We are now one week away from the Florida Sunshine Classic Poultry Show in Lake City, FL. With this being the first time I have ever exhibited I’m trying to be prepared. I know I will probably stand out as a newbie anyway but a little research in the beginning helps to educate and not make me look so thoroughly lost 
.
I contacted one of my fellow BYC members and asked her a few questions that came to my mind. Just in case you are thinking about showing and not sure where to begin here are the questions I asked along with the response:
- a. Do you separate the show bird?
I separate mind about 2 weeks before the show to let them get used to a smaller cage. Some people do it for a week. - b. Do you feed it differently than others?
I usually add rooster booster or Manna Pro to their feed. (I had to ask where to find this product and she told me Central States Feed carries it). - c. Someone mentioned clipping their beak, how do you do that?
I trim the beaks on mine for showing. If the top beak overlaps the bottom one, then take some nail clippers and clip it off even across. - d. Any other suggestions you might have to prepare?
Bathe them and make sure their nails and beaks are trimmed. Handle them more than you usually do to get them used to it because a judge will take them out of the cage to look at them.
The lady who sent the answer to these questions is a breeder and shower of Silkies. She informed me she was taking 16 to the show this time. (16! I am showing 5 and I thought that was alot.) And from the pictures on her website, Sunshinesilkies.com, she has won a few trophies also.
After receiving the responses from her I started digging a little further to see if I could find further instruction on preparation for showing of poultry and I found another website that had instructions and also what to take with you to the show. I thought this was very beneficial information also so if you are thinking about showing here is some more info to help you–Prepping for Shows.
I’m a little behind schedule, as far as preparation goes, but better late than never. So today I’m starting my preparation for the poultry show and see if I can win a few ribbons.
Thanks for your emails. I enjoy reading them and learning a few more things about Chickens. As I am also a rookie of 9 months at this and have 17 chickens.
Thanks
Don Trautmann
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I wanted to get into showing birds, but I didn’t know where to start. Now I do. But I also need to find some poultry shows. Hmmm….
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Good luck at the show Carole!
.-= SimplyForties´s last blog ..Merry Christmas =-.
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I’ll be there showing for the first time also. Am only showing one this time. This will be a learning experience for me. Going to wash my bird when I get home tonight. Should be interesting!
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Carole Reply:
January 4th, 2011 at 8:05 am
Good Luck Susan!
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