Thoughts on chickens at the fair

[ozark hen]

omg, last spring my dh and I went to the Cabool, MO. fair and there were a few heads of poultry being "shown" by 4-H'ers. NO water or feed in any of the little cages. Teens were standing there flirting with the other kids and no one seemed like they knew what they were doing and were not interested in any input from me. I had to leave. I couldn't believe this was a 4-H sponsored event.

 

[Rebel Chicken]

What a shame. Poor chickens! I'm sure the lil chicken was happy you got her a drink though! I've never really been too fond of the idea of seeing the chickens stuffed in tiny cages with screaming kids and dogs barking all around. I'd much rather just have my chickens stay at home and spend their lives scratching, sleeping, playing, and having PLENTY of water!

 

[lurky]

Quote:
I was worried you were going to say the Cheshire FAIR....so happy to hear the chickies were OK there this year!
I have been impressed years past with the care that was taken with all animals. Me and family watched the grooming of the sheep one year...they looked like the SERTA mattress sheep!

Actually the Cheshire Fair only had one display about chickens. They had a big incubator full of hatching 'leghorns' i think and then there were a few of the same breed but different size/ages. BTW....Mt daughter just got her first EVER apartment in Guilford VT.
I think any kind of poultry thing, be it the fair or an actual show.......they should NOT have to stay the entire time. That is cruelty to animals. It seems very stressful to all the animals.
I am pleased that this event i will go to on Sunday is over and done by 1 o'clock.

 

[silkiechicken]

With a lot of fairs, it is the responsibility of the shower to be there and taking care of their animals. It is not the fairs responsibility and it usually says that on the entry's. As for awards... I don't really look at them for "show types" since most fairs are just that. A fair when entry's are showing for fun. If you want to see show quality, you usually have to go to the really big fairs... or poultry shows. Ocassoinally when you go during open class week at the fair you will run across nice SQ birds but most people at least here are back yarders... or city folk showing all 3 of their hatchery birds! Of course there is 4H too. Shows seem to be the most stressful on the birds that were not properly conditioned for such an environment... like thoes who had 10 acres to roam and are all the sudden in a two square foot crate. I think a lot of the fair responsibilities lie in the showers as the fair is a community event usually, even if it is "sponsored". The Monroe fair here looses money every year and yet has almost a million visitors for it's 10 day duration.

 

[LittleChickenRacingTeam]

Obviously all fairs are different, in regards to quality of care given, and quantity of birds.

The best thing you can do for those chooks is become part of the volunteer staff in the poultry barn. I've been showing 7 years, and our local fair requires the birds to be there 4 days. I am an associate director with the Halton Agricultural Society & part of the poultry committee for our fair. I was there for all 4 days & helped feed & water over 600 birds. These birds were mostly in good condition when they arrived, yet we lost 3 over the event. Feed & water 4 times a day on a schedule plus spot watering by a team of 6 volunteers throughout the day.

My birds were all fine, and they were cooped up in small cages for 4 days. At home they free range & live in LARGE dog crates in my hallway. I think we all need to realize that birds that are stressed at shows were probably stressed at home & in poor condition before they ever made it to the fair.

If your fair is not treating the birds properly....DO SOMETHING. You CAN make a difference.

 

[cheeptrick]

Guilford is a gorgeous town...she will LOVE It there! Sadly, though they have decided to forgo the fair...after hundreds of years!

Good luck to your DD though!! She will enjoy VT...I do! Tell her about MT. Snow's New Years Eve Torch Light Parade! We've braved every year since we've been here...2 years ago it was -20 below!!

 

[lurky]

l'll tell her. She is only 1 1/2 miles from the Ma/VT border off rt 5. The first left at the state line. The official boonies

It only 10 minutes from my house in MA

 

[birdlover]

Well, I give kudos to the Virginia State Fair in Richmond! ALL the animals, including poultry, had very clean conditions. A lot of the chickens needed water which bothered me and I poured my bottled water into cups until I was out. Then, shortly after that, I saw a woman going around filling all the water cups!! There was a sign by the door explaining not to worry if they didn't have water as they filled their cups several times during the day. (Saw that AFTER I gave them all my water!) Anyway, the variety of birds was incredible and I wanted to buy all the ones for sale but the dh wouldn't let me get even ONE!!!!

(The only reason I didn't throw a tantrum is I get my pick of all the chicks I'm caring for at the farm when the fall festival is over. heh heh heh! )

Ellen

 

[BantyChickMom]

Our county fair was absolutely disgusting.

I hadn't been in probably 20 years and lately everyone said it wasnt worth it.

Anyway, I decided to go this year and take the kids specifically for the chickens.

I was extremely disappointed.
There were 3 or 4 per tiny cage, dirty water, very little to eat in food dishes, and I was really shocked to see there was no labeling of any kind

Not even to say what they were or who they belonged to.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I was just at a local county fair. Small fair, but the poultry had misters and seemed to be kept in decent conditions. One poor speckled polish was molting, but everyone else looked good, had water and scratch grains. Not very many chickens, and about 2 dozen pigeons.