Showing Poultry in 4-H
What is 4-H4-H is a youth organization designed to teach children life skills such as responsibility, public speaking skills, organizational skills and more. In 4-H one can show a wide variety of projects from Arts and Crafts to Flowers and Gardening to a multitude of Science related projects.Finally one can show livestock; horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits and finally, my favorite, chickens.
What Can One Show in 4-H PoultryLeasing OpportunityDo you want to “try out” having chickens with little to no cost?
Have you seen poultry shown at county or state fairs and wondered if you could take part? I primarily provide pullets from a production line and thus only have a few breeds(New Hampshires, White Plymouth Rocks, Salmon Faverolle Bantams) of which I have a number of roosters to chose from,occasionally I have roosters in other breeds, but not typically.
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Chickens SpecificallyIn most of 4-H's county and state fairs, chickens shown have to have hatched any time past January 1st, 2016 and must be owned by May 15th,2016. In 4-H one can show . . .
What Ages and What BreedsIn 4-H chickens have to have hatched any time past January 1st, 2016.
Breeds that I Offer that would do well in the Breeding Group Classes
For any of the breeding groups you want the birds to be as close to sexual maturity (usually around 6 months of age) as possible by the time the county fair rolls around. You want the two hens to look as similar a possible- like twins and these birds to follow the Standard of Perfection. To be more competitive at State fairs it would be advisable to go with exhibition fowl. Breeds that I offer that would be placed in the Brown Egg Production Class
The pullets shown should be as close to egg production as possible or just starting, as most pullets start to lay around 5 to 6 months of age it is preferably that they are ideally around 20 weeks of age. Breeds that I offer that would be placed in the Market Pen Class
Most dual-purpose breeds were once breed for both egg and meat production and within my breeding flock I hope to continually provide both eggs and meat. Cornish Rock Crosses would likely out-perform most dual-purpose breeds in this class. |