Showing ducks

[Silkiechicken66]

So I have show quality muscovies who just hatched some babies! I personally haven’t shown the parents, but they have been and did great. I didn’t plan on showing ducks, but my teen daughter just joined 4h. They’ve just hatched some gorgeous babies and I was wondering, is there a certain way to prep them for show?

 

[Miss Lydia]

@CayugaJana Boys showed their Cayugas last year I believe.

 

[learycow]

Best way is to keep them in a covered, clean pen (covered so their color doesn't sun bleach) and provide fresh clean water often so they an bathe. They will keep themselves clean.
And make sure they are penned in pairs or at least with other birds they won't fight with as that will ruin feathers.

I always would wash feet and bills if needed right before caging them but if kept on grass with access to water, they rarely need that.

 

[Silkiechicken66]

Best way is to keep them in a covered, clean pen (covered so their color doesn't sun bleach) and provide fresh clean water often so they an bathe. They will keep themselves clean.
And make sure they are penned in pairs or at least with other birds they won't fight with as that will ruin feathers.

I always would wash feet and bills if needed right before caging them but if kept on grass with access to water, they rarely need that.

Do you have to train them a specific way, showmanship, like chickens?

 

[ketojenn]

That would be nice. The ducks I judged at our fair this year were not cooperative. At all. But I don't think the kids really worked with them before the fair and I wasn't judging them on showmanship with the ducks, just the chickens. I suppose larger fairs do?

 

[learycow]

Do you have to train them a specific way, showmanship, like chickens?

No. Most judges do not pick up or eve take them out of the cages

 

[WyWaysMom]

My son, 6, showed his Muscovy ducks last year. It’s hard to keep their pen clean because ducks are messy!! Lol We just let them free range while we were outside. At show time we just washed their feet and washed them with baby wipes. They’re not the friendliest of ducks, so we just did the best we could. The fair only allowed one duck per pen, so we just made sure to place them right next to each other. Also, our ducks were huge!! They couldn’t fit in a pen together. Lol Our ducks did not like being separated. My son did well because his black hen won Grand Champion and his gray drake won Reserve Grand. Good luck!!

 

[Duckie doodle]

I am showing my ducks in the local fair on Wensday!!! The ducks I am Showing is a pekin and a crested duck. I've enjoyed this thread and have been following this thread to learn and get pointers. I wish you the best of luck with your ducks. This is also my first time showing my ducks.@Silkiechicken66