What do I need to do in order to show my chickens at the fair?

[M To The Maxx]

I never knew that

 

[Pathfinders]

Quote:
Not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but it can be distressing to take your hatchery bird to your very first show and have a judge tell you it's not what you thought it was (happened to us back when we first got into birds and the judge was really rather cranky about it.) Very embarrassing!



So I thought I'd give you all a heads-up, as this happens with Ameraucanas (I used to breed them), people think they've bought purebreds from whichever hatchery and then are dismayed to find out they are most decidedly NOT, even though the hatchery sells them as Ameraucanas. It's a real pet peeve for Amer. breeders...

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I've never heard anything about opaque dividers not being allowed--I know I've seen them at every show I've been at, and I only show at sanctioned shows (except for the occasional lawn show by one of my poultry clubs).

 

[Pathfinders]

Quote:
It was something that was decided several years ago. I know about it because I was on the ABA committee that worked on the language for it. It was published in the Quarterly sometime in '07 or '08 I think. I'm pretty sure it's both ABA and APA, but know for sure it's an ABA regulation.

Not a lot of shows enforce it, but if there's a picky judge, they'll make you take them down. Part of the reasoning is that there are some exhibitors who will do things to make their birds stand out, to let the judge know which birds are theirs (everything from custom legbands with their names on them, to marking their water cups with their farm names, to dressing up their cages with fabric!)

Bottom line, the judge should not be distracted from the birds themselves. And a judge needs to be able to compare other birds within a class (say all the Silkies for BB, for example) and it's harder to do that if there are all these cardboard dividers breaking things up as they look down the cage row.

IMO, we want to help the judges, not hinder them from doing their job. So I felt it was a good idea (although I didn't dream it up, the rule came about due to a number of complaints that were made over the space of several years.) I always bring sheets of acetate with me to shows, and bulldog clips. I'd rather use plastic anyway, easier to store rolled up, and wipe clean later.

 

[Hillgirl]

goody goody this is good stuff!!!