Showing Chickens

[Darylh]

Just wondered if anybody could help, my son is 10 wants to start showing chickens and I wanted to know if anybody could tell me what he has to do on the show day and before the show with his birds, he has a few hybrids, 2 x 6 old light sussex, a 23 week old buff laced wyandotte and 2 x 12 week old gold laced laced wyandottes, he was wanting to show the wyandottes. I have looked at the schedule for Bakewell show and was going to enter his birds in the juvenile classes.

 

[Marigold]

Hi Daryl and a big welcome to the forum, for you and your son. There are lots of experienced people on here who show their birds and I expect they'll be on to help you. Whereabouts are you? There may well be a local poultry club where you could both go along and get first- hand advice. Also, have you both actually been to any poultry shows? Seeing what's involved, and talking to the owners would give you a good insight Into what happens on a show day, i would think. People are always glad to pass on their experience to anyone who shows an interest.

 

[Darylh]

I've not been to any shows my son always goes in when we are at the shows I don't have the time as we put on floral trade stands at the agricultural shows so I don't get much chance

 

[chrismahon]

We've never shown our birds Darylh but there are two distinct parts to the process -quality and preparation. Quality is down to the breed lines and their conformance to specification. Preparation is getting the bird used to being handled, sitting in a cage for hours with strange people going past and being used to the washing, blow drying and general preparation of it. If the preparation isn't done properly the bird will get so stressed, won't be judged and will be ill afterwards.

 

[Marigold]

I agree with Chris, preparation is very important and you won't be able to do it until you know what the birds are going to have to face. I don't show mine, they're just a back garden mix of oddments, but the poultry show I visited recently was so incredibly noisy, with all the cockerels crowing their heads off in an echoing hall, I found it quite painful myself. Also the cages are very small and bare, with strange birds and people all around, it would be very stressful to a bird who hadn't been well prepared. You also have to think about how to quarantine your bird when she returns from the show, as she may have been exposed to diseases or infestations from the other birds, or the cages, and the stress involved may make her more likely to succumb and then she may pass things on to your flock.
Not that I'm trying to put you off, or anything!

 

[foxy]

You might find this link useful:

http://poultrykeeper.com/articles-on-showing-poultry/the-tips-and-tricks-for-exhibiting-your-show-chickens

Basically preparation is the key, assuming your sons birds meet the standards set for wyandottes in terms of type and colouring.

I wash mine about a week beforehand in a mild baby shampoo, then pat dry and wrap them in towels. They are when most of the moisture is out blow dryed gently on a medium setting, not too hot to scorch feathers or make the bird feel uncomfortable. They are kept inside until dry. Legs are cleaned, especially the scales and toenails. A bit of vaseline to soften the comb and brighten with legs with oil (non-feathered breeds) and they are ready for their big day!

 

[Darylh]

Thanks for that info, the link is very helpful. I was a bit worried that he might of had to do something with his birds whilst at the shows. Hes going to give his buff laced a bath this weekend to see how he goes on and to get the hen used to it.
Is there a max and min age for the show birds?

 

[foxy]

Thanks for that info, the link is very helpful. I was a bit worried that he might of had to do something with his birds whilst at the shows. Hes going to give his buff laced a bath this weekend to see how he goes on and to get the hen used to it.
Is there a max and min age for the show birds?

Regarding age of birds, some shows have different classes...so pullet/hen classes and cockerel/cock classes, usually those classes are on at the larger national shows or sometimes where the breed has regional classes on, the Wyandotte Club will be able to let you know why they are holding regionals. Generally speaking birds must be fully grown and not immature, and as long as they are healthy and fit the upper age could be anything.