Showing chickens

[chicklover 1998]

Were they sold as a specific color? Ameraucana are always sold with a color variety specified. Easter Eggers have no specific colors.

Blue

 

[junebuggena]

Blues are tricky. They need to have clear lacing and be free of any leakage. Even the best breeders can struggle with those issues.

 

[chicklover 1998]

yes but he has red wings and gold around his neck and back, blue tail and keel area and his butt fluff is blue too. she has an almost completely blue beard and muffs but back of head and back are buff and blue. def. not going to use him because he really looks EEish but she looks more ameraucana. that is why I was just going to work with my RIR and then get the others later.

 

[junebuggena]

yes but he has red wings and gold around his neck and back, blue tail and keel area and his butt fluff is blue too. she has an almost completely blue beard and muffs but back of head and back are buff and blue. def. not going to use him because he really looks EEish but she looks more ameraucana. that is why I was just going to work with my RIR and then get the others later.

Sounds like both your 'Ameraucana' are Easter Eggers. There shouldn't be any buff on a blue hen. If your Rhode Island Reds aren't a deep mahogany red, then they aren't really RIR, but cross bred Production Reds.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

And I get that, that is why I've been looking around for breeders, and I was thinking that if I wasn't able to find any around me I would get some from GFF in 2017.

You can find tons of breeders at poultry shows.
What state are you in?
GFF sells extremely rare breeds and by their own admission, don't expect to get a show quality bird from them.

 

[chicklover 1998]

I wasn't expecting a show bird right off the bat with getting any species it takes time to work for SOP and I am in iowa I've been looking around but I apparently haven't been looking in the right place because I can't find any dates for poultry shows in my area.

 

[hitchyourwagon]

I am working on raising my first generation of birds this year. I plan to attend some shows to learn the lay of the land when it comes to showing.
Was wondering if anyone has a list of equipment one needs to be prepared to show i.e. cages, shine products, cleaning products, etc.? Also I visited the poultry barn at the Ohio State Fair last year and noticed many of the birds were so stressed that they were pulling out their feathers. Is there conditioning you can do before a show to minimize the stress?

 

[Fred's Hens]

I am working on raising my first generation of birds this year. I plan to attend some shows to learn the lay of the land when it comes to showing.
Was wondering if anyone has a list of equipment one needs to be prepared to show i.e. cages, shine products, cleaning products, etc.? Also I visited the poultry barn at the Ohio State Fair last year and noticed many of the birds were so stressed that they were pulling out their feathers. Is there conditioning you can do before a show to minimize the stress?

http://www.poultryshowcentral.com

Not only does this page have all the shows, where, and when, but also has resources.
Look down on the lower left column of the home page. You will see all kind of "Show 101" type tabs with good information to get you started anyhow.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I wasn't expecting a show bird right off the bat with getting any species it takes time to work for SOP and I am in iowa I've been looking around but I apparently haven't been looking in the right place because I can't find any dates for poultry shows in my area.

http://www.poultryshowcentral.com

One must also differentiate between 4H type shows which focus more on the birds health and your showmnship and what are called Open Shows. The Opens are Biggies. These open shows will often have a Junior division show built into them as well.

 

[hitchyourwagon]

Can one of you guys that have show experience do some teaching on feeding birds for competition? % protein,%fat, vitamins, minerals ???