Vote on chickens I should take to show -it's for experience, they're all "bad" but I would love help

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I would use the welsummer and speckled sussex just because they seem to have a decent shape.

Definitely don't use the ameraucana, since she's actually an easter egger. I wouldn't use the naked neck either, because she doesn't have a completely featherless neck.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Invest in an American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection. I think that you should go to the show but don’t show any birds. Why? Well if you don’t show any birds but still go to the show you can walk through the rows and look at the breeds and varieties until you find the one you like. I have read that if you are new to poultry showing that you should choose a breed that comes in a solid color variety because if you get good stock then you can work on type and not have to worry about patterns. Once you find a breed you like wait around for the owner and then ask them as many questions as you can. Most hardcore chicken showers specialize in one maybe two breeds. The reason for this is so that they can focus all their attention on improving the breed they have chosen. It also helps to only show in one or two classes. Aside from having birds that adhere to the Standard of Perfection you will also need to train your birds to pose, be comfortable with people walking but, being handled, and to strut their stuff whenever someone walks by. Poultry showing, just like any competition, is extremely competitive. You may not win your first show or even your first ten shows, but eventually you will.

 

[I Love Layers]

Here are my quick opinions on your birds.

Welsummer - Type and color are not bad, tail angle is the biggest thing that stands out to me. I would also like to see her color darker overall.

Ameracauna - Not an Ameracauna, actually an Easter Egger. I would not show her at all.

Andalusian - The breed is actually Blue Andalusian. Looks to be a splash or a horribly colored blue. Since the breed is Blue Andalusian not Andalusian I would assume you would have to show her as a blue, not 100% sure and I will check on that. I have only ever seen or heard of Blues. However, I really like her type and her comb is surprisingly good. I would like to see a broader tail, slightly shorter back and better angle of her back.

Speckled Sussex - A hard breed to get correct with show quality birds. She has uneven speckling, and is posed weird(I know it can be a pain to pose them), so it is hard to tell type wise. I feel she could be broader in her body overall, with a longer back also. Overall she is not bad her mottling will kill her point wise though.

Black Shamo - I would not even consider taking her, the type is all wrong, I am questioning her even being a shamo. I am thinking she would possibly be DQed

Buff Brahma - Definitely my favorite, tail angle and back is all wrong. The markings actually aren't bad as long as you don't look around the feet. If you were to take any bird I would take her, could definitely see her doing ok.

Naked Neck - Wrong coloring to fit under any of the recognized colors. Type doesn't seem to bad. Personally I would go with a different bird just because of the color.

All in all if I were you I would take the Brahma and the Brahma only.


Just a small suggestion, just because you like a bird doesn't mean you should show it. My favorite bird is a LF White Cochin K I hatched out this year, however because he is a recessive gene from blue breeding his foot color is off and I know he won't place well in a show. So why waste the space and entry fee when I can take other birds who will do better. Especially for your first show. The less birds the less stress. Also have you ever attended an APA or ABA sanctioned show? If not I suggest just going to the show looking at the birds, watch the judging(from the next aisle over of course) and talking to people. Who knows you may buy some birds to show next year. It is better to learn stress free and know what to do and what will happen at the next show than to end up having a stressful time at the show and leading up to the show. You mentioned you wanted to gain experience, by watching and talking to people you will most likely gain more knowledge and experience than if you were to bring birds and show.

 

[I Love Layers]

Invest in an American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection. I think that you should go to the show but don’t show any birds. Why? Well if you don’t show any birds but still go to the show you can walk through the rows and look at the breeds and varieties until you find the one you like. I have read that if you are new to poultry showing that you should choose a breed that comes in a solid color variety because if you get good stock then you can work on type and not have to worry about patterns. Once you find a breed you like wait around for the owner and then ask them as many questions as you can. Most hardcore chicken showers specialize in one maybe two breeds. The reason for this is so that they can focus all their attention on improving the breed they have chosen. It also helps to only show in one or two classes. Aside from having birds that adhere to the Standard of Perfection you will also need to train your birds to pose, be comfortable with people walking but, being handled, and to strut their stuff whenever someone walks by. Poultry showing, just like any competition, is extremely competitive. You may not win your first show or even your first ten shows, but eventually you will.

