Chicken Poultry Exhibition

Best in Show

Chicken “Best in Show” is awarded by evaluating how closely a Contestant Chicken meets the written Breed Guidelines – and the official “Standard of Perfection” for traits like – size – colour – feather quality  – while the Best in Show process requires – a Competition Chicken advancing through multiple selection competition rounds – starting from your pet Chicken’s Specific Breed Category.

1. The Chicken must be Entered

In the Correct Chicken Class

Best in Show

1. Chicken entries are normally divided according to:
2. Chicken Breed e.g. Plymouth Rock – Silkie – Leghorn – Orpington – Wyandotte
3. Chicken variety or recognized colour e.g. Buff – White – Black – Barred
4. Chicken Size – large fowl – bantam
5. Sex – male or female
6. Age – young or mature

 

2. Common Chicken Classifications include:

• Cock – male chicken one year old or older
• Hen – female chicken one year old or older
• Cockerel – male chicken under one year old
• Pullet – female chicken under one year old

The exact Chicken age definitions and Chicken entry rules may vary by organization.

 

3. The Chicken must match its Breed Standard

Best in Show

Every recognized Chicken Breed has an ideal Chicken appearance – Judges compare the Chicken with that Written Ideal Chicken Standard -rather than comparing all Chicken Breeds as though all Chicken Breeds  should look alike.

Depending on the Chicken Breed Judges examine:

1. Overall Chicken shape and balance
2. Body length, width, and depth
3. Carriage and posture
4. Chicken head shape
5. Chicken Comb type and quality
6. Wattles and earlobes
7. Beak shape
8. Eye colour
9. Leg and foot colour
10. Number and placement of Chicken toes
11. Chicken tail shape and angle
12. Wing carriage
13. Feather colour
14. Feather pattern
15. Feather texture
16. Breed-specific characteristics

A Silkie Chicken should look like an excellent Silkie – an Orpington Chicken should look like an excellent Orpington – a Judge should not reward one Breed merely because it is larger, fluffier, or more colourful.

 

3. Chicken Health and Fitness are Essential

Best in Show

1. A show quality Chicken should be:

• Alert
• Healthy
• In good body condition
• Breathing normally
• Free of obvious disease
• Free of serious injury
• Free of external parasites
• Able to stand and move normally

 

2. Chickens may be refused entry or removed if the Chicken shows signs of contagious illness such as:
3. Persistent coughing or sneezing
4. Serious nasal or eye discharge
5. Respiratory distress
6. Diarrhea
7. Mites or lice
8. Unexplained swelling
9. Open wounds
10. Severe lameness
11. Extreme weakness

Some Chicken exhibitions require health certificates – disease testing – identification – veterinary inspection – Chicken Exhibition requirements depend on local Animal-Health Regulations and the Chicken Exhibitions’s rules.

 

4. The Chicken should be Clean

And Naturally Presented

Best in Show

1. A Competition Chicken is normally expected to have:
2. Clean feathers
3. Clean feet and legs
4. Clean toenails
5. A clean comb and wattles
6. Healthy-looking plumage
7. Well-maintained feathers
8. No excessive dirt or manure
9. Before the Chicken Competition:

• Owners commonly groom carefully
• Owners may wash the Chicken
• Early enough for the Chicken to dry completely
• Restore its natural feather condition.

3. Judges may penalize the Chicken Competition:

• Dirty feathers
• Stained plumage
• Broken feathers
• Excessive feather damage
• Poor conditioning
• Damaged combs
• Rough or unhealthy-looking skin

The Competition Chicken should look carefully maintained without being artificially altered.

 

5. Chicken Artificial Enhancement/Deception

Completely/Fully are Prohibited

Best in Show

A legitimate Chicken Poultry Show should reward Natural Chicken Breed quality and responsible preparation – depending on the Competition Organization prohibited practices may include:

1. Dyeing Chicken feathers to change or improve colour
2. Painting Chicken feathers
3. Gluing in artificial Chicken feathers
4. Trimming Chicken feathers to hide an incorrect pattern
5. Artificially changing Chicken comb shape
6. Concealing Chicken physical defects
7. Altering Chicken identification
8. Using unauthorized drugs
9. Falsifying Chicken age – breed – sex – ownership
10. Any deceptive Chicken alteration intended to mislead the Judges

Normal Competition Chicken cleaning and permitted Competition Chicken grooming are different from changing the Competition Chicken’s natural characteristics.

