Showing Chickens at the Fair - Good Job, all!

Show chickens are relaxing and enjoying their homecoming after a few days at the fair this last week. How'd they do? Well, sure can't complain - 10 out of 10 isn't bad - for blue ribbons. Budget cuts reduced the ribbons to blue, white, and red this year, but there is a Premium check on the way -- it'll be enough to buy a bag of feed, so no complaints there, either.

Will take photos of each bird this next weekend (they deserve some R&R for a few days) with their ribbons, and post them ASAP.

There were fewer Open Class entries than last year (probably due to the economy), but a new young crop of competitors, which was great to see. If you're raising chickens, but haven't started showing them yet, be sure to download my free book over at my website to help you get started. I know you're gonna love it (the showing, more than the book, though it'll really give you an advantage)!

Baby Chicks, Care, Feeding, and Taming

Baby chicks are pretty much like babies of all species in that they need a little help. First of all, when you first get them as little fluffballs in the mail from your favorite hatchery they need to be shown how to drink. Of course the brooder must be all warmed up and ready for them with their food ready for them. Take them out of the box they arrived in one at a time and quickly dip their little beaks in their water container so they'll know how to drink and where to find the food and water.

They learn very quickly and soon become adept at getting the nourishment they need to reach young adulthood. In addition to keeping the brooder clean and making sure they don't run out of anything, there's one "job" you'll want to do regularly. I usually wait two or three days to start this, but then I begin spending considerable time holding and petting each one . . . not for very long at a time, but a couple of times each day. This starts the taming process, which turns chickens into pets . . . but be sure to continue handling them even after they grow up. (Lot's more info on this over at http://www.fortheloveofchickens.com/ - plus a free book on fitting and showing, if you're interested).

Tame chickens are such a pleasure to be around and they do much better when showing them at the fairs when they're not flighty for the judges.

Getting Kids Started in 4-H with Chickens

Lately, I've been sorting through boxes containing my childhood memories . . . looks like I saved every scrap of paper!

One thing worthy of re-visiting is a booklet from my first year in 4-H called "Raising Fancy Poultry". As I leaf through it, the 4-H pledge draws my attention:

I pledge

My head to clearer thinking,

My heart to greater loyalty,

My hands to greater service and

My health to better living for

My club, my community,my country,

and my world

What parent wouldn't want their kids to think clearly, be loyal, work hard, and eat wisely and exercise to become a contributing member of society? A good 4-H leader models these values and promotes teamwork, personal responsibility, and excellence. Of course, it's up to parents to personally check out the club and get to know the leader before sending a child around the block to absorb God-knows-what from a leader who may have beliefs (and shares them with members) that you vehemently disagree with.

Over all, though, when kids participate in a 4-H project they learn valuable life lessons, from contributing as a team member to performing basic business operations. They're required to keep detailed records about their project, the costs associated with it, and the final outcome. Just as in sports activities, they learn to compete, win with humility, and lose with class. Then, when they lose, they're motivated to work even harder next time . . . a valuable habit to form at a young age.

The 4-H organization was formed as a result of the Cooperative Extension Acts in May and June of 1914, and is a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I tend to be wary of gigantic government programs, but at least back when I was a member it appeared that there was a lot of local control, though printed materials and lesson plans were conveniently provided for leaders. As with any group, the quality and culture of the program will be a reflection of the adults who choose to be involved, so parental oversight is always advisable.

You can learn about local 4-H groups by going to your county fair, contacting your county extension office, or searching the Internet. Since home farming, raising chickens as pets, and sustainable urban farming have become so popular, being involved in fair competitions just seems like a natural next step to take. And during the fair, kids learn to interact with attendees (learn customer service skills) which is helpful when they become teenagers and get their first job.

I have no regrets about spending much of my childhood as a 4-H member and am grateful for the leadership provided by volunteers in my club. But, one thing I wonder about today is whether membership has suffered due to the popularity of video games and such.