100% agree with you!! Just spectate the first time it will help so much. Solid varieties also help, I recommend black, easy to keep clean and easy to find in literally every breed.
I drove 8 hours to get to the nearest APA sanctioned to me, and spectated. I bought a couple birds also. I learned a lot and when I showed there this year I was much more prepared than I would have been the previous year

 

[JedJackson]

The Brahma does have very good coloring, but she seems to be in between in size between a large fowl and a bantam. If you can weigh her, that would be a good idea. Hens should weigh 9 and 1/2 pounds for a large fowl. If she's 20% or more underweight (which is 1.9 lbs or more) then she could be disqualified.

 

[ATeacherChick]

I think I have misrepresented myself! Even at the pinnacle of "success" I have no designs on going to out of state poultry shows EVER...just showing locally, a breed I LIKE (not a breed I pick to be successful in shows with) with decent-quality birds, when the local shows come around. Having maybe two or three purebred birds I hatch one or two batches out of each year. That's actually pretty serious for me, considering I'm coming from the I-thought-chickens-were-for-backyard-eggs corner.

Just a quick note to everyone...make sure to read my original post, as I'm getting the impression some responders didn't. I'm grateful for all the suggestions as to which chicken I should take, out of available options. So thanks for those responses! I have been to a chicken show out of state as a spectator, but it was a while back. I definitely want to enter a chicken this time for my own experience.

 

[BantyChooks]

Just a quick note to everyone...make sure to read my original post, as I'm getting the impression some responders didn't. I'm grateful for all the suggestions as to which chicken I should take, out of available options. So thanks for those responses! I have been to a chicken show out of state as a spectator, but it was a while back. I definitely want to enter a chicken this time for my own experience.

Sounds like you've done your research. Good on ya.

 

[Amer]

The Brahma is my favorite, though undersized.
The bantam Am is a bantam EE btw.

I like the Andalusian, but virtually no lacing so probably not.

 

[Amer]

The Brahma is my favorite, though undersized.
The bantam Am is a bantam EE btw.

I like the Andalusian, but virtually no lacing so

Here are my quick opinions on your birds.

Welsummer - Type and color are not bad, tail angle is the biggest thing that stands out to me. I would also like to see her color darker overall.

Ameracauna - Not an Ameracauna, actually an Easter Egger. I would not show her at all.

Andalusian - The breed is actually Blue Andalusian. Looks to be a splash or a horribly colored blue. Since the breed is Blue Andalusian not Andalusian I would assume you would have to show her as a blue, not 100% sure and I will check on that. I have only ever seen or heard of Blues. However, I really like her type and her comb is surprisingly good. I would like to see a broader tail, slightly shorter back and better angle of her back.

Speckled Sussex - A hard breed to get correct with show quality birds. She has uneven speckling, and is posed weird(I know it can be a pain to pose them), so it is hard to tell type wise. I feel she could be broader in her body overall, with a longer back also. Overall she is not bad her mottling will kill her point wise though.

Black Shamo - I would not even consider taking her, the type is all wrong, I am questioning her even being a shamo. I am thinking she would possibly be DQed

Buff Brahma - Definitely my favorite, tail angle and back is all wrong. The markings actually aren't bad as long as you don't look around the feet. If you were to take any bird I would take her, could definitely see her doing ok.

Naked Neck - Wrong coloring to fit under any of the recognized colors. Type doesn't seem to bad. Personally I would go with a different bird just because of the color.

All in all if I were you I would take the Brahma and the Brahma only.


Just a small suggestion, just because you like a bird doesn't mean you should show it. My favorite bird is a LF White Cochin K I hatched out this year, however because he is a recessive gene from blue breeding his foot color is off and I know he won't place well in a show. So why waste the space and entry fee when I can take other birds who will do better. Especially for your first show. The less birds the less stress. Also have you ever attended an APA or ABA sanctioned show? If not I suggest just going to the show looking at the birds, watch the judging(from the next aisle over of course) and talking to people. Who knows you may buy some birds to show next year. It is better to learn stress free and know what to do and what will happen at the next show than to end up having a stressful time at the show and leading up to the show. You mentioned you wanted to gain experience, by watching and talking to people you will most likely gain more knowledge and experience than if you were to bring birds and show.

X2 but I would even bring birds that I know won't do good just to experience showing if I had never done it before.

 

[townchicks]

I hope you will keep us posted, if you do enter. Good luck, and be careful about biosecurity, as much as possible.