show quality?

[Megs]

Hello, just wondering if my guys have any obviouse conformation/color faults, i have never shown them, though a few were sold to me as show quality, and i have been thinking of entering some in a local fair for fun. Their feather condition is not perfect (close) as they have outdoor runs, but as i said, entering for fun and also to find out if they are of decent qualty. any critiques appreciated, ill love them regardless

mottled cochin ~5 months

blach cochin rooster

black australorp pullet

silver sebright rooster

 

[chickenbottom]

i know nothing about show quality but i wanted to say

 

[ravencreek]

I LOVE THEM ALL!!!!!! Welcome to BYC!!!

 

[dixiechick]

I have cochins, so can only speak to that....They look good enough to show (not meaning you will win), but I'd enter them. You can get really good info from the coop cards and talking with the judges. They often can tell you want needs to be bred out/in to them.

(I have a soft spot for mottled cochins). One thing to watch for that you can do....their white feathers can get brassy in the sun (much like a tan)...you want those whites spots..WHITE

Beautiful birds, BTW

 

[LilPeeps]

If you're wanting to show the mottled cochin, you should wait until she gets a little older so that the mottling has time to even out. Her type really isn't great, she should be much more round. The male is a little better, but he's too narrow, his comb isn't well shaped, and is also not round enough. For pics of show birds, look around here: http://cochinsrule.com

I don't know much about the type of the bantam black australorp, but I believe her back is a little too long.

It's hard to gauge the type on the sebright without a pic showing the bird from the side. I can see that the comb isn't well formed, but he appears to have nice coloring. I believe his comb, face, and wattles should be darker. The female doesnt have enough black lacing on her back and wings.

Fairs generally aren't sanctioned and the birds aren't judged to the standard as much as they are for merit. I've seen mix breed birds beat out truely show quality birds simply because the owner of the mix was a young 4Her. I'd suggest entering them in a sanctioned show. They're definately better than pet quality, and you can certainly show them and get the opinions of breeders at the shows, I'm sure they'd be glad to help.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

If I were you, I would enter them in the fair. Remember that they may win blue ribbons and be "best of variety" in the fair, but that doesn't mean they would be competitive in a bigger, sanctioned show. The judge will be able to give you an idea if he/she thinks they would be competitive in a sanctioned show.

Photos sometimes don't do a bird justice...and on the other hand they can make them look great when they really aren't.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
Agreed, except that the males' faces should be bright red and the hens need to be a bit darker. And the female could have better lacing, but from what I see they may be damaged from mating.

 

[LeBlackbird]

I would take the australorp. She has nice type, eye color, etc.

 

[Megs]

wow thank you for all the replies so far!

LilPeeps- i can post some better sebright photos later (got a new computer and need to swap over my documents/photos etc still), that hen in the photo is the worst off of the 3 i have, the other 2 pick on her(especially her head) and are in better condition themselves. the australorp is a standard size, but she is only about 5 months old (i know young for showing, but i would like to see if shes worth hanging onto, im entering 2 of them, as i bought them as day olds from a woman with a show winning line of australorps)

i have just started back into chickens after years without (was in 4H as a kid) so ill have to see what other shows we have around my area other than the fair.

im gong to give it a go with the fair and have fun

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Quote:
That's wonderful!! The main focus is to have fun. Most judges are great about going over your birds with you after the judging is completed.

We missed "Best in show" at a sanctioned show with our cochin hen because we didn't all the soap out of her feathers and she had a few feathers that were "stuck together" at the ends. Had we not asked the judge about her, we would never have known. Because of his input, we did a better job of bathing and RINSING the next time and she placed in the ABA National show this year.

Good luck to you...and keep us posted on how you did!