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Keep in mind that over 95% of 4H chickens will not be show quality. A good healthy, clean bird can win without even being close to show quality in most 4H shows. I'm not sure I'd go to the expense of show birds unless my goal was to participate in APA sanctioned shows.
I wish I understood the purpose of showing 4-H chickens. I know there is showmanship and clean birds and all of that. I still think it is important for kids and their 4-H leaders and their parents to understand what the standard calls for. At least when they get their ribbon (or not) they will understand why.
I think it very unfortunate that kids in the show barn have no idea what the judges are looking for. I asked a neighbor kid about the score card and what the judge was indicating when he wrote production red on his card for a RIR. The kid nor the parents had the faintest idea. I understand not every kid can go out and get a 200 dollar trio to start from, but geeze shouldn't they and their parents at least be curious as to what the breed standard represents.
4-Her's and their parents sure dont mind letting everyone know at the end of the summer (craigslist) etc. That their birds won a ribbon at the county fair and use that as a marketing tool. If they do that they darn sure should know what they have.
Or am I all wet here?
I don't have any experience with 4-H....we always start our kids out with the Poultry shows that we attend. They help take care of their birds and they are learning what to look for. Heck my 12 year old sets up his own breeding pens and does the culling. He has a pretty good eye and reads all the books. It really helps if you go to the big shows and find someone willing to talk you through a bird. It is one thing to read it in a book, but when you start looking at the bird it all comes together. My daughter will be 5 in May and she started showing silkies last year. She is too young to really know what to look for in a bird so we are here to guide her and teach her. She does feed and water her silkie everyday and helps with the baths and grooming before a show.
I think the 4-H is more about showmanship and feeling good about yourself????? I don't know, but most of the poultry shows have showmanship.
