Showing silkies at Maine country fairs..Where to start???

[jenni22776rn]

I am thinking if showing my Partdridge Silkie Roo Sammie...I am not sure how he would do..it would be next year as he is not old enough yet. Does anyone know what I would need to do to show him? He is a little heartbreaker and one tough cookie...survived Cocci and sour crop...only one to live out of his mates from where I got him..and he is s doll! Are the regulations alot diffrent at country fairs then poultry shows? I have never shown anything and have just started with the Silkie breed...LOVE THEM!! I saw some really nice ones at a recent fair and could not help but get excited about the possibilty of showing some of mine...any help would be great!! I am from Maine if that makes a diffrence...

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

hoping someone will come along and help... different states and venues have different laws/regulations on how they operate. Most you have to leave the birds overnight, have a 'cage in by' time, and a time to 'coop out' and take your birds home.

Most also require testing to make sure the birds are clean, some test on site, some you must have them done within a week or a month before a show.

I don't have the time right now to look up the Maine specifications, but Im sure someone else will help out on the Maine poultry rules.

 

[hoppy]

in order to show in maine, you need to have your bird tested for NPIP or it needs to be first generation from a tested flock with paperwork. some small breeders only have their show birds tested. you need to have this done either prior to the show or some shows will have testing at the door (most don't so you have to have it done ahead of time and it's good for 1 yr). some shows you can enter that day, most that are ABA/APA judged, you signup about 1 month prior. just prior to the show, you want to bathe your birds and check for any bugs, broken feathers, clip toenails and file the beak if needed. get your bird used to being handled, pull out the wings, check the eyes for feathers that block it's vision. if you want to watch a show and you are near windsor, there are 2 poultry shows, sunday aug 28 at 10:00 am at the poultry barn and the youth show is saturday sept 3rd at 1:00pm.
make sure your bird has all the right basic things, ie: right number of toes, right comb etc. when you are planning to show it. a missing toe nail is fine but a missing toe is not.

 

[jenni22776rn]

Thanks Hoppy...who do I contact regarding getting tested? Also how old do they have to be before they can be shown and how old is too old? My Roo will be too young this season but will he be too old next? I am excited to see the show this sunday...it is the first day of the fair I believe...I am not even sure he is show quality but we will see! Thanks for all the info! Hope to see you Sunday! Good luck in the show!
Soory for the questions..but what do you use to wash them? I gave one of my leghorns a bath but did not use soap as I am not sure what is safe for them..do you use pet shampoo?

 

[hoppy]

if you are in central maine, austin brann in vassalboro (62two-two263) is probably the closest tester. I wash in dog shampoo 1-2 days prior to the show. if the bird is really dirty, do it 1 week prior and then again just before the show to touch up those really dirty areas. then blow dry. austin will test any birds prior to monthly meetings at the meeting hall in washington (next meeting is sept 18th)
how old: you want the bird to look like an adult bird. I was amazed to find out my breed, wyandottes (my son shows silkies) , is usually 2 yr when they are shown to really win. I have shown them at 6 months but they didn't have the size. silkies usually 6 months you can show them and do well. I was told the best time to show a pullet is 1 day prior to her laying her first egg.
when I started with chickens (showing) I had lots of questions so I joined the central maine bird fanciers about 2 yrs ago. you will meet some really great people that really know their stuff and can really help you in choosing your next show bird. quite a few are judges too. our next show is in oct at windsor. But the best thing to do is go see a poultry show and start asking. they are also a great place to buy your next show bird.