Showing Question.

[rodriguezpoultry]

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Just FYI, I happen to show as well. And some of my birds have made it to Champion Row. I won't be one of those who choose to toot their own horn but I will say that I have a fairly good idea of what to look for in the birds that I have chosen to breed and show. Oh, and btw, I owned a Buff Laced Polish pair at one time. As well as a WC-Black.

The point of my comments was not to disparage anyone nor was it pointed toward NYREDS or anyone else. The POINT of my comment was to ENCOURAGE the OP to get involved in just one more aspect of the Fancy rather than poo poo her interest and excitement.

Happyhomemt, you can choose to listen to the Naysayers if you want to. Personally, I would encourage you to not let them rain on your parade. If you do decide to go to the Fair or other shows, based on my experience, you'll find lots of folks who are happy to encourage you, help you, and provide a wealth of information to help you understand your breed.

Congrats on your birds making it to Champion Row. I have a few of those myself, but none in the crested area. Just don't like polish much...shame on me.

I don't think anyone was poo-pooing her interest! It is an EXCELLENT way to meet people, make friends and have connections in the breeding world! Plus, winning is always an exciting experience! Holding your breath when the judge goes by and is holding your bird, trying to decide which should take the cake, it's awesome. I started really young and learned the hard way. I brought my "pretty" birds to a show and walked by my bird's cage repeatedly. I heard the same thing over and over again "Not worth the feed she puts into it." I was 7. It's kind of heart-wrenching when you hear those words. Luckily a very wise man helped me get quality birds, now I'm the one helping others. He gave me point-blank critique, which hurt to hear, but unlike the others, actually helped me get better birds.

 

[Tailfeathers]

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Evidently I am attending MUCH different shows than the kind mentioned here as I have NEVER seen nor heard of anyone or anyone's birds being ridiculed.

Disqualified? Perhaps. Marked down for faults? Certainly. In fact, when I started showing, I had birds whose cards got wrote on. I still remember the first one. The card simply said, "Condition?"

So, not being one who ever claimed to be the brightest bulb in the socket, I just went and asked a couple of folks what that meant. They were nice and let me know. They knew I was a Newby. I have also talked with several judges about my birds since. Always asking questions in a way to get constructive criticism. All the judges I've talked with have been more that willing to help.

I can tell you this. If I EVER saw someone ridiculing someone else or someone's bird, I would politely pull them aside and let them know that it does NO good whatsoever to chase people out of our sport. Especially New Comers to the Fancy. If one can't find a way to politely, respectively, and constructively criticize someone - then yuck it up all you want BUT do it by yourself.

There is simply nothing good or beneficial by ridiculing someone else. I hope everyone else reading this would do the same and encourage others instead of ridiculing them.

OP, I don't travel all over the country but I do talk to a pretty fair amount of others who show as well. I could be completely wrong but I think if I were one would see a whole lot more people talking about witnessing this kind of stuff at other shows. You might want to consider getting a subscription to The Poultry Press. I think that would give you some more insight as well.

God Bless,

 

[Year of the Rooster]

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It depends on the type of show. In 4H shows, there's a showmanship class where the exhibitors take the bird, tell you about the bird, answer questions about the bird and breed, spread the wings, show the pubic bones, etc.

Then there's APA/ABA shows. Some judges merely stand there and poke a metal rod through the cage bars and watch the natural stance of the bird. However, to me, a bird that is in the running for a show needs to be looked over WELL. Feathers looked at for wrong coloration, patterns, disqualifications. Look the bird over for anything and everything wrong. But that's just my opinion. On the 4H shows, I've gotten them doing a double-thing.

I know NONE of the people in the show, so I can show no partiality. I don't know their stories, where they got the birds, anything about them. The kids bring their birds into the ring (not my decision) and hold them. I go to each and every bird, tie on a piece of string for the "Just in case" factor and look at the bird stand on the table. Then, I look the bird over completely. From head to tail, teaching the kids as I go along as to what to look for, what to breed against, etc. Some kids are so enthralled they ask for breeder names and I am more than happy to look it up when I get home that day.

It takes hours. Much longer than it should take, but the kids learn and the parents learn a bit too. There's always the parent that will argue, but when confronted with written text by the APA/ABA, they back down and realize not only their child has "the best".

Tailfeathers, several of us on here do show. We may not be in the "big leagues" but still prefer to keep quality birds and have an understanding of the ways of the show world. Everyone has an opinion and you are more than entitled to your own, but there are some of us on here that know what to look for. NYREDS is one of those that has decided to give his opinion. I for one value his opinion and feel it should not be dispersed as an unknowing opinion on a forum.

Thanks Rod!

I knew I could get a great answer from you! Just from reading this thread makes me more intrigued and encourages me to do this. I may have to lose my currents birds when I go to college, but by the time I'm done with that, I'm sure all this knowledge will stick with me and I can REALLY get going!

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

I do agree that it depends on the show. My exhibition at my county fair was very small and certainly not consisting of birds bred to standard. To the OP-I'd find out what your show qualifies as and take it from there. I brought a hatchery bird-from Meyer's-to my fair and placed her in both showmanship and general showing competitions. She won 1st place in Best Hen, Best of Class, and Best of Show.

She also won 2nd place Reserve Champion Showmanship. I think it really matters where you go.

In that position, if the show was something that contained real show birds, I would not take my bird and go there to find a breeder and speak to them.