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Barnyard Buddies:  showing chickens? Here's the "rest of the story!"  |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 6:26:08 PM
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We read an ad for the Top of Ohio Poultry Show in the Backyard Poultry magazine this month, and I have a couple of questions for you all. Anyone show poultry? The reason I ask is that the show is in our next town over, about 7 miles from where we live. My daughter (9 yrs old) read the ad and wants to enter some chickens. Well, our chickens are pretty old (3 yrs old) and just regular layers--some are nice looking and friendly too, but they are old and outdoor chickens, etc etc
should we look into it? what are we looking at? should I just discourage it at this point?
Any info or ideas or opinions would be welcome! Thanks so much! |
Edited by - SheilaC on Jun 27 2009 8:05:34 PM |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 6:39:31 PM
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Sheila,
NO, do not be discouraged. Everyone has to start somewhere. Contact them and see what the qualifications are. Contact a local 4H group leader and see if they will give you some hints. I went to my first poultry show last year at the Ohio Expo center and I just asked a bunch of people a lot of questions. I still dont show... just breed and raise, but I would definitly try if not for a ribbon, for the experience! Good Luck!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~the only thing for certain, is uncertainty~ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
Posted - Jun 04 2009 : 10:18:02 AM
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Thanks Alee. Basically if we haven't raised them for showing (which we haven't!) should we just not enter? I don't want her to be "laughed out" of wanting to try, but then again, she is very excited.
Oh, and by the way. . .washing your chickens?! Yikes! I don't know about that. . .hmmm. . . |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 04 2009 : 10:37:15 AM
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I don't know...I haven't even been in the poultry world before. I think Dawn has a great idea. Call the show officials and explain to them that you haven't bred the hens for showing, but that your daughter is very excited. They should give you a candid answer. Also that website says that week or two of training should get your hens used to the handling for a show. So that shouldn't be too much of a problem as far as that goes! Do you know what breed your hens are?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2009 : 8:03:21 PM
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So. . .here's the "rest of the story" :)
My kiddos DID enter the show, it was today--my nine year old daughter showed a rhode island red (got best in breed and best in variety--it was the only rir in the jr show  ) my 7 yr old son entered a black silkie rooster (best of variety), and my 4 year old entered a buff silkie hen (best of variety) They also did showmanship and the 4 yr old won a huge trophy for 2nd place in the 6-8 yr olds (beat a 7 yr old boy!) and the 7 yr old son got a 1st place. Oh, did I mention there were only 3 kids in that section? makes pretty good odds.
The 9 yr old didn't place in showmanship--she had 8 kids in her group and she was the youngest and least experienced--she was pretty sad about it, but then she won a door prize and another lady gave her a gray silkie chick and the FFA kids gave her a pair of black brahama bantams so she was pretty blessed!
We were totally inexperienced--you see all the kids/adults holding the chickens so professionally--hand beneath, the chicken is calm, etc. . .and we hold ours like holding a baby and the chickens were not pristine. . .but best of all the kids had a complete ball and enjoyed the day immensely and we met a 4H leader who talked us into joining their club next year--all are excited about that.
Best "picture" of the day in my mind is my little 4 year old, with her rainbow socks pulled up above her knees, black patent leather mary janes, standing up on a chair so she could reach her chicken for the showmanship event, hair in pigtails, chatting with the judge about how her hen lays tiny eggs because it'a girl, not a boy, and giving him quite an earful.
All in all, so glad we decided to go ahead and let them do it! |
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4HMom
True Blue Farmgirl
720 Posts
Kelly
Montana
720 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2009 : 8:30:13 PM
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Good for you! And them! I was the poultry barn superintendent at our County Fair for a few years and really loved the kids and showmanship! They took it so seriously. One of our little guys used a goose for showmanship last year and about the time the photographer from the paper snapped a shot, the goose turned her head and tweaked the little boys nose. Needless to say, it made the front page.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
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Tapestry
True Blue Farmgirl
1223 Posts
Cheryl
Wisconsin
USA
1223 Posts |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2009 : 06:36:41 AM
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This is the first post I read this morning.... sounds like a grand time was had by all and I'm so happy that everyone walked away a winner!!!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~the only thing for certain, is uncertainty~ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2009 : 11:24:15 AM
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| Congrats Sheila!! I just know how proud the kids are of their ribbons and thophys or prizes. I remember showing livestock when I was in 4-H. Hogs mostly, never chickens. We always check out the chicken barn at the county fair. Love talking to the kids. |
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Barnyard Buddies: showing chickens? Here's the "rest of the story!" |
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showing chickens? Here's the "rest of the story!"
