Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[CarolynF]

Hi Washington Peeps! I have a huge question (to me) for you all. I would like to start showing my Barnevelders in the upcoming WFF show in Chehalis next month. I have never showed before and I heard that my birds have to be tested to be shown...who do I call for testing? I know nothing about it. I hatched these eggs this summer and would love to test the quality of my stock in a show...but I know nothing about testing, leg banding, etc...can anyone help me out? I'm really a newby and don't have any friends that show poultry...

Thanks in advance!

DD

Hi DD,
That's really great that you want to start to show. Here is a LINK to the WFF page. When you open it just click on the line for the catalog. You'll find the rules and a heap of information there. I can't advise you on the testing and such, but several other people certainly can. Good Luck showing!

How many barnies do you have?

 

[DiamondDust]

Hi DD,
That's really great that you want to start to show.  Here is a LINK to the WFF page.  When you open it just click on the line for the catalog.  You'll find the rules and a heap of information there.  I can't advise you on the testing and such, but several other people certainly can.  Good Luck showing!  

How many barnies do you have? 

Hi CarolynF,

I have 13 Barnevelders. I hatched them all from eggs this summer.

Three are pure Barnies and the rest are double laced blues...four of them turned out black (so they look like pure barnies but technically they are not) and the others blue. Two of my blues are cockerels and I have a splash cockerel too.

The trio of pure barnies are the birds I want to take to the show. They are about 6 months old now. Thanks for the link...but I've been to their page already and it does say that the birds that are not tested prior will be tested after the judging...not sure how that affects me. I wish I had someone who could walk me through this as I've never been to a show before, other than walking through the poultry barn at the Puyallup Fair.

DD

 

[gfvanvleck]

Hi CarolynF,

I have 13 Barnevelders. I hatched them all from eggs this summer.

Three are pure Barnies and the rest are double laced blues...four of them turned out black (so they look like pure barnies but technically they are not) and the others blue. Two of my blues are cockerels and I have a splash cockerel too.

The trio of pure barnies are the birds I want to take to the show. They are about 6 months old now. Thanks for the link...but I've been to their page already and it does say that the birds that are not tested prior will be tested after the judging...not sure how that affects me. I wish I had someone who could walk me through this as I've never been to a show before, other than walking through the poultry barn at the Puyallup Fair.

DD

Hi, I showed for the first time at Clark county and I really am still learning but one thing I did find out is the chickens need to be at least 5 months old. Now if I am not correct hopefully someone will correct this. My chickens were 7 months and the oldest ones I own. I met some very nice people and everyone helped me so much so get your chickens there and you will have 2 days to ask all the questions you want. LOL I asked a ton of them! Good luck

 

[BGMatt]

Hi, I showed for the first time at Clark county and I really am still learning but one thing I did find out is the chickens need to be at least 5 months old. Now if I am not correct hopefully someone will correct this. My chickens were 7 months and the oldest ones I own. I met some very nice people and everyone helped me so much so get your chickens there and you will have 2 days to ask all the questions you want. LOL I asked a ton of them! Good luck

There is no minimum age, not much point to showing them younger than around 5-6 months due to them being immature, but there is no rule against it. Glad you had a good time at first show though. Poultry folks are by and large good people, and our shows are sooooo much more relaxed and chill than other species.

 

[DiamondDust]

Is it true that I have to have the birds all vet tested 30 days before the show? I have so much to learn but if they have to be tested for Salmonella and...something else, I forget what I was told...30 days before the show then I'm dead in the water. I have only three weeks before the show now...So...How, where, by who, do I have them tested?

DD

 

[RainyDayChicken]

This is my only SPR hen. I am going to try to get more from Mr. Horstman.

 

[cieraphoto]

This is my only SPR hen. I am going to try to get more from Mr. Horstman.

She's pretty! I have SPPR also!

 

[gfvanvleck]

Wow, I am so excited! I just hatched 19 from 20 eggs of black, blue and I think some splash LF Orpingtons. I am hoping none of them are going to be splashes as they are not my favorite. I also just got 2 dozen more Orpington eggs from Florida so I get to start all over again. LOL

 

[Hinotori]

Congrats on a such a good hatch!

 

[ElleLovesDucks]

Just wanted to share! I had a great turn of events. While I will never be purchasing birds from Mallard Lane Farms again, I found someone through here who will be sending me a mate for my sweet whistling duck to replace the little guy who didn't make it. I found him on here, his website is http://www.quackhabit.com and although the website says he sells them in pairs, I explained the situation and he worked with me to not only get me just the drake, but is trying to find the most appropriate mate for my girl. I'm so happy I could fly. This really made up for the crummy week I had.