This really irks me (Show Quality VS. Non-Show)

[little_grey_bantam]

So I've had a lot of people ask about show quality birds that they obviously want for cheap (they aren't shy about trying to get them for nothing).

I think when most people ask for "Show Quality" birds, I think most are asking for birds to take to show at 4H and the smaller "shows."

On the other hand, the bigger shows, I would expect to pay approximately $20+ for a really good SHOW QUALITY CHICK. I don't think people are talking about this type of "Show Quality."

I think to show in 4H, you can get from a hatchery... if you want tobreed and raise and make the breed better, you'd want and would expect to pay $$$ for good quality lines.

Am I right? Does anyone have this problem? It drives me INSANE when people are so intense on show quality and I ask them where they plan on showing them, and they say 4H. Or is it just me? Am I wrong?

Am I right?? (I know I asked it again)
Please let me know!

I think we should ask people what types of "Show Quality" they want!

 

[sarabeth53]

It depends on the county. My 4H county is pretty low-key, non-competitive. You can win best of show with a hatchery chick. On the other hand, a county next to us is SUPER competitive in everything so the kids who want to actually show (even if it's just at the fair) need to get good quality birds.

4H doesn't always mean low-key, non-competitive. It just depends on the 4Her.

 

[destiny_56085]

Back in 2006 my brother was on the 4-H Poultry Bowl Team that won Nationals in Louisville. It used to be intense competition as for birds and showmanship skills at our local fair. This has been passed down to many of the junior kids. There are alot of really good birds seen here. I almost had to feel sorry for the judge that one year. Senior showmanship alone took just about 2 hours because the judge couldn't stump those kids with anything. Its not just 4-H.... Our county has a 100+ year old pigeon/poultry club and hosts a couple big shows every fall.

As for pricing.... Good birds are worth money. Good birds in condition ready to put in the show ring tomorrow are worth even more money. I feel that if you are honest about a bird....negatives and positives... then people can take it or leave it. You know what it takes for that bird to leave your hands.

What really kills me is the ones that you sell with some fault and charge very little. There's always those greedy ones that turn around and try to resell them as 'top show quality' to try and make a buck. Case in point....last week I sold 5 birds to a guy in northern MN. He gave me the whole sob story about being a poor old guy and just wanting a start. I had a trio...a splash rooster originally from Bobbi Porto, a splash hen from her as well, and a blue hen out of my line. Awesome birds but no way in condition right now. They looked like crap right now to put it bluntly. I thought $15-20 each was very reasonable. I also sold him 2 pet quality blue pullets. I was very clear that these birds were ok for broodies, but they have V shaped cushions and not decent for breeding. What really teed me off was that he started putting these birds on Eggbid the same week he got them from me. The first trio he totally misrepresented. He used my old pics of when I had shown them and not what they look like right now. He also used a pic of a lavendar rooster that he confiscated off my photobucket that wasn't even alive anymore. I look on Eggbid tonight and see he listed those 2 PQ pullets as top quality, etc, etc, etc. "Bernice & Bella" His starting bid is 2-3 times as much as what I charged him for them. The amount I got for all 5 of those birds didn't even equal half of what I originally paid Bobbi for that splash rooster. Take this as a lesson when someone comes up wanting top show quality and doesn't want to pay for it. I have no problem giving birds to close friends or my 4-H girl. I'm not cutting breaks to many people just trying to take advantage of me anymore.

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
That's terrible I saw Bernice and Bella and was wondering if they where worth that. When I sold my flock of LF ameraucana I made sure the person buying them was someone I trusted. I sold 12 birds for what I paid to have two of the pullets shipped to me! But they are in a great BYC home being used for responsibly for breeding.

 

[little_grey_bantam]

Quote:
So when you say 4H, are you expected to use likle, expensive "Show Quality" birds or just really good birds that have slight faults, but look good (in other case, may or may not be show quality birds)?

I once had a gentlman asking me if I had show quality birds for his 4H. I told him the pricing and he said "Well, I can get them cheaper at the store." That's what confused me, because I've heard this from a lot of people. of course, he only wanted to pay $10 for an adult bird and $1.50-$3.00 for a chick that wasa couple weeks old. It seems out here where I am, "show quality" is from hatcheries unless you get into the top notch, traveling around fairs!

BEcause most Hatcheries say their birds can be used for exhibitiion (hence, the photos of kids holding birds with ribbons in their catalogs).
Ughhh, so confused!

 

[Brody's Broodello]

Quote:
HearHear!!! I'm with you. I get people all the time wanting Top Show birds from me for $10-$20 bucks. the don't even consider what it costs me to produce & campaign the show birds I have. Then they want me to sell the best birds to them, I tell them if I sell them to you, What Am I Going To Show? Hello! My family travels to over 12 shows a year, logs thousands of miles, I'm not going to put all that money out to drag hatchery birds around. Yes I breed alot of birds & therefore I have a constant supply of excess for sale, but in order to see what they are I have to hang onto them long enough to be able to grade them. Just like anyone else, I know what it takes to produce that winning bird, and if I want to buy it, I'm willing to Pay for it. I wouldn't insult someone witha $10 offer when I know that bird is worth $100. Just my rant now!!!lol

 

[Brody's Broodello]

Quote:
I saw those birds listed also. That is just flat out WRONG!!! I've been done in before,so I know what you are saying. What an @$$hole!!!

 

[Msbear]

Destiny, what an awful story!! I cannot say I am shocked though. I've heard the same one in different variations. What a bummer!! I would've posted an ad on eggbid letting everyone know what a scum the guy was and tell them the pics are old and he misrepresenting. .. you ever see those ads.. "Look out for so an so.. he's a real **insert whatever bad name**

You can't help but click on it... and then the name bashing begins!!

 

[Katy]

Quote:
There are 4-H and county fair shows and then there are APA sanctioned shows. They can be as different as night and day.

I have birds that are from breeders that have won at shows with some of the parent stock of my birds. I would never claim that the birds I've got are show quality since I don't show nor do I plan to. But I do show potential customers pictures of my birds and the lines I started out with and let them decide if they think the price I charge is worth it.

I guess I'm not sure what exactly you're upset about or asking. Are you upset that people don't think your birds are show quality and don't want to pay what you're charging?

There is nothing wrong with a 4-Her wanting true show quality birds to show.....I think they're ahead of the game to NOT get from a hatchery and start out with good stock. Starting out with hatchery stock and trying to "breed up" to show quality is a long drawn out process which will more than likely take many generations of birds and you'll spend much more on feed over time with the numbers you'll have to hatch out and cull to get your birds where you want them.

 

[redhen]

Maybe i'm mis-understanding you...?
Why cant 4H'ers want to have real show quality birds?