Showing Hatchery chickens

[cariboujaguar]

Has anyone bought chickens from hatcheries and sucessfully shown them? I would like to star showing evntually and was wondering if it was plausible to buy from a hatchery and get birds who could be shown...

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

When I first started out I used hatchery birds. I learned quickly that if you wanted to show and have a good attitude after it was all said and done, I needed to get better birds.

It is NOT fun having the judge write "Not Show Quality" on your tag...and realizing that everyone who knew anything about showing could tell it right when you pulled it out of the crate.

So...I got better birds and now there's REAL competition. Shows are a blast to go to and I get the benefit of helping the younger generation see what the differences are...BEFORE the judge writes that NSQ and the nightmarish DQ (Disqualified) on that tag.

If you have the money and the means...get good stock from a good breeder who has good birds he or she is willing to sell you.

 

[cariboujaguar]

That's what i figured... when I started with goats I had some registered/purebred but not very good quality goats and I was so in love with them. When I got serious about showing I finally hit that wall where I had to decide if I would keep them as pets and thus not be able to afford many good quality goats or would I sell them and give their 'spot' to some nice does I could win with... it was heartbreaking but I ended up selling them (although some of them took 2 yrs to fid the right homes for) I wanted to avoid this problem with chickens...

where can you find breed standards for chickens... I know in the future as I learn more I'll feel so stupid for asking this, but how can you judge conformation in a chicken? Goats, horses etc seem obvious as to how level their rump is, how long their neck is, breed character etc... but chickens all look like the same type of body, sure there are game bird types, banties and standard ones but after that I'm lost- meaning I couldn't look at 3 standard birds and determine which was nicer... is it only based on color, pattern, feathering etc or do they actually judge a chickens conformation?

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

They judge conformation, comb, feather, feather quality, coloration...all of it fits because the birds are supposed to be bred for their breed's standard.

The book is called "The Standard of Perfection" and it's by the American Poultry Association. It's good reading material for rainy days, days when you go to shows (would be REALLY good if you could get the book then go to a show and see what I'm talking about and have one of the breeders help you out!) and even bathroom reading material.

You can get the book from the American Poultry Association website.

 

[cariboujaguar]

thanks for the info!!! I read my linear appraisal goat info in the bathtub LOL I thought I was the only one with stacks of animal books and magazines in my bathroom

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
All we have in our bathroom is American Iron magazines and the last time I counted FOUR J&P Cycle catalogs. *heavy sigh*

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

gritsar...at least that way you don't have reason to "linger" right? LOL

I have chapter books...and poultry magazines...

 

[Yontz710]

Ok so you all are saying that the chicks I just ordered today will be marked NSQ at our fair?? Or is that at other shows? What are the odds that we will end up with chickens that will not be an embarrassment?
Please give me some hope that I just didn't spend money and the kids will be disqualified.

 

[cariboujaguar]

Quote:
oh that would be sad

Maybe you could invest in a super nice Roo and breed up? that works with other animals... what kind of birds did you order and from where? that might help them answer your question...

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

The only reason the birds would be marked DQ is if they had some major fault. For instance, a black bird with white feathers...and the breed was supposed to be completely black.

Or a bird with yellow legs and the legs were supposed to be shale or willow colored. Mind you, these are just random examples, there are MANY others for each breed that is specific.

In 4H shows and in FFA shows it may not matter, as the kids will probably only have the "production" class, the "meat" class, the "rainbow layer" class, etc. I judge all of these shows...and it's pretty much a participation thing, but there has to be a winner in each area.

When it comes to the breed showing part, I judge hard. The year before, there was not a single bird that I would not have disqualified. This year when I judged, I was having difficulties in selecting a champion and reserve champion.

There is always hope, but if the bird is supposed to be a buff orpington and has a columbian pattern of some sort, the judge should DQ. Depending on how the judging is done (APA sanctioned show), the judge may or may not mark the birds NSQ or DQ them based on the fact that they're not SQ. You should contact your local fair board and see how they plan on judging this year.