 

6. Competition Chicken Temperament

Competition Chicken Presentation Matter Best in Show

Best in Show

A show Competition Chicken should be reasonably calm and manageable –  Judges understand that a Competition Chicken may become nervous in unfamiliar surroundings – however a Competition Chicken that is extremely frightened – constantly struggling – or dangerous to handle – may be difficult to properly assess – Owners should train the Competition Chicken gradually to become comfortable with:

• Being handled
• Entering and leaving a show cage
• Standing calmly
• People walking nearby
• Normal exhibition noise

Competition Chicken training should always be gentle.

 

7. Competition Chicken Welfare Rules

Apply throughout the Competition

Best in Show

Competitors/Handlers should provide appropriate Competition Chicken care before – during – and after competition Judging.

1. Competition Chickens need:

• Fresh water
• Appropriate feed
• Safe cages
• Suitable ventilation
• Protection from extreme heat and cold
• Clean conditions
• Calm handling

2. Competitors/Handlers should never:

• Hit or throw a Competition Chicken
• Carry the Competition Chicken carelessly
• Pull the Competition Chicken feathers
• Frighten the Competition Chicken deliberately
• Withhold necessary water for the Competition Chicken
• Use painful the Competition Chicken restraints
• Exhaust or mistreat the Competition Chicken to improve appearance

Chicken beauty competitions are usually called – poultry exhibitions – poultry shows – standard-bred poultry shows – “Best in Show” is normally the highest award – however the winning Chicken must first compete successfully through several Breed and Class levels.

 

8. Common Competition Chicken faults

And Competition Chicken Disqualifications

Best I Show

Exact Competition Chicken Rules vary – however Competition Chicken penalties or Competition Chicken disqualification may result from:

1. Wrong Competition Chicken Breed characteristics
2. Incorrect Competition Chicken colour
3. Incorrect Competition Chicken comb
4. Missing or incorrect toes
5. Serious physical deformities
6. Severe lameness
7. Poor Competition Chicken health
8. External parasites
9. Evidence of contagious disease
10. Artificial Competition Chicken colouring
11. Deliberate cosmetic alteration
12. False Competition Chicken identification
13. Entering the wrong Competition Chicken class
14. Unauthorized substitution of Competition Chicken
15. Inhumane treatment of Competition Chicken

A “showing fault” may reduce a Competition Chicken’s placing – while a serious Competition Chicken “disqualification” may make the bird ineligible to compete.

 

9. How a Competition Chicken Reaches

Best in Show

The award progression varies, but it may look something like:

Best of Variety → Best of Breed → Best of Class → Champion Large Fowl or Champion Bantam → Grand Champion Poultry → Best in Show

Some Competition Chicken Exhibitions also award:

• Reserve of Breed
• Reserve Champion
• Champion Male
• Champion Female
• Champion Junior Exhibitor
• Best Rare Breed
• Best Heritage Breed

A Competition Chicken normally reaches Best in Show only after winning against Competition Chicken birds in its own variety – breed – and larger Chicken competition group.

 

10. Chicken Judging and Showmanship

Are Different Competitions

Best in Show

In a regular Competition Chicken poultry class the Competition Chicken is primarily judged – in a youth or 4-H showmanship class – the Competition Chicken Handler is judged on:

1. Knowledge of the Competition Chicken
2. Safe handling of Competition Chicken
3. Correct carrying of Competition Chicken
4. Presentation of Competition Chicken
5. Ability of Judges to examine the of Competition Chicken
6. Clean and appropriate appearance of Handler
7. Courtesy of Handler
8. Attention to the judge of Handler
9. Knowledge of poultry care of Handler

Handler showmanship guides commonly emphasize cleanliness – gentle handling – correct posing – following instructions – consideration for other exhibitors.

The ideal Best in Show of Handler is therefore not necessarily the biggest or fanciest Competition Chicken – it is a healthy – naturally presented – exceptionally well-conditioned Chicken – a Competition Chicken most closely represents the official standard for the  Competition Chicken’s Breed and Variety.

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