Next weekend I will attend the first local poultry show of the year (near me anyway). As I was thinking about the trip and my planned purchases and contacts I realized that several people have expressed interest in 'purebreed' chickens, and some have mentioned children and 4H. I thought I should share some experience with those wanting chickens for 4H projects. For several years I was the poultry group adult leader for our club and one of the saddest things I dealt with was children who entered chickens in the local 4H show or County Fair and had their birds disqualified for not meeting the breed standard. YES there are breed standards for poultry enforced at these shows. One of the best ways to avoid this disappointment is to buy your chicks or older stock from a good poultry show sale. WHY? because poultry breeders are always trying to 'hook' new people into their favorite hobby (you know, like goat people and horse people, only better because there is usually little money involved.) They want to sell you on their breed and their hobby. More people makes more fun. When you order speciality chicks you get chicks with no idea what to look for in the adult bird, no idea what the the parents looked like and no real idea what they will do as breeding stock if you like them. Murray McMurray and other hatcheries are great places to get novelty birds-IF all you want is something new and different to look at in your yard. When I have taken young people to poultry shows they have always had many people interested in helping them find the right birds to meet their expectations. Once my son bought a pair that had placed FIRST as junior birds and I am still planning on using one of the roosters from that pair to breed again (about 4 years later). Looking at the adult birds, observing their behavior, watching the judges handle them and talking to other breeders helps children find good breeding stock and may encourage them to continue an enjoyable hobby (blue ribbons and occassional prize checks kept my children interested for about 10 years). Is it more expensive to buy adult birds at a show? YES, the last birds I bought at show cost about $40 for the pair of very nice bantams(about 3 years ago). Was it worth it? YES- I enjoy showing quality birds, and I enjoy breeding quality birds. It costs just as much in time, money and effort to care for those birds that your child can't show successfully as it does to care for those they can. Just because an animal or bird is "purebreed" or "registered" doesn't mean they meet standard (I have a lovely purebreed, registered 17 # chichuachua to prove it-and his parents meet standard!)So please take my advice and go to a poultry show to see the 'real thing' and find birds your children can enjoy showing and breeding- it will make them happier. (As a parent I know that always makes me happier?) As for me, I'm going to replenish my now depleted breeding stock. We lost almost all of our birds to severe flooding about 3 years ago (we were at a funeral out of state and the neighbors were busy saving their own homes and animals) and I finally have new pens and a new poultry house ready to start over. Enjoy your spring birds and happy showing to those of you enjoy improving the breeds and meeting new people. ( I still don't know which is the most fun.) You can probably find out about local shows from your local 4H club extension or local 4H club leaders. If not, go to the local feed stores and ask if they have information or know local breeders. Feathersite has some shows listed but they are all for 1999-2000. You may be able to get information from the speciality club sites listed on feathersite as well. (Especially from the American Batam association) by the way-If you are going for meat or utility birds only you can probably order those from information from the 4H club extensions) Betty

-- (betty_m9@yahoo.com), January 06, 2001

Answers

My daughter plans to show her Polish chickens at County Fair this year. They are nice looking birds but are not the correct color to show at poultry shows. I've been told by 4H officals that the color doesn't matter. Have you experienced this also? They compare well to pictures that I've seen of Polish chickens it's just their color that isn't quite right.

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), January 08, 2001.

when we started out with exhibiting birds we did get a few Polish, I like the look of them. We found the roosters a little fiesty and the hens a bit flighty. It might have been the line we purchased. When the kids started doing showmanship competion we went to larger, quieter breeds. Standard sized Cochins were perfect for them-large and quiet tempered. (It did look odd though because they were the youngest and smallest showmen with the largest birds of the bunch.) We even had a rooster that went to petting zoos and to school! I've experienced the problem of color with other breeds-as well as mismatched markings. When that happens I usually can look to the parents for confirmation and color and if it's there and the offspring has good confirmation and carriage (in the small bantams I've been breeding it counts) I use the bird for a breeding or two to see what it will produce. I use a good match with correct color and confirmation of course. Sometimes you will breed a pair of correctly colored and/or patterned birds and the color or pattern will still be off. Genetics is still a mystery to me. I like to see new show people start with a good adult bird (better yet a good pair). They can compete with pride and develop a breeding program at the same time. With poultry you can eat those that don't meet standard so you really don't lose anything by the experiment or two! I find it an enjoyable hobby and I do love to just watch the birds. betty

-- betty modin (betty_m9@yahoo.com), January 08, 2001.

i would like to know if anyone knew how to register for county and state fairs in showing chicken need the info thanks.

-- drew (ata1hunt@aol.com), August 20, 2001.