What should I watch for to get 4-H showing hens?

[Chicky boom boom 27]

My daughter is starting 4-H this year and we are going to have some chickens in the poultry project. We currently have 2 australorps, 1 standard size columbian wyandotte hen and 2 bantam col. wyan. hens. I was considering just taking the nicest tempered ones for her first year (one australorp and the standard CW) but I'm afraid that if she doesn't do well when showing that she'll want to quit. What should I look for to see if the nice ones we have are good "showers". The australorps came from a guy who had many different breeds, so they may not be purebred. The standard wyandotte came from McMurray Hatchery in Webster City Iowa, and the two bantams came from a hatchery "up north" from what I was told.

Are there good websites around with "show marks" (what I should look for on each breed to make sure they fit the breed?) The bantams are the first chickens I've ever owned and the others were purchased as my obsession grew. I never knew chickens could be so darn addicting!!

Thanks in advance for helping a newbie out!!

 

[Katy]

You can order the Standard of Perfection from the APA. It has the breed standard for every breed that is accepted by the APA.

In a lot of 4H shows it's more about showmanship and the condition of the bird than it is about whether it fits the breed standard . They are generally much different on what birds do well than in an APA sanctioned show.

 

[edgarmongold]

Quote:
You can get the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection from the library.

If your library does not have it they can request a copy from another library for you.

First you should find out what entries are available at your fair for 4-H.

It might be a single bird or pair of birds.

If it is a pair you will want them to look as much alike as possible.

Do a little research on what your fair expects from the 4-Hers.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
You can get the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection from the library.

If your library does not have it they can request a copy from another library for you.

First you should find out what entries are available at your fair for 4-H.

It might be a single bird or pair of birds.

If it is a pair you will want them to look as much alike as possible.

Do a little research on what your fair expects from the 4-Hers.

Most Libraries don't have resent Standard of Perfection and there more than 5 or 6 Edition old.

Chris

 

[Chicky boom boom 27]

I really appreciate the help. I'll check at my library tomorrow to see if they have it (and how old it is). Maybe I'll luck out.

As far as finding out what the fair itself expects, I'll do some checking on that. We just signed her up, so we haven't gotten all our information packets yet.

Thank you for your replies!!!

 

[chickendales]

an old copies better then nothing