Why do you show your poultry?

[chickenmomma16]

I decided I wanted more out of my chicken addiction and wanted to try my hand at a breeding with the SOP in mind. So I purchased some day old WBS Ameraucanas in June and I have a couple pullets that potentially could be show quality. So I broke the news to my hubby that I would like to enter a couple into a show close to me sometime in the future. He asked why I would want to show a chicken. He understood dog shows and horse shows (I used to show Arabians) and I couldn't come up with a good answer for why I want to show a couple chickens. I mean, I came up with a few reasons but he wasn't convinced.

Any help? What are YOUR reasons to show?

 

[Fred's Hens]

1. Because it is a fun hobby.

2. To exhibit the breed to the many folks who come to the shows just to walk through. Most breeds desperately need the support and the exposure

3. To have my birds, the work of my breeding, judged against the best breeders in the land. "Barn blindness" is a term for becoming so familiar with your own birds that you fail to see faults you are allowing to propagate and weakness that you're failing to improve.

4. Camaraderie with fellow chicken nuts. Nothing like it in the whole world. Where else are you gonna find so many experienced and knowledgeable breeders in one place? No where else.

 

[chickenmomma16]

@Fred's Hens

 

[chkiror]

I don't show my chickens but I love to go look at other people's. It is a wonderful opportunity to see breeds in person have to say thanks to the breeders that do show theirs. Tell hubby that it is service to everyone breeders and the observers.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I don't show my chickens but I love to go look at other people's. It is a wonderful opportunity to see breeds in person have to say thanks to the breeders that do show theirs. Tell hubby that it is service to everyone breeders and the observers.

And the breed itself.

Without breeders keeping these birds going, and keeping them bred to the breed standard, they'd fade away and all our choices would be gone. All we'd have is commercially produced, mass produced hatchery stock that sadly, isn't even close to being up to par.

Will all this cure cancer or create world peace? I doubt it, but we feel it is important work and we have a passion for the hobby.

 

[ejcrist]

I haven't showed any birds yet but I'm planning to next year. I've been very fortunate in people helping me find good stock to start with (thanks again Fred), and I recently acquired cockerels and pullets from a local breeder that are better than anything I ever imagined I'd own. Anyway, my $0.02 - I want to breed birds that come as close to the SOP as I can so I can spread the word about what the breeds are supposed to be and show people the real deal. When I decided to go down this path I quickly realized that birds close to the SOP are very rare and could use help to keep them from disappearing. The best way I think to accomplish this is to attend shows and network with other breeders to learn through experience. Like Fred said in #3 above, it's important to have your work compared to others to know how well you're doing - couldn't agree with that more. And then, besides all that lofty stuff I just said, I just like 'em and think they're both beautiful and the most productive animal on the planet that's served mankind better than any other. If it were up to me I'd change the national bird from a Bald Eagle to a Barred Rock or a Rhode Island Red.