows that rate chickens on their traits as companions & egg-layers.

Whatcha think?

 

[Funky Feathers]

A Pet Quality chicken show? Oh, the Blasphemeness of it all!

 

[CityChicker]

I think that would be fun. When we first got our dogs and were showing and going to the training center, we would hear about *fun shows* all the time. I'm sure they still do them. Basically, a large group of people would get together like a at a park and do exactly what you are saying. A lot of times they even had corporate sponsors there handing out products, taking pictures, etc...

 

[HarlansHollowFarms]

Hey, all my chickens are show quality

How dare someone incinuate they are only pet quality

 

[Chickenmaven]

I love the photo threads, here on BYC, because they are kinda like pet shows.

 

[blackred]

Quote:
They already have them, they are called Backyard shows. A lot of times they are run along side the Sanctioned shows, only judged by by someone who is not a real judge.
There are also County fair shows where they are not sanctioned, you just enter your bird - no real rules.

You really need to work on that "maven " thing

Bob

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

We are having a "show" here in central Florida that isn't a sanctioned show. Just an opportunity for folks to bring their birds and learn about showing. The only thing we are asking is that the birds are purebred...plus there is a production class. It's unlikely that there will be a lot of "show quality" entries...but it will be a lot of fun and the APA/ABA judge will tell them about their bird...good and not so good qualities.

There will be many birds for sale...probably some real SQ and many just for fun pets!

Nifty has given us permission to use the BYC name for the "show" and sale...it's gonna' be a whole lotta fun!!

 

[cybercat]

Here on BYC we have our own pet Quality shows. We have a whole section for it. Lots of pet contests.

Maybe instead of asking if chicken is SQ they should be asking is SOP. After all the SOP is what guides the SQ. Anyone can have a chicken that is close to that but still is a pet. I will not be showing but still working to improve my line towards the SOP.

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

I'd love to see the APA/SOP remember that production aspects DO matter in the definition of a breed.

When refering to my selection of friends as a young person, my Mom always used to say "Look farther than the feathers..." (can't tell we had poultry on the home farm, can you

) But it seems many dual-purpose (meat and eggs) are becoming single-purpose (SOP appearance conforminty) in the "SQ" lines.

If we are going to perserve the genetic diversity of these rare breeds, we also have to keep an eye on the factors that made these large/standard fowl breeds popular in the first place: their ability to produce a useful product with reasonable inputs from their keepers (adequate feed, water, protection, shelter, health monitoring and cleanliness).

Getting off my soapbox now...

The original poster is correct, if you want to compete in APA shows, it is easiest to start with birds that are already close, and not a backyard special from the hatchery. We were on that road this year. You might get lucky and get an better-than-average quality bird from a hatchery, and certainly some very pretty ones, but they are not breeding to match the description in the APA SOP manual.

We are going to a show in September to look for some starting trios for the kids. We don't want to buy "ringers", because the kids will learn more from showing a young bird they have breed, raised, selected and prepared for showing than they will from something they just bought and walked into the ring with. But they need to start with beeter stock than w currently have.

We are currently having fun discussing genetics using the Black/Blue/Splash coloring.

 

[DiVon80]

Yeah! I have seen what those words have done to dogs....Show Quality.. Actually created some genitic messes.. You really have a good Idear and I would love to get pictures of my lil purebred Blu cochin roo. He is just beautiful!! I have some really nice purebred D'Uccle(mille Fleur) pouletts. Oh yeah! I have a beautiful frizzeled blk cochin roo too. I haven't even been to a chicken show. Maybe there is one here a year put on by the Serama council. I too get tired of the SHOW words. You have newbies wanting help and they are knocked of their lil pedistols by some one saying its not SQ. I have come to dislike these 2 words. In model horses the words live show quality are recognized as very controversial, everyone has a different opinion on what is SQ. To me when you can see the good in everything your are in a much better place. Also some of these Quote show types have a tendency to be able to see only faults and not the overall picture....