Utility breed?

[LongRanch]

I looked it up, and it says "This is an American Poultry & Bantam Association Sanctioned Show."

 

[junebuggena]

I looked it up, and it says "This is an American Poultry & Bantam Association Sanctioned Show."

APA shows don't have a Utility class...

 

[LongRanch]

I don't understand; That is what the exhibitor handbook for this show says. :-/ This is in Canada -- would that make any difference?

 

[junebuggena]

"Utility breeds" are the commercial type crossbreeds, like red or black sexlinks and Production Reds. They aren't recognized breeds, and don't have any breed standard to be judged against. It's usually a 4H or junior handler type of class, judged on the condition of the birds, and the exhibitor's knowledge of husbandry.
Fairs commonly have a Utility class in addition to the purebred showing, but winners of the utility class are not eligible to compete for best of breed or best in show titles, since there is no breed standard to judge them by. Make sense?
Since the bird you are asking about was enter in a Utility class, it's probably not a purebred bird.

 

[LongRanch]

Ahh.. They also had a 4-H section, so this must have been another additional class that wasn't part of the APA show. This club is hosting the national next year (and have in some previous years) so they must know what they are doing LOL. I messaged the owner to ask what this chicken is, but she's not on my friends list (FB) so it probably went to her 'other' folder and it'll be ages before she notices it..

 

[donrae]

I agree it's a mixed breed. Looks like some stray feathers on the legs, a sure sign of a mix.

I've also seen some

things at our local fair. A second place bird with a horrible scissor beak, birds ID's as the total wrong breed, wrong color, obvious comb DQs, etc. Mixed breeds being entered.....no one would even blink here, I don't think.

 

[drumstick diva]

I bet a stuffed toy chicken would have won also.

 

[junebuggena]

I have to bite my tongue really hard when people start posting on this site about how great their birds did at the local fair. Or how people suddenly think their birds are worth a ton of money now that they won a bunch of fair ribbons...

 

[LongRanch]

The show judge replied to me and said that this particular chicken was not part of their APA show; Along with their APA show, there was also a 4-H section and a section for the Interior Provincial Exhibition birds (utility class is part of this). Unfortunately no one seems to know what sort of mix this was.

 

[junebuggena]

If you're looking for a breed with similar coloring check out Iowa Blues.