Thoughts on chickens at the fair

[TxChiknRanchers]

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Sounds to me like the chickens have competition problem! Next time bring some and show 'em how its done. Might be that the lack of competitors is causing lack of care !

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

I went to one of our big fairs here over the summer. I, too, was shocked that many of the birds had NO WATER (right next to birds with full cups??). Honestly, I thought of filling them myself but creature of society that I am, I was afraid they would think I was poisoning the birds with something. I did see someone going around, but the entire atmosphere was dusty and extremely noisy. I thought it was awful.

The two birds I just bought came from a breeder. Nearly all of her birds lived in cages, maybe twice the size of the ones at the fair, two to a cage. She adores them, that was plain, and the birds were clean, healthy, and well fed. I guess my point is.. when the chickens only KNOW that kind of life, they just don't realize that there is more out there, kwim? That doesn't make it ok, but I do think they probably are used to the crowds and the noise and the lack of space (no water or food is inexcusable, though). To give it an analogy.. I hate crowds and too much noise makes my brain shut down. Consequently, we have a pretty quiet household, and I am kinda a hermit

I know lots of people, though, who love shopping, get-togethers, and chaos. I can't imagine liking it, wouldn't live that way, but they are used to it. Yikes!

My two are on the lawn in a chicken teepee right now, LOVING the grass! It was a little heartbreaking that the girl (Jane) didn't dare come out of the cat carrier at first, but now she's walking around. I don't think these guys know what a dust bath is. The chicken teepee is only 3.5 x 3.5, but they LOVE the space <they are bantams, btw.. just in case you thought I was packing 2 ten lb chickens in that little tractor!>. I have nothing against people who breed and show, and certainly I don't think these birds were neglected.. it's just not the life I would choose for my own.

-Meghan

 

[cheeptrick]

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MY Dear Aunt Leslie has WON the Pecan Pie bake off at the VA State Fair in Richmond for 4 years running! She's also won for her Chocolate Chip Cookies! (-:
We are so proud of her for that!

 

[mdbucks]

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I dont believe you, samples of this supposedly good pie can be sent to my address and I will then believe you. You may have to send more than one sample, sometimes it takes two or three pies(I mean tries) to determine if it was good or not.

 

[Aun <HIS><]

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I dont believe you, samples of this supposedly good pie can be sent to my address and I will then believe you. You may have to send more than one sample, sometimes it takes two or three pies(I mean tries) to determine if it was good or not.

Well if you REALLY want to be sure that the competition wasn't fixed, you probably oughta send samples out to TWO testers, to verify the results. And I volunteer.

 

[seymojo536]

Since my daughter and I show birds at the county and state fair here in Ohio, I thought I might give a view from the other side.

I agree there are some UGLY birds at every show. Not just dirty, but in poor condition or even diseased. These matters need to be addressed with the show officials and dealt with on a one to one basis. Education is the only way to stop it. Some people just don't know.
Same thing with birds not having feed or water. The exhibitor just drops them off and expects someone else to take care of them. which I can assure you happens way too often. Again these people need someone to take the time to educate them on proper show procedures.

Please don't assume that just because the chickens don't have any water or food they have been forgotten. The day of the show it's fairly common to withhold food and water from the market birds before they show. We want them to empty their crops/guts so they not only look better but a bird being held and examined upside down does have a tendency to either poo or throw up on the judge or exhibitor. At our shows a white shirt or lab coat is required in the ring and you can tell who's the new guys.
As soon as we have finished in the ring everyone gets fed and watered.
We check on our birds twice a day and depending on the time of day, yes our feed and water may be out or low.

A couple of guidelines for those that are just walking around and looking at the birds.
1. If you see an egg, leave it! It's not yours. The exhibitor will remove it.
2. Don't put your fingers thru the cage or poke at the birds with a stick. Same with banging on the cage. If you do it to our birds you will be sorry...
3. If you feel a bird is being neglected/abused, then by all means tell the people in charge. Let they make the call.
4. Don't take it upon yourself to feed/water any bird. You may mean well, but our state show has very strict tampering laws and you could get me disqualified and/or banned from showing.
Just because a show has some problems doesn't mean it has to stay that way. All it may take is one person who cares.

 

[blue90292]

great post.

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[Windy Ridge]

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Well, if I was a chicken, and someone was withholding feed from me all day just to save themselves the inconvenience of having to soak a white coat an extra five minutes before the wash, I'd do my best to save a big, juicy, cecal poo for just the right moment when everyone had their eyes glued on me--ha-ha!

But I'm evil that way.

 

[Zenbirder]

 

[pipermark]

I have noticed a great difference between APA judged shows and fairs and non-APA judged fairs. I think part of the reason is the APA has standards that must be maintained and if a judge reports substandard conditions back to the APA , they can withhold their "stamp" of a approval.

Also APA judged show draw your top breeders , they usually will not tolerate a sick bird at the show, they will have the show host ask the person to remove it.

The APA shows I have attended, the breeders, will withhold feed the day of the show, but I have not seen any withhold water on hot days, not saying it doesn't happen, I just haven't noticed it personally.