Showing Poultry Question: Please Help

[babychicks1203]

I need some help here I am new to the showing scene and have a question about open shows.

How old do the chickens need to be at the time of the show? I would apprecite it if someone could help me out

Thank You So Much

 

[TK Poultry]

depends on the breed I took a ameraucana pullet and won Reserve Grand Champion Pullet....generally I wait until 6 month MINIMUM

 

[poltroon]

6 months is a good cutoff if you want to be competitive, but I don't think there's any rule about bringing them too young. Obviously they'd need feathers. 4 months is about the youngest you can go if you're going for fun - for example, a showmanship bird - or if you're otherwise just looking to participate.

 

[sarabeth53]

I agree with the 6th month rule. at MINIMUM. they are easiest to judge at full maturity. so as long as they are full grown and full feathered.

 

[NYREDS]

One of the problems people don't often associate with showing a bird that is immature is weight. Weight is a defining breed characteristic. A bird that is 20% or more under it's Standard weight is disqualified if the judge knows what s/he's doing.
A bird that is ready to show must, of course, have it's adult plumage but it must also have acheived within 20% of it's Standard weight.

 

[blackred]

Quote:
Just out of curiosity, have you ever disqualified a bird for 20% under or over its standard weight? I have never seen it done even thought it is a common problem in OE, Moderns and Cornish males( over).

Bob

 

[TK Poultry]

I had a showmanship question asking me about size and if the judge writes size on the cage what does that mean? Well obviously its too big or too small.....does this tie in with the weight thing or would they write something other than size?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Size and weight are the same thing in US standards. Not sure if height is a consideration elsewhere or not.

edited to add: I've seen size marked on a coop card when a bird was entered as a bantam and was obviously largefowl and vice versa.

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
Just out of curiosity, have you ever disqualified a bird for 20% under or over its standard weight? I have never seen it done even thought it is a common problem in OE, Moderns and Cornish males( over).

Bob

Yes, I have.