Like every fair animal there is a big divide between raising for normal sale and raising for fair. These lovely animals were the last resort we had this year for getting to experience fair. They are just starting to show their gender I can tell now post fair. The roosters are the bright red combs and the hens are lighter colored. These animals have quite a thicker leg than the laying counter parts we have raised for years. These ones also do not fly. Their under body is pretty bare a few sparse feathers but not much. They do love to eat and drink. We add apple cider vinegar to their water to help prevent a disease that paralyzes them in the leg.
While unsure of what we were undertaking the boys were excited to get to go to fair. We were reassured people in the chicken barn would help them learn. This kid was chicken expert #1. His name is Duncan and he helped Mark and John and they helped him.
Getting ready to wash the chickens. As they eat a lot they also mess a lot. Thus they needed a bath!!! This is actually much easier than washing dogs or cats. 3 buckets 1 with a little soap a rinse and then a bluing to making them whiter.
Gently scrubbign the chickens. See the baby soap very mild soap for these birds.
We bought these birds from Teegan's family. She was also teaching the boys. She got grand champion John got Reserve and Mark got 3rd.
The reason? Mark's chickens had big legs meaning they had a lot more room to grow. John's were more uniform and Teegan had picked a pen of all female and so hers were more uniform and closer to done growing.
The judge feeling the birds and evaluating for completeness and finish.
The results. This is a rare first time that John beat Mark in a competition. Yay John! See those red cups those were very little for the amount of water the chickens wanted to consume. They had to be refilled almost hourly. Hence a lot of checking on chickens happened at the fair.
Next came showmanship. Setting up the chickens. Getting them to stand and fluffing their feathers to make them look strong and full.
All set up. Chickens are pretty tame. Especially compared to bunnies. Those little cuties are fierce. I saw many wounds from bunnies in this barn. Bellies, arms, clothes not in love with those anymore. Chickens are much less damaging.
Again John and MArk placed reserve champion showmen. John in intermediate class and Mark as Novice. They got handsome embroidered lunch boxes and John got a folding chair. Pretty spiffy!
At the awards assembly the VALE ffa got showmanship awards and livestock judging awards.
My in charge lady erving as district president this year. She is a mess because she had readied the hall for the assembly and that was a super messy job. Beating a carpet that animals had been on all week for quite a bit of time. Can we say most disgusting job ever? Beating urine soaked carpet with your hands and feet to remove sawdust, yuck! Surely there is a better way.
The officers present.
And Anna doing what she likes best, working with people. She loves this job! Another fair in the books. The kids did well earned some fun prizes, Harold got a belt buckle for his craftsmanship and the boys with their prizes. Chickens offered some bigger awards and that was fun. John walking a little taller these days. Again another notch in the belt of life. If nothing else a fun story to look back on. Not many people can say they have washed a chicken and the friends we all made in the small animal barn were truly a delight! The social part of fair may be the most important. Until next year we will be working toward and dreaming of all the fun we will have at the fair.
We LOVED seeing your boys at fair. We gave them some licorice rope, hope that was ok. Hoss has been debating chickens the past few years, so we were pleased to see your boys there with chickens! It made it seem more real for Hoss and that he could actually do it. Thanks for your example.
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