Thinking about showing some chickens this summer, any advice, (and some questions)?

[Lemon-Drop]

Hi, so, this summer (in august) I'm planning on showing a few of my (and my sisters) chickens.

I always love going and looking at the chickens at the fair, (which is where I'm hoping to show them) so, if there's any advice, I'd love to hear it!

Obviously, it'll be a while until August, but I'm trying to get information as early as possible.

I know they will not win, as they aren't great quality, but I want to try and see how it goes, and just, you know, have the experience.
I'm planning to show:

Cupcake, my Buff Brahma (she's molting right now... badly, so I can't get any new photos of her, this is from the fall, I think)

This is Nutmeg, my sweet partridge silkie pullet. I got her in the summer, so in these photos she wasn't fully grown yet. She's not really a partridge, but since she has some black penciling, it's not buff (I think)

This here is Jasmine. When she was young, she got attacked by a dog and had nerve damage in one of her legs, but, luckily, she's fully recovered (she's one of the older girls, 4 now) She's a black australorp

This is Minnie, she's a GLW

Then theres the rooster- Eclipse. Black silkie.

And then Pebbles, she's non-bearded. Blue/grey silkie.

So, questions:
Tips for showing?
How does the process really work?
Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[casportpony]

Nice looking chickens! @Overo Mare who here at BYC shows chickens in the US?

 

[Painted Calls]

Nice looking chickens! @Overo Mare who here at BYC shows chickens in the US?

@Amer shows and is quite successful. @cmom used to show as well and had/has phenomenal stock.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Will you be showing at a county fair?

 

[EmmaRainboe]

I have been to numerous county and state fairs where it is youth focused showmanship, aswell as have talked to lots of people who show/did show in 4H. Something I’ve picked up on, is personally, I’d avoid doing the silkies.

A) There will be a LOT of silkies, the more unique the breed the better your chances are, even if you don’t think you will win anyways.

B) From what I have seen it seems the silkies are far more prone to pick up sicknesses, even after all the birds have gone through vet check.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Will you be showing at a county fair?

I think it's a state fair... I always love going and looking at the chickens, its called the Evergreen State Fair.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I have been to numerous county and state fairs where it is youth focused showmanship, aswell as have talked to lots of people who show/did show in 4H. Something I’ve picked up on, is personally, I’d avoid doing the silkies.

A) There will be a LOT of silkies, the more unique the breed the better your chances are, even if you don’t think you will win anyways.

B) From what I have seen it seems the silkies are far more prone to pick up sicknesses, even after all the birds have gone through vet check.

Ok, I'll talk to Star and see what she thinks. Definitely will think about that some more.

I don't think that any of our girls are very "unique" in their breed, the supposedly pure bred girls we have is an Australorp (already mentioned) GLW (already mentioned) Brahma (already mentioned) and some more (listed below)

Out of the following, which do you think are good breeds to show?
Buff Orpington, Emily (definitely hatchery quality)
Cuckoo Marans, Kiki (she has 1-2 inch spurs though)
Barnevelder, Arietty
Barred Rock, Cornflower
Speckled Sussex, Vanelope
Welsummer, Luna

We have more chickens, but they're hatchery mixes, so they couldn't be shown.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Ok, I'll talk to Star and see what she thinks. Definitely will think about that some more.

I don't think that any of our girls are very "unique" in their breed, the supposedly pure bred girls we have is an Australorp (already mentioned) GLW (already mentioned) Brahma (already mentioned) and some more (listed below)

Out of the following, which do you think are good breeds to show?
Buff Orpington, Emily (definitely hatchery quality)
Cuckoo Marans, Kiki (she has 1-2 inch spurs though)
Barnevelder, Arietty
Barred Rock, Cornflower
Speckled Sussex, Vanelope
Welsummer, Luna

We have more chickens, but they're hatchery mixes, so they couldn't be shown.

I’d personally either show the Sussex, the barnevelder, or possible the marans.

There weren’t any chickens at the last state fair I went to, (I came too late.) but at the last county fair I went to there were tons of hatchery mixes, so I wouldn’t rule yours out. They wouldn’t make it very far though, so best if you avoid them if possible.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I’d personally either show the Sussex, the barnevelder, or possible the marans.

There weren’t any chickens at the last state fair I went to, (I came too late.) but at the last county fair I went to there were tons of hatchery mixes, so I wouldn’t rule yours out. They wouldn’t make it very far though, so best if you avoid them if possible.

Ok, thanks! I'm thinking maybe Arietty (the barnavelder) and Vanelope (the sussex)

 

[EmmaRainboe]

I think it's a state fair... I always love going and looking at the chickens, its called the Evergreen State Fair.

Yes, it’s a state fair haha. Most important thing- have fun!