Where to get show chickens

For 8 years I raised and showed chickens in my local county fair through 4-H. I have also made it a goal each year to attend at least one other poultry show as well.

To be successful at a poultry show you need to be properly prepared and have at least some idea of what you are doing. These 5 tips for picking out show chickens will help you choose the right birds to show and exhibit at any poultry show!

This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information. Let me just touch briefly on a few confusing topics about showing chickens. There are two types of showing that you can refer too: poultry showmanship and poultry exhibition. Here are the differences:. There is also 4-H showing and professional showing. You can learn more about 4-H showing by checking out my post on 4-H Chicken Showmanship. When picking out show chickens for either showmanship or exhibition, there are a few factors you should consider.

In general, you only want to bring your best, healthiest birds to any poultry show! The following 5 tips are the ones that I follow when choosing birds to bring to a poultry show. When chickens are judged in a poultry show as part of exhibition, points are deducted based on defects and disqualifications in a process called cutting.

You will want to choose chickens to bring to a show that have minimal defects and, preferably, no disqualifications. Here is the difference between a defect and disqualification. A perfect score is , the more defects that chicken has, the more points that get cut and the less likely it is to win any awards.

When choosing a show chicken, pick the one that has the least amount of defects and disqualifications. Breeds that are recognized by the American Poultry Association or American Bantam Association will have a standard that outlines the perfect specimen for that breed. Each breed will also have specific defects and disqualifications.

What may be a defect for one breed may be desirable in a different breed. Do research on the specific disqualifications and defects for the breed you plan on showing. If your breed is not recognized by an association and does not have a standard, then simply avoid general defects and disqualifications.

The breed may have a breed club, in which case you can consult with other breeders to find out what is desirable and undesirable for the breed.

Here are some things that a standard would include:. This is often the case with backyard-flock owners who enthusiastically collect a few chickens of every color and variety possible. The result is a veritable rainbow of birds, beautiful and entertaining to look at but completely unconducive if you plan on raising show poultry.

Most experienced fanciers stick to two to five breeds or varieties in an effort to maintain quality, not to mention sanity. Those new to the exhibition world often have one or two birds competing in every poultry class and can be recognized by their crazed, harried look as they dash back and forth amongst the rows of show cages, trying to care for all their chickens.

The second your Dark Brahma boy lays eyes on your Welsummer girl, you can kiss your purebreds goodbye. Almost as important is keeping your varieties separate. If you keep your white, partridge, blue and barred Cochins all in the same coop, it will be nearly impossible to determine the parentage of the ensuing chicks, which might result in angry customers down the road, especially when the supposedly partridge Cochin chick they purchased from you yields fluffy blue babies.

Sunlight, fresh air and forage usually combine for a healthy bird, so why restrict a rooster or hen from roaming? One sunny stroll can sideline your chicken—and you—for most of the exhibition season. Why risk it? Chickens are social animals. Neither will any bird who has been injured or is skittish due to constant hen pecking by higher-ranked birds. Dedicated poultry exhibitors provide their show prospects with special enclosures that house two to three birds total. These chicken condos provide the birds with enough room to move, enough companionship to keep from being lonely, and enough isolation to keep them safe, unmarred and ready to wow the judges.

Networking and showing enthusiasm at these shows is your best bet as you may be able to get direct help from experienced breeders. The first decision you will need to make is which breed you wish to breed and show. There are around breeds to choose from. You can read all about these breeds here. Going to shows and speaking to chicken keepers there will help you to make a decision about which breed you would like to show.

A chicken you may think is the prettiest might not win a chicken show. I'd love to get one clean-legged bantam hen for showing.