Chickens Who Win - Characteristics to Note

Ever wandered through the poultry section at your county fair, looked at the prizes won by the many exhibitors and thought either, "now why didn't that one get a prize?" or, "what's so special about that bird?"

Well, it's the little things that count. And sometimes people forget to inspect their entries and compare all the minute details to The American Standard of Perfection. Poultry judging is done on a points scale, and everything is taken into consideration. An entry can lose points for having:

• too many toes for the breed
• a broken toenail
• an incorrect eye color
• a broken feather
• the wrong leg color
• an extra sprig in the comb,

and many other traits that can bring what to many appears to be beautiful and perfect in every way, down to white ribbon (or no ribbon at all) status.

It pays for exhibitors to dutifully study each of the details in the Standard before deciding to show a particular bird.

Whether your entry is tame enough not to struggle when the judge picks it up, and the effort put into grooming can make a great difference, too.

On my website I've offered a free report with fitting and showing tips. You're welcome to download it, probably will be helpful, especially if you're new to fitting and showing.

The Coming Debut at the Fair -- of Pebbles and Bam Bam

Two county fairs are coming up in my area, which means it's time to prepare my pet chickens for the competition. Same with you, I imagine? If you're a fellow chicken enthusiast you probably have at least thought about taking the hobby one step further and showing your best birds.

This year, the fair may be the only indication that it's summer, here in the Northwest, anyway. BRRR!

Since so much is going on (including a 7 day work week-I know, I am grateful to still have a job in this economy) I decided to just show 4 or 5 birds this year. Two of my favorites are a pair of Japanese Bantams. The rooster is Pebbles, and the hen, Bam Bam. They're young, part of an order I sent off for in February, but they meet the minimum age requirement. Assuming all goes well (technically challenged) you'll soon be able to watch a video of them at five weeks where I check them out.

In the free report about fitting and showing chickens, which is available on my website, I talk about showing young chickens to avoid a fairly common issue. Often, when people are deciding which of their chickens to show, they'll put forth all the necessary effort taming and conditioning them, only to find that their chosen birds have started to molt when it comes time for the competition. This has happened often enough to me so that I started placing an order in late winter to avoid that issue.

Probably next week, I'll start cage training my entries. This is where you use a judging stick to go through the same steps the poultry judge will take while the chicken is in it's cage at the fair. You stroke the chicken with the rounded end of the stick in several ways to bring about show quality posture. This is part of the "fitting" or conditioning process. It's fully explained in the above report.

The first issue of the "Out of an Eggshell Newsletter" will soon arrive in your in-box if you've signed up as a subscriber. Like the report, it's free by just entering your first name and email address, and of course you'll be able to cancel if you don't like it.

Look forward to 'meeting' you.

Almost Time to Choose, Which Chickens to Show?

Do you show your chickens at your local county fair?

Someone asked me the other day, "which chickens do best in competition?" Immediately, my thoughts went back to my junior high 4-H experiences. My 4-H leader had an answer to that question that made a lot of sense.

She recommended, all other traits and requirements being equal, that we'd give ourselves an advantage if we showed a breed that was either all white or all black. Her reason? Well, simply put, no barred, spangle, lacing, or any other pattern of design is expected in a breed that is all one color. Therefore, no points can be taken off if a feather or two is missing the perfect pattern.

My friend, Carrie, who asked that question is all excited now. She has a White Leghorn trio she's decided to show. Last night she invited me over to see them. They look great, hope she wins a trophy as this is her first year participating.

Personally, I've decides to show Pebbles and Bam Bam, a Japanese pair. They're mostly white, and their tail feathers look up to Standard.

How about you? Feel free to comment below!

By the way, especially if you're new to fitting and showing chickens, feel free to download the free report on the subject. You can access it from my website, http://www.fortheloveofchickens.com/ . Then I'd love to hear your feedback, either way.