Thinking about showing. What do ya'll think?

[Stormhorse23]

I am considering showing my birds in our county fair next year. I got them from a hatchery so I'm not expecting to place, Im just doing it for fun. I read the post about birds at fairs being treated poorly. I show horses so Im already there all week and will be able to feed/water them at least 3 times a day. What worries me is the loud crowds and people poking them! How can I prepare/prevent this? I was thinking maybe putting "I bite" signs on their cages or something. Are temporary 'blockers' such a pieces of cardboard or thin screens allowed to minimize stress? Mine are just pets and I don't want to scar them for life. How would you go about this?

 

[AtRendeAcres]

Cage train so they are used to being in the cage!

Start off with 15 minutes gradually move up to time they will be @ show (cage should be table height as at the shows)

Playing different types of music for them while they are in the cage

They will be used to noises and cage!
also handle birds as a judge would & closer to show have someone else handle her!

Judges don't like to fight with your chickens!

 

[JenniferJoIN]

I've seen the "I bite" signs on cages. I think that would be a good idea if you're wanting to prevent pokey fingers!

 

[pipermark]

Or you could stand by the cage and if some idiot pokes his or her finger in , bite them!

that should get around and stop that nonsense.

 

[blossom hen]

Quote:

 

[LynnGrigg]

Last year an unaccompanied kid was terrorizing the chickens at the fair. I went up and politely explained to him that he could cause them to have a heart attack and he stopped. I told him he should just walk around quietly and appreciate how beautiful these birds were. I believe his dad had been sitting outside and watched the whole thing. I just can't believe sometimes what parents will allow their kids to do. I'd have jerked a knot in mine!

 

[Windy Ridge]

Quote:
Me neither!

I don't know anything about showing, so take my advice with several cups of salt... but maybe you could have a cage with holes small enough that no fingers can get poked in (a la hardware cloth)? Line the cage with screen, perhaps?

(I suppose it would cause a panic if you put a sign up saying "Keep back! Bird infected with Avian Flu!)

 

[ali]

shows supply the cages so bringing your own is a question you would have to ask the poultry director. you will have alot of noise while at a show, but i really haven't had problems with poking, but my daughter stands near her cage and frequently takes hers out to allow kids to touch them suppervised. you can be around during judging, but usually not to close, close enough to watch anyway. be sure all your testing is in order and your registered in the right breed, and class or you'll be disqualified. showing can be fun, my daughter loves it. but she'll be the first to tell you no matter how much care you put into it , it's going to be stressful for your chicks. oh, you can bring a cover to cover you chicks up they will more than likely be next to each other.(unless their each a differant breed) good luck!

 

[Stormhorse23]

Ok. Do they have to be banded to be shown? How do I go about this? Could I just use these http://www.meyerhatchery.com/get_item_pblb_numbered-plasic-banettes.htm ?

 

[ali]

i'm know expert, but i have shown, depends on the show, first you have to find a vet in your area that does pollerum testing, not easy. be sure to tell them your going to show. some fairs provide free testing, in this case it's done just before your chicks are put in thier cages and banding is oppitional if not, not required so check with the director on this also. if they have to be checked prior you can do what i said call your vet, they can refer you to a poultry inspector who will come to your house(sometimes) test your chickens and band them. if you do it this way you have an opption of registering your chicks as tested for 3 months or you can spend extra and have them on record for a year,(only prob with this is your subject to suprise inspections, so your breeds better be sepperated) but you go into your state breeder registry and can show your brood for a whole year without subjecting your babies to more poking and bleeding. at least this is how it worked out for my daughter in ok. i don't know about other places. hope i helped a little. it's really not as complicated as i make it sound