A Beginners Guide to Showing Poultry
Ever considered showing a couple of your backyard beauties? Want to get involved in an amazing part of your local and broader community? Then this article is certain to pique your interest!
It’s anywhere from 5-7am in the morning, and you’re on the road again. Car filled to the brim with poultry show boxes and crates, your chicken beauty prep box on the back seat and the odd rooster crow resonating around the vehicle. Yes, this is the typical presentation of a passionate poultry enthusiast, eager for a bit of competition and comradery. Attending a poultry show is so much more than winning a prize, it offers poultry fanciers a chance to connect with other breeders, showcase their poultry and have some fun!
What usually happens at a show?
First things first, you need to have selected the best birds from your flock, washed them, kept them clean (a nightmare for white fowl owners!) and conditioned them for show. The word ‘conditioned’ is used to describe the preparation of the fowl’s physical appearance in the lead up to a show. For instance, you may keep your white birds undercover to prevent yellowing of their feathers or give a game bird plenty of exercise to keep their muscles toned.
Most local area shows are only one day, which means an early morning start so you can get to the show early to put the finishing touches on your fowl prior to placing them into an allocated pen. This process of placing your bird into a show pen is called ‘penning’. Once you’ve penned your birds and judging has begun, the show day is all yours. You can spend the day browsing the shed for new/interesting breeds to keep, catch up with fellow fanciers and breeders or help out stewarding. Most clubs and agricultural societies even prepare lunch! It’s a great opportunity to learn new tips and secrets of poultry keeping and breeding.
The pyramid of poultry showing greatness
The pinnacle achievement of any serious fancier is to win an award at Australia’s National Poultry Show which is only held every four years. 2020 sees this show return to Sydney showgrounds in June and I absolutely recommend going up there and having a look around.
Click here to learn more about the National Poultry Show
Every year, Royal Poultry Shows are held in each state and are again a very prestigious event to score a prize at. They also offer a wide array of fascinating breeds found locally and interstate. Below the Royals, you find the individual Poultry Clubs, both those representing certain districts or towns, as well as Breed Clubs which cultivate passion for a particular poultry breed. A great level for beginners is attending a poultry club bird night to make some contacts or entering poultry in an agricultural show.
Where should I start?
There’s no right or wrong place to enter the poultry showing world. You may prefer to attend a local club’s bird night and find out more information prior to showing, or maybe you’d just like to jump right in at your local agricultural or club show, or even tackle a royal or national! Every show offers an opportunity to hone your preparation skills and learn, and the fantastic thing about the poultry show community is people are extremely friendly, welcoming and willing to impart their knowledge of showing and breeding quality fowls.
I don’t know what breed my chicken is (or it’s a commercial layer), can I still show it?
Absolutely! If you are unsure what breed your chicken is, do some research, ask someone experienced at your local poultry club or online for some advice. If in doubt, enter your birds at an agricultural show, and the stewards and judge will be able to help you. If it turns out you have crossbreds or a commercial layer, I am pleased to report more and more agricultural shows are creating a backyard section, specifically designed to cater to your backyard beauties! There’s even a backyard poultry section at the Australian National Poultry Show this year!
So how do I prepare a fowl for show?
Preparing a bird for show starts from the second that bird is hatched. Good nutrition is imperative for health, feathering and the condition of your fowl, so make sure you’re providing a quality feed.
When it comes to cleaning and washing the selected birds, it’s a great idea to get some help, so feel free to rope in a family member or friend! Have some fun and don’t stress if your birds don’t look perfect first go. It’ll take you a while to master your preparation skills, and even the most experienced exhibitors can have that one white bird who loves soiling themselves on the way to a show!
For information on preparing poultry for show, check out my bird washing and preparation checklist below to give you a flying start at your first show!
Breanna’s Washing and Showing Checklist
-Breanna Carr, 5th Year Veterinary Science Student