I was just seeing if anyone could give me comments on my chickens and if they look ok to be show chickens? I know nothing about showing chickens and will be attending our first show next month! Hope these pictures will be ok Thanks everyone for any comments!! Polish Hen Partridge Cochin Bantam Rooster Same Rooster OEG Bantam Hen Sebright Bantam Hen RIR Bantam Hen
When going to a small show you'll get fairly good odds of winning, but one thing I must let you know of is that if you got your birds from a feedstore or hatchery and are expecting "good quality," I'll sadly have to tell you that you won't. Anyway, about their traits. . . The Polish hen - WAY too much black in her crest, too small of a crest, and too thin of a body type. Otherwise she's got a good tail and waddles. The Cochin - His tail looks rather low set, and he doesn't have a nice "cushion" of feathering on his back. He needs to look very plump and fluffy. The Sebright - I believe she needs a higher set tail and a much more pronounced chest, but otherwise she's nice looking. I can't tell much from the Rhode Island Red, but it at least has good color from what I see. Good luck showing them though!
Quote:Thanks! I know my chickens probably won't win but at least we will have fun! Do you know of any DQ's that I should know of? I know with my rabbits there are many DQ's but I'm not familiar with the chicken ones
General ones that may apply to your birds are things like a side-spring in a single comb (if you've got a point sticking out the side) White that covers more than a fingernail's length on a White Crested Black Polish body, vulture hocks (feathering on the hocks, although I'm not sure about Cochins) feathering on a clean legged bird, a rose comb that doesn't have the tapered tip it should, stuff like that. Oh and weight. If the bird is over or under, I believe it is 20% (anyone want to correct me?) of the bird's SOP weight, it is a DQ.
As the first responder said you polish has WAY too much black in her crest & her body lacks depth & length. Her waddles were mentioned but I'm sure that should have been wattles. Ducks waddle, chickens have wattles. The Cochin's type is very poor. A good Cochin is round & full from ever angle. The OEGB is much too long in the back, her tail isn't well spread & her wing is too loose. The Sebright has pretty nice colour but she too is long in the back. Her tail isn't well spread & is carried too low. The Red has decent body type but her wing isn't carried up & well folded. her tail should be less pinched. ETA: yes, disqualifying weight is +/- 20% of standard weight. You say you're not aware of chicken disqualifications so I suspect you don't own a Standard. If you seriously are interested in showing, and not wasting your time & money, a Standard should be the next thing you buy.
Thanks everyone! Well I may get the Standard depending on how well we enjoy showing our chickens. It will be just a fun learning experience for us!
