Where Should You Exhibit Your Chickens?

Whether to exhibit your chickens at a sanctioned or unsanctioned poultry show depends on a number of different factors. These factors include the quality of your birds, the amount of money you are willing to spend, and your goals in exhibiting your chickens.

Sanctioned vs. Unsanctioned, What’s the Difference?

A sanctioned show is one that is hosted by a poultry club that is a member of the American Poultry Association (APA) and/or the American Bantam Association (ABA). The show must follow the sanctioning Association’s rules and guidelines.

The judge must be licensed to judge all the birds being shown. The showroom also must be organized according to the classes described in the American Standard of Perfection or the Bantam Standard published by the sanctioning organization.

Many county fairs, some state fairs, and most FFA and 4-H shows are not sanctioned. They may or may not hire a licensed poultry judge. They need not organize the showroom by classes. And they do not have to abide by the Standard descriptions for each breed. Some such shows, in fact, focus on production (egg and/or meat) breeds rather than the exhibition breeds described in both Standards.

Level of Judging at Sanctioned vs. Unsanctioned Shows

Although some unsanctioned shows hire knowledgeable licensed judges, many do not. Instead, the show might be judged by a county Extension Agent or some other local or experienced poultry breeder.
Even when a licensed judge is hired, the winners do not receive points, as they would at a sanctioned show. Points at a sanctioned show are given to winning entries in a class that includes a specified number of birds.

Accumulated points in an APA sanctioned show, for instance, results in the breeder becoming a Master Exhibitor (300 points), Grand Master Exhibitor (200 points in one variety of one breed), or a member of the APA Hall of Fame (1,000 points).

Competition at Sanctioned vs. Unsanctioned Exhibition

Sanctioned poultry shows typically have a higher level of competition. For one thing, requiring a knowledgeable licensed judge attracts quality competition.

Also, sanctioned exhibitions follow official rules. And the winning exhibitors earn recognition and points. Unsanctioned shows, by comparison, rarely offer the same level of prestige or structured judging.

Cost Comparison of Sanctioned vs. Unsanctioned Show

Sanctioned poultry shows typically cost more to enter. The sanctioning organization needs to recoup their membership and sanctioning fees, as well as showroom expenses.

Plus, each exhibitor must also pay for membership in the sanctioning organization. Because sanctioned shows are often held in populated areas, exhibitors may have additional travel costs, as well as room and board expenses.

Unsanctioned shows usually cost much less. How much depends on who is sponsoring the show. Some charge nothing, but you may have to bring your own cage and/or pay for feed during the show. A local or state fair may charge a nominal fee of a dollar or two per bird entered.

Your Expectation of Winning

The quality of your birds influences your expectation of winning an award when you exhibit your chickens. If you purchase stock from a private breeder, especially one who is known for winning at sanctioned shows, your birds have a better chance of placing well at sanctioned shows.

If you purchase stock from a hatchery, you have less chance of winning at a sanctioned show. That’s because a hatchery may not breed to APA or ABA standards.

Cackle Hatchery® is one of the few hatcheries to offer some exhibition quality breeds. Among the most popular breeds for exhibition are Brahma, Plymouth Rock, and Rhode Island Red.
Most hatcheries typically breed for production. So the birds they offer may not be bred to standard, but they are often superior for egg or meat production, or both (dual purpose egg-and-meat chickens).

These birds usually have better fertility, are better layers, and are faster growers. They are more likely to place well at an unsanctioned show, especially one that focuses on production breeds.

Where to Start Exhibiting

Where you exhibit your chickens depends, too, on whether you are just starting out. If you are a first-time poultry exhibitor, you would be wise to begin by attending a few shows to see what’s involved and to pick the brains of other exhibitors before showing your own chickens.

You might want to start at local unsanctioned shows and fairs, where you can gain valuable experience at little expense. Many exhibitors regularly enter local shows simply to network with other poultry enthusiasts.

When you feel confident, you might then exhibit your chickens at a sanctioned show. Your birds may not place well the first time around, but the knowledge you acquire will lead toward future wins.

Helpful Links

And that’s today’s news from the Cackle Coop.
Gail Damerow has written numerous books about keeping poultry, many of them available from the Cackle Bookstore.