PoultryTalk.com

So you may of never shown your birds before, are considering it, or have just started?

The big question a lot of people have is how do you start? Which is the best way? Especially to get help & advice from the 'experts' in each breed area or in the 'showing world'.

Maybe you have exhibited or an exhibitor, or looked into showing, if so, what do/did you find are the best ways to get honest help & advice from the experts out there to help you advance in the showing world?

Hi, Can I start the ball rolling as I have never been to a Poultry Show other than the Poultry tents at Agricultural Shows. At those shows it always seemed to be a closed shop, but enlighten me on these questions.
1. Do you have to be a member of a Breed group or Society to enter ?.
2. Is there any risk of your birds catching any disease or illness and bringing it back to your home stock ?.
3. Are their specific books you need to read to know which birds are best to take to avoid making big mistakes and a fool of yourself ?.
4. Does the experience traumatise birds who have never been shown before ?.
5. Do you have to purchase show breed lines to stand any chance rather than just a bird out of any stock ?.
6. Lastly I have heard of eggs being exhibited and wonder what makes for winning eggs ?

I would be interested in any comments.

David

Hi Q1 answer: no you dont have to be a member but it limits you in things you can recieve for winning. It is good to be a member of each show club becasue it only costs on average 2.50 or £3 and then they send schedules and entry forms straight out to you. So I am a member to all my local shows. The breed club memberships are slightly different - good to be with them because of newsletters and you go on a breeders list so helps you to sell stock. Often some shows wont give you the cups etc unless you are a member as they need to trust your details but will give you the card and rosette. Q2 risk of catching is not how you should word it. Most pure breeds are carriers of myco and stress bring it out - so most people treat their birds about 3 days before the shows with batril and tylan and during the show and three days after. Now some breeds are hardier to myco than other - e'g' silkies well know as the worst. Most people frontline birds as well to prevent crawlies Q3 Information sent from the breed clubs useful but best way is just to enter the birds in the smaller shows and ask judge for feedback and they will tell you what faults you should focus on. Q4 Birds should be handled regularly to help them and also handled properly with the legs. This reduces stress. I start young birds off in local little shows and keep putting them in till I get to the big shows. Some people set up a small penning section in a shed or garage to practise with them for a couple of days at a time. Q5 You get pet stock, breeding stock and showing stock. It is fine to work with breeding and show but not the pet stuff. It is best to be realistic. I breed gold partridge wyandottes now the top breeder is geoff parker which my line is from. Geoff has won 1st 2nd and 3rd for the past ten years at both major shows - year on year. This does not mean my birds are rubbish just geoff the man to beat. My pullet came 4th out of 20 so in my mind I won that as didnt expect to beat geoff anyways. Just becasue your bird doesnt get carded doesnt mean they are sub show standard just more typey birds there. TYPE more important than colour. Q6 eggs is to do with the class you enter them in on so you would have to decide what class to put them in - usually about 20 classes at little shows - Majority are just based on egg shape, shell colour and quality of shell but I do the contents one which looks at the inside too as the judge breaks it open. Some eggs that are shown are 2 or 3 years old - just kept safe and constantly put back in. There is a show just for eggs - If you want to show eggs you should look at that show. Red x

Red, Thanks for the great response to my questions, and certainly a lot to think about. I notice there is a show at Lanark in a fortnights time, so providing we are not snowed in, I will go and have a look to see exactly what takes place.
Looked in my chickens book about Myco but cannot find any reference, can you enlighten me please.
Was just a bit concerned about people showing eggs 2 - 3 years old as that can hardly be fair, and they must only be "Pot Hunters" and possibly this will not give the encouragement to beginners to get involved in showing.
Thanks again, David

mycoplasma eggs showing doesnt have it in the rule book the age of the egg - All I say is be careful near the egg table I was at a show where one got broken and it stunk - dont know how old it was but it was off!! hope you enjoy your show Red

I went to Lanark today and was interested to see the egg Judge with a bowl of water to check eggs, as she said it was surprising what you find !.
Was a little concerned in the For Sale section where in one pen of trios of hens to see one hen being chased round and hounded viciously by the other two continuously, and in another pen what I believed to be blood drawn on a white hen. Another pen had a duck with what appeared to be an eye missing. There did not appear to be any stewards in that area making me wonder how much care is being taken or does no one care if its for sale.
Don't think I want to get involved in the showing world if only to keep my flock disease free and I will prefer to buy livestock from a caring breeder.
David

thing is myco is in most pure breeds and it is brought on by stress so you can buy from a careful breeder but their stock could still have an outbreak of myco a couple days after you have them and it isnt the breeders fault. Also some breeds are carriers for mareaks and stress brings that out too. Some pure breeds like the TNN are more disease resistant. I show and I think people would say I am a caring breeder and I know of a lot around me who dont show and I certainly wouldnt call some of them careful breeders by what I have seen. Please note i have said pure breeds - dont send messages about hybrids please. Red :)