Before looking for birds to show you need to find out what is show-able. For example, the 4-H group in my county growing up (as well as the FFA) only showed meat chickens. There was not a breeding show. Rabbits were also meat only, although they did begin to show breeding rabbits in the junior buck and doe, as well as senior buck and doe classes. We didn't show dairy goats, dairy cattle, etc...
But when we went to San Antonio to compete and took a walk through the barns there were a huge variety of animals being shown: turkeys, guineas, quail, ducks, geese, ostrich, dairy cattle and goats, cow/calf pairs, and so much more than we would see in our small rural show.
You need to find out from the 4-H leader or the County Extension Office what is permitted before getting a bunch of birds that you won't be able to show. Chances are it is a meat-bird only show and you will have to get chicks from the same place and at the same time as everyone else in order to show them.
If they do allow you to show breeds and varieties that are not meat birds, you need to find a reputable breeder and not just grab birds willy nilly or try to show birds that come from major hatcheries. Those birds can be shown but are not a good representation of their breed. Winning by default is still a win, but it doesn't amount to much. The rabbit breeders would do that, making sure to bring breeds the other rabbitrys didn't have so they'd place with their rabbits and get to say they were "show-quality". Same thing with lambs at our local show. The top fifteen place. There were never fifteen lambs. So you always won and made the sale. It isn't really cheating, but it feels like that to the 75 kids who are showing rabbits because their parents can't afford a lamb and don't get to win...
But when we went to San Antonio to compete and took a walk through the barns there were a huge variety of animals being shown: turkeys, guineas, quail, ducks, geese, ostrich, dairy cattle and goats, cow/calf pairs, and so much more than we would see in our small rural show.
You need to find out from the 4-H leader or the County Extension Office what is permitted before getting a bunch of birds that you won't be able to show. Chances are it is a meat-bird only show and you will have to get chicks from the same place and at the same time as everyone else in order to show them.
If they do allow you to show breeds and varieties that are not meat birds, you need to find a reputable breeder and not just grab birds willy nilly or try to show birds that come from major hatcheries. Those birds can be shown but are not a good representation of their breed. Winning by default is still a win, but it doesn't amount to much. The rabbit breeders would do that, making sure to bring breeds the other rabbitrys didn't have so they'd place with their rabbits and get to say they were "show-quality". Same thing with lambs at our local show. The top fifteen place. There were never fifteen lambs. So you always won and made the sale. It isn't really cheating, but it feels like that to the 75 kids who are showing rabbits because their parents can't afford a lamb and don't get to win...
