AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

I've decided I might have a go at showing chooks, I already show dogs so it can't be any harder . Who do I need to contact or join etc before I can give it a go? of course any tips would be greatly appreciated Thanks in advance Lou

showing for begginners,hmmm---contact your local poultry club, they will be able to tell you when the next local show is on and put you on the mailing list for a schedule-----in nsw there is a list of agricultural shows too, presume queensland has a similar thing, when you find out what shows are close by and when they are, contact the show secretary and get a schedule.

In the schedule is pretty much the information you need, from when entries close to what time penning and unpenning is, and the rules by which the shows are run.

the classifications can be confusing, and you need to make sure your bird is in the right section---ag shows often only have male female of whatever breed/variety but bigger shows(and poultry club shows) have them divided into cock, hen, cockeral and pullet-----and cockeral or pullet is under 12 months(seems obvious to me, but is often asked)

sometimes they do not have your particular breed listed, then they need to be in aob(any other breed) in the sub group----soft or hard feathered and large or bantam-----sometimes they will also have a true or natural bantam section---and sometimes the soft feathers will be divided further into light and heavy breeds---

birds are judged to the written standard for the particular breed, familiarize yourself with the one for your breed---

it is best if the birds are used to being handled and also being penned alone,lots of us have "training cages" for this purpose but when u are starting out a crate or a box with a wire front will do----make sure they are healthy, vermin free, and clean

the birds are placed in the pens and stay there all day, only the judge is permitted to handle the birds---sometimes the judging is open, that is you can watch, sometimes it is closed-----I find show day a good time to catch up with other like minded people, meet breeders, and learn----often after judging the judge will be open to discussing your birds where u can improve them etc



most of all have a go, treat it as fun, and learn as you go, I find the best way to learn is to see how my birds are in comparrison to the others in the next cage


long answer , sorry, so many things to cover, cheers pam

Thanks Pam thats a big help, someone did say there is something I have to join to be able to show. With the dogs you have to be a member of the canine control council Q or another state body, is there something like that, I'm trying to remember but can't. I look foward to the washing, it sounds worse than washing the dogs, at least I can just throw them through the hydobath, I don't think the cooks would enjoy that

Boy I should have checked what I wrote, I'll have cooks wanting to come around so I can give them a bath

some places you have to be a member to show, so I am told, none of the shows I have done has had that requirement but then only showed within a 2 hour radius of home(nsw)sometimes entry is cheaoer if you are a member of the club, I've been showing for 20 years or so as if I don't feel old enough already cheers pam