Went to the OR state faire last week... I'm confused!

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

Here's a bit of background: I have never shown anything. Most of my childhood pets were rescues and mystery mutts. My current chickens are almost all hatchery stock (+ 2 mutts, and one from a breeder) and I am fine with them being 'pet quality'. A friend leant me a book called "British Poultry Standards" and I have been reviewing my breeds just to improve my knowledge. I have compared my hatchery birds to their breed standards and, though I found some obvious flaws, overall I have trouble telling if my birds are poor quality or not. Many of mine seem quite close to the standards, I think.

When it conveniently worked out that I was up north during the faire and we promised the kids a fun outing anyway, I decided to visit the poultry barn. I have seen a lot of folks here say that they wouldn't show a bird who had this or that problem so I was excited to see the birds who made the cut. I walked up and down every row and came to a number of conclusions: A. I want harlequin ducks: B. I want pheasants; and C. I can't tell the difference between most 'show chickens' and my own hatchery birds. There are exceptions, of course. I saw a wonderful barred rock hen, a lovely silver laced polish, some impressive silkies, and a nice speckeled sussex. All of these I could see how they were better quality than mine. But I saw a lot that I found disappointing. Most of the barred rocks were muddy or splotchy in color, many of the standard sized birds were moulting/missing feathers/dirty, and I saw many traits I think I recognize as marks of poor quality. There were a number of chickens there that appeared to me to be less show worthy than my own chickens.

So what's the deal? I obviously don't think show standards are the most important way to evaluate the chickens you keep, but I never planned to show my birds. But now I think maybe I should start! I was prepared to be amazed, and was rather disappointed. I pictured a room full of perfect looking chickens, like the pictures you see in books, all clean and impressive. (people talk about washing their chickens, after all!) I imagined competitions almost impossible to judge with highly qualified people having to evaluate minute details to make decisions. Was I in the wrong building? Cause I looked for more chickens, and that's all I saw! I just somehow thought it would be far more...challenging. To hear folks talk about showing, I thought I would never even have a chance at it without getting high-quality chickens from a breeder. But now I think my plain old hatchery birds (at least the nicest of them!) could compete.

Am I totally wrong? I don't mean to be harsh, I just didn't expect to see flaws that I as a novice would notice.

 

[joletabey]

I am beginning to think, from what several people have posted, that county and state fairs are not the best place to look. I think perhaps you would have better luck with poultry shows run by poultry clubs.
I know in some categories at least, anyone can enter a fair without prior qualifications. Perhaps this is true in poultry? And some people perhaps do not know what to do in order to show, and just grab a bird and go - it is a shame, though, that some are dirty. It gives the whole thing a bad name. I used to see some horse owners grab their horses out of pasture and show up in halter classes, performance classes, whatever. Maybe to some people, presentation is not important? Just putting out some guesses-

 

[cejunes]

My girls just had their first experience showing chickens at the fair. This was in North Idaho. They entered three each and had to place them in the appropriate category. I, as a parent, made them wash all six of the birds, clip the claws, and trim the beak. I don't have them show them for "prize winning bird" status, just for fun and so they can be proud of their work. Out of three birds, they took one red ribbon and two blue. You don't have to have any prior experience and most that show the birds, at least at our fair, are minors. Some are adults and I can't say the do it for the money because a blue ribbon is only $3.00. I hope that helps a little bit.

 

[silkiechicken]

State and county fairs often have displays full of birds being shown and judged, but often a large component of winning points may be from showmanship. Lots of birds go into competition as part of 4-H, FFA, or other youth orginizations where the birds may very well be hatchery stocks that are judged against each other, with the APA standard of perfection being there as a guide for big disqualifications. To see a real display of show quality birds, you'll probably have to go to a specialized poultry show. Fairs are open to everyone for fun really.

 

[aveca]

I really think the county and state fairs are wonderful fun for the family without the high stress especially for someone new to poultry. I know a family who just went to the county fair and won everything turned around went to a big APA show syaracuse and won everything last year the big Pa farm show in harrisburg won everything..and will be topping off thier year at the big or as some say in here HUGE APA show in OHIO...and jan back to PA farm show.. They are as charming and helpful to everybody else . They are one of those groups who travel with 200 well bred chickens and ducks.

There really is a difference in the show chickens and the hatchery birds because of the volume that the hatcherys do.the basic breed is there but they dont take the extra care that a breeder might in selecting and culling many years ago .they just supply the demand, thou the birds are a basic correct breed such as a sebright ..It takes a keen eye and its no easy feat to make straight combs and then keep colors correct on top of that.. . Some of the hatcheries actually have some decent birds .. I have seen people who worked hatchery chickens over and some severe culling and the results were pretty impressive..

I do know of a hatchery chicken owned by a freind , not only won county fairs and BOS but also won APA club shows..Maybe a freak? awful nice bird, I never would have guessed it came from a hatchery. They named him lucky strike... If you look closly at a lot of top show birds from breeders they have a very nice wide feather correct color, some of the hatchery birds have a narrower feather , narrower body. in sebrights often the backs are too long and neck and saddle feathers are narrow, breeders worked on this , selected for shorter backs wider neck and saddle feathers gives a finished look. color is secondary always to the foundation of the bird that you build on.
If you look at leghorns show stock and leghorns hatchery stock it kind of jumps out at you the diffference.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

First question is was the fair an ABA/APA sanctioned show? From your description, I would guess that it was not. Sanctioned shows draw better quality birds than do non-sanctioned ones. Many serious exhibitors will not exhibit at a non-sanctioned show. I think that at state or county fairs you will often get entries from people who really know nothing about showing other than "hey, I can enter my bird." As a first experience that can be good or bad--good if they see how much fun it can be; bad if their poor quality bird gets reamed in judging. By the same token, someone who expects a sanctioned show with good judging may be severely disappointed in the quality of birds present and decide it is not worth his/her time to show.

IMO, all state and county fairs should be sanctioned shows, with licensed judges.

 

[Muggsmagee]

Quote:
X2! County fairs are usually good for 4-H...which does NOT show to APA standards. I gave a Salmon Faverolle rooster that was not standard (poor quality) as a pet to my friend's daughter. She showed him in our county fair and won 1st in best breed, and best reserve champion. While I am so glad for her, I know the fairs are not where you can find the epitome of show quality birds. A sanctioned show designated is where you'll find the best of the best.

A side note...that shouldn't deter you for wanting to enter your birds into a fair. Go for it, if that is something you want to do. I'm going to start with the fairs next year, and go from there. I want the experience under my belt before I go big!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Our state fair is snactioned and draws a good number of decent birds. THere are ones that are obviously hatchery or a poor specimin, but most are nice. Our county fairs are a mix; some are sanctioned and some not. The sanctioned ones draw in better quality birds. No showmanship at the state fair; I think it may be county by county as to whether they do showmanship or not.

 

[muddyhorse]

Just because a bird is entered doesn't mean they will win

at our county fair an older gentlemen won Grand champ standard with his roo that was either a RIR or NH umm you couldn't really tell what breed it was. It was a gorgeous bird. this fair was not judged by the standard. two weeks later He showed at a different county fair that was judged by an APA judge. he did not place at all. County fairs are not the place to look for show birds.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Our state fair is ABA and APA sanctioned. I do show there and will tell you that I have to enter birds about a month before the show. I do have birds that start molt and damage feathers in that time. I still show them. I show because I enjoy my poultry and hope others do too. I would love to win but that isn't really that important. I meet many people every year that makes participating worthwhile even if I don't win. This year I did enter 4 birds and had 3 class wins and Reserve Breed, last year wasn't nearly as good.