What would be a good first show breed?

[PotterWatch]

My kids might be starting in 4h soon and I am hoping they will want to do a poultry project. If they end up showing a bird, what would be a good breed to show? We would probably end up buying eggs and hatching them in an incubator since we aren't allowed a rooster on our property. I don't want to pay tons of money for the eggs, so something that usually has a good hatch rate and isn't too expensive would be great. Thanks!

 

[Chicky Mama]

My 10 yr. did this with her OEG bantam pullet,it was her first time showing!.Old english are sweet, small and easy for smaller hands to hold. They'll jump on my back if I bend over for some attention.

Make sure you get bantam only,full size is a fighting bird I belive.Also D'Uccles, Cochins and Silikes are good choices. Ours are all mostly batams. 4H is alot of fun.

 

[macnugget]

Any bird that they can handle is the best. Most of the bantams like to be held and taught to relax during showing my daughter just won showman of shaowman at the last weeks fair
http://web.me.com/nicholasrizzo1/Miami_Producers/Our_Special_Memories/Pages/Fair_2.html#17

 

[PotterWatch]

If we did bantams, would I need to keep them in a separate coop/run from my laying flock who are all LF?

 

[Krys109uk]

My children used to show back in UK. My daughter, small at the time (& an avid Harry Potter fan), insisted she had to show the largest Orpington she could find. She did fine & succeeded in carrying him (with a bit of help from the judge). Why not let them choose what they want to show.

 

[Chris09]

I have to ask the same question a krys..

Why not let them choose what they want to show?

That might be the only way they will stay in it.. If they have to show a breed that they don't like they ain't going to have fun and they ain't going to like showing...

Chris​

 

[Dustin Biery]

Agree with Krys and Chris, they should pick their own breed. You will find horror stories from at least on person on every breed, without exception. It is important that they like the birds they get to keep them interested. Some please to look maybe at Feathersite.com. It may also become an over load for a younger kid, but it will give you a better idea as to whats out there. If you have any trouble finding quality birds in your area, you can always post here to see if anyone else knows of a breeder in your area! Good luck and I hope the showing goes well!

 

[PotterWatch]

The boys will certainly get a say in what breed they pick, but I will have veto power. After all, if they pick a breed that is going to cost $100 for a dozen eggs, they will have to pick something different. There are far too many breeds to just click through feathersite with them, my kids would never make up their mind with all that to choose from! If I can show them about a dozen different ones that will be easy to obtain and hatch but still be a good show bird, that would be perfect.

 

[Chicky Mama]

We have mostly bantams with 7 Favs & EE lrg.mixed in and they do fine. It's the favs that get pecked by some of the bants cuz their so docile. As said before in everygroup there's gonna be a rotten apple but there's also good ones too,any breed will do.We go more for thre ornamental types or rare breeds for next year.This year as shown above was a BBR OEG,great lil birdie. We have a semi local breeder that supplies the feed store in Redbluff.