What are the details of showing, and what breeds are best for showing?

[Cavendish Chickens]

This is our first year having chickens, and we were wondering about showing? What breeds are best to show, and what are the standards to follow when showing? And what gender is usually shown? We have a beautiful speckled sussex rooster, but he's a little aggressive. Not sure if he's show quality due to that. We also plan to get some silkies in the spring. We have two beautiful leghorn hens. One white, one light brown. The light brown has this beautiful golden color mixed into the brown, and her comb is bright red and flopped over. The white one has a really small red comb. They've just started laying this week. If anyone can inform us of all the showing details, we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[muddyhorse]

first get a hold of the standard of perfection it is a book put out by the APA it gives the standards for each breed, eye color, leg color, tail angle ect.
second find a breed YOU like that is the best one to show, it is hard to be enthusiastic about a bird you detest.
third find a breeder to help you out they can look at your stock and tell you where you need to improve
there is a lot more to it these are just some of the basics if you post a pic of your birds there are some very experienced people here that can help you
Have fun

 

[Cavendish Chickens]

Thank you very much. I'm going to keep my eye open for the book. What about gender? Can it be either or? I will have to get better pictures of my birds, but they are beautiful. At least in my eyes.

 

[Gallusfarm]

For gender it can be either/or. I'm just starting with showing, but I do have to say that pullets or hens are easier to train/bathe/handle, etc. But as long as you handle the roos a lot they should be fine.

Here's a thread with my showing experience

. There are some good links on there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=402288

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003039322

This old Standard of Perfection will get you started it outlines what classes there are and what birds go into what class, so then you can figure out what class you want to compete in.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Are you looking to have your children (although I'm unsure of ages) participate? Showmanship is a poultry exhibiting-"splinter" for lack of better word. It branches out from the normal put-your-chicken-in-the-cage-and-have-it-judged showing. Much more hands on. In a nut shell, kids collect information about the bird they are handling (breed and species in general) and answer random questions to a judge. Obviously if you don't want to do that, it's optional.

Aside from that, I agree with muddyhorse on the steps for regular showing. There's alot more info out there and if you have questions there are plenty who will be happy to assist.

As far as breeds that are best for showing, there's no simple answer. The breeds that have the best reputation for being easy to handle are typically Cochins and Silkies (as well as others who escape me). But the question itself is so vague there's more than just a few answers. But yes, whatever breed catches your eye is key.

Both genders work also. I show with juniors (youth exhibitors) and catch a trend of mostly female birds, ranging from pullets to adult hens. There are some males too. For showmanship, I prefer to use my rooster, actually. I personally find him easier to handle and feel he is more showy, as roos tend to be. Gender preferance is owner-specific.