My daughter wants to dive into showing chickens

[Un-Jaded]

Hi BYC!
My daughter would like to jump into showing chickens. Of course she's drawn to silkies as of now. My question is, where do we start? Should we purchase chicks from online hatcheries or breeders?? I have about 30 egg layers right now in our main coop, and they free range our farm. I am thinking the show chickens will be getting their own enclosed coop and run.

Any advice on where to start would be fantastic!


<3 J

 

[GodLovesU]

I don’t show,but just from what I’ve heard, I would buy from a breeder,not hatchery.

 

[Skyle]

I am not located in the USA, but I show and judge in Europa. I advise you to not buy from a hatchery. They usually don't breed to the standard of perfection, so you will probably end up with pet-quality birds.
I suggest you to visit some shows, maybe search even for a club nearby and meet some breeders that show. Read the standard of perfection of the breed and variety she would like to breed, to have an idea about what a good quality show Silkie should look like, ask the breeder their opinion on the birds you are buying and their ancestors.
If you can, don't buy juveniles, chicks or eggs, go for birds that are mature, it is easier to spot for faults and to know if they are good quality.
Unless you know about genetics and what you are doing, don't mix different colour varieties (such as buff and partridge). Some colours can be bred together if you know how the genes work, other combinations will end up in offspring that can't be shown.