The Tri State Fair in Amarillo will have bantam judging on the 19th of September. I was wondering if I could take my three young silkies over, but I have no idea what to expect. It says they have to wear a number and you have to bring your own water and feed bowls. Other than that, it appears you can bring them in earlier than morning, and pay $1.50 per bird. Here is the entry form. I sure don't like that part where they ask your social security number. It does have a place for "young pair or trio", would my three silkies qualify for that? They would be close to four months old by the 19th. http://tristatefair.com/fair/documents/2009/bantam_large_fowl.pdf
How does a chicken wear a number?
Anyone know how to show poultry?
I have no idea, I hope someone enlightens us all about poultry competition.
Me too. Guess if nobody answers I could use google and see what I can find. Also, I could call the fair and see if they have somebody I could talk to.
I've gone to the fair for years, but never entered anything. Usually by the time we get there most of the animals are gone. Even if I didn't enter anything, it would be fun to go watch, now that I know a tiny bit about poultry, thanks to the DGers.
I found the schedule, so I know what time to be there. :) I might even find some other silkie breeders in my area.
I never have--but ZZ and I individually visited the local Poultry Show and it wasn't nearly as intimidating as we expected.
I think it helps if get the chickens used to being handled and I think serious enthusiasts bath and groom their chickens a day or two ahead (so their feathers regain their shine) and oil (?) their legs and combs.....
Clearly, not everyone does this. I would just go, have fun and learn from the pros.
i show here in pa and in ny in both sanctioned and unsanctioned open shows. each state requires different things as well as depending on if it is a sanctioned or unsactioned show or if the show is state funded or not. sactioned shows go strictly by apa and aba rules and regulations and r alot harder and stricter usually there is about 3-5 liceansed judges depending on how big the show is. the judge will take ur birds out and examine them, some birds r weighed on scales and such. where as the others like local fairs r usually unsanctioned and more leaniant with only one not liceansed judge and apa and aba is used as guidlines they don't have to follow the rules to a t and usually birds r left cooped and just looked over when judged.
when i show in ny i only need perminant #'ed leg band on each bird and a negative testing for pollorum so many days prior to ea show. here in pa they r alot stricter, i have to have ai and pt testing both so many days prior to the opening of each show and they must be vaccinated for ILT along with a permanant #'ed leg band. i am a pa liceancesed poultry tech so i do the bloodwork for my flock as well as for other exhibitors/farmers in the area among other things also. i take the bloodwork to our ag lab to have it tested then they email me the results as well as the exhibitors. every bird i draw blood on i have to put a pa dept of ag perminant id band on so that their paper work matches who is entering that bird and id #. we also have to do an owner verification form also for the show listing bird, id #, description ect. in pa the birds have to be 4mths or older to take their blood on them for testing.
tx is one of the more stricter states with disease control so definately check to make sure ur state doesn't require any bloodwork or vaccines before entering. i have never had to give my ss# to exhibit and i definately would leave that blank they have no reason to ask for it. a trio is a male and 2 females and a quad would be 1 male/3 females or 2 pair i can't remember. cockeral is a rooster under 1 year old, and cock is one over a year, pullet is one under a year old and hen is one over a year old. the part that said old or young should be for turkeys they go by young tom old tom ect. the # can be even a plastic id band with a # on it doesn't have to be alluminum ones like i have to use unless ur state is like ours and the id has to match ur paperwork. i also see their is an entry deadline by aug 19th if u didn't register them before that they can't be shown. i'm not sure if it is a sanctioned show or not their rules r basically the same as r but look more legal written there is info missing like premium prices and such if it was their i could answer that one better and it doesn't say anything about apa and aba going just by what i see i'd say it is an open not sactioned show though.
i have shown many breeds over the years but the ones i liked best that i only show now r silkies, showgirls, polish and welsummers. there is many things that can dq a silkie they can be very hard to work with but showing is loads of fun and an awesome adventure! i like it cause it shows me as a breeder how i have improved my lines or what i need to work on to do better with them but most importantly i do it for fun for mike and i and our 5 kid's. i hope u do get the chance to show i'm sure u will love and enjoy it as much as me and my family do.
if u need any other help just ask,
silkie
Congratulations Silkiechick! Thank you, that was so informative. How awesome that you compete. Please keep us informed, and I hope you do really well in it.
I'll keep all this in mind for next year.
I don't know what is up with me and these chickens. I only wanted five laying hens to begin with, and I didn't really care what they were. I didn't know anything about chickens at all, except they laid eggs and we ate their meat. Now, I'm reading Poultry Press and watching eggbid.
You know it really is a very nice hobby. The more I think about it, the more I realize how important chickens have been throughout history. They absolutely kept people alive at times. I wonder how they made secure chicken coops way back when.
Way back when they probably cohabited.
we are doing our first shows as well, it CT, the state comes by for 1$ per bird ans does a throat and blood culture. they band the birds and send the cert in the mail to copy and present to the show co-ordinators. this is pretty standard for the whole state. Most fairs provide cages, food, and water. I have filled out three show forms - our first is next week and never needed a social - perhaps you have to register a flock
. It is very easy to get involved in ct, it sounds like you need to call a coordinator (there is probably a phone number listed on the fair or show website or entry blank) and they should be very helpful on information for your process.
In Ct. you may NOT have birds vaccinated for influeza 4 weeks prior to the show.
i don't know that this is helpful in your case.. I am wondering myself if birds need to be trimmed up, just bathed, or any other prep work the day before submission..
Cohabitated, porkpal? Is this not the place to admit the existence of my house chickens?
And where then, should I keep the capybaras?
Oh dear....
Don't you have a spare room?
I CAN'T put the capybaras in with the chupacabras.
The chuppies were supposed to go to Iowa this weekend, but Moxon has taken off to Wisconsin for some sort of fiber summit and left them stranded here.
They are really very nice and polite, but they do have a rather peculiar smell and their red, piercing eyes are a little unnerving to come across in the hall at night when I go to the bathroom.
Ah, yes, I see. Something of a problem...
Reminds me of that Christy movie, where she goes into the mountains to teach school. The people there have the pigs living in the houses with them.
Personally, I am for freedom. Who's business is it if we want to live with pigs and chickens? :D