Q&A for How to Show Chickens

You can show any chickens! When deciding which chickens to show, keep their appearance, age, temperament, and health in mind.

Roosters will damage a hen's feathers, so it is best to keep them separate if you want to show a hen.

Absolutely. They should have food and water in containers that can't be turned over. It may be appropriate to remove the containers during judging, but put them back in as soon as judging is over.

Firmly cup your hands on both wings and keep the chicken close to your chest or tucked in your arm.

Yes, you can. However, sometimes roosters are more aggressive than hens, so make sure you spend a lot of time taming and training the rooster.

No, you can not. It might be possible in certain shows, but for fairs you cannot.

Most shows require a pullorum virus (bird flu) blood test within a certain number of days before the show. Check your show rulebook.

Just search online for chicken shows. Once you find a show, you should be able to find a rule book and sign up at their website.

Yes, just ask for an open-show. If there is not an open show, you may not be able to.

It's a matter of opinion, but a Pekin bantam cockerel, especially a partridge color one, is top of the line as their feathers are very beautiful.

Usually when you're showing your chickens with 4H or FFA, you keep them at the provided show cages for 5-7 days.

It depends on what is available in your area/country, but I've found in my last few years of 4H that smaller or bantam breeds tend to be friendlier. It also depends on how you handle them, raise them, treat them and who you got them from.

Most of the time they want purebreds in shows. However, I would recommend that you look in the show's rule book.

You can, but make sure the two or more chickens like each other. Otherwise, only bring one.

It all depends on your local laws, so you'll need to look up your city or town's laws on raising animals in residential areas.

No, chickens must be purebred in order to be eligible to enter shows. If a chicken shows physical characteristics that it has been crossbred, then it will be disqualified. Most exhibits and fairs have a rule book that can be purchased or found online; these will provide you a list of regulations and rules, with the requirement of purebred chickens likely being at the top.

In my experience, it depends on the show. In some shows, it is more about how well you know the breed, so the judge will ask you questions like, "What is the purpose of the breed?" or, "What color are their eggs?" or, "Where did this breed originate?" Other times, the judge will just look at the bird and not ask any questions.

It depends on how formal it is. Most people just wear a plaid shirt and jeans. If you want to go fancier, that's fine as well. Sometimes children will wear a white lab coat for showmanship awards, but it really doesn't matter.

Yes, a child may sign up for 4h or do open show at your County Fair. 4h also is very helpful and guide you through it. Open show is for experienced showers, as the judges are stricter and there might be harder questions to answer.

Dogs, cats, and raccoons may try to kill chickens, depending on their temperament around chickens. Pet dogs and cats can be trained to leave your chickens alone.

Yes! As long as the RIR is a purebred, and of a good standard, you can show it - normally. Double-check with the rulebook for your show, just to be sure it's a recognized breed.

Unfortunately not. Occasionally you might find a show that allows mixed breeds, but not very often. It is incredibly difficult to get a mixed breed to conform to a particular standard, and as such, they do not work particularly well for showing.