Peeps in Europe!

[BDutch]

an Egyptian male won as Best of Variety and a White one won as Best of Breed, then as Best among all galliformes (except chickens).

Congrats with these magnificent results!

 

[BDutch]

Last week a lady came to collect my cockerel Whisky. A really easy going chap, who started to make too much noise.

It wasn’t possible to keep him bc I’m living within city boundaries and a few neighbours don't want to wake up very early from the noise.

His two female siblings started to lay small brown last week.

Now I have a flock with 8 ladies of very different age. The youngest 6 months - the oldest 10 ½ years.

 

[chickengr]

Last week in Italy occurred the 29th Italian Poultry Championships. I was able to partecipate with my Brahmas and Japanese quails.
Unfortunately I had a rough breeding season with Brahmas, the only ones I was able to take were 4 females born this year and they didn't go very well. I took with me many (maybe even too many) quails, though.
View attachment 4006766
View attachment 4006767

I got pretty good results with them: an Egyptian male won as Best of Variety and a White one won as Best of Breed, then as Best among all galliformes (except chickens).
View attachment 4006764
View attachment 4006763

I also took there some new varieties of colour, such as Red range tuxedo, Red range white wing pied and Scarlet tuxedo.
View attachment 4006765

I was also able to pass two more exams as a poultry judge: crested breeds and other fowl (turkey, guinea fowl, quails, geese and ducks). Last year I passed asian breeds and true bantams. I'm halfway to becoming a full judge

congrats!

 

[chickengr]

View attachment 4006966View attachment 4006965Last week a lady came to collect my cockerel Whisky. A really easy going chap, who started to make too much noise.

It wasn’t possible to keep him bc I’m living within city boundaries and a few neighbours don't want to wake up very early from the noise.

His two female siblings started to lay small brown last week.

Now I have a flock with 8 ladies of very different age. The youngest 6 months - the oldest 10 ½ years.

it is a shame you could not keep such a beautiful roo.

 

[abpatchy]

View attachment 4006966View attachment 4006965Last week a lady came to collect my cockerel Whisky. A really easy going chap, who started to make too much noise.

It wasn’t possible to keep him bc I’m living within city boundaries and a few neighbours don't want to wake up very early from the noise.

His two female siblings started to lay small brown last week.

Now I have a flock with 8 ladies of very different age. The youngest 6 months - the oldest 10 ½ years.

10,5 years! Wow! That is quite old. Amazing!

 

[BDutch]

10,5 years! Wow! That is quite old. Amazing!

That she is still alive and kicking is wonderful of course. Last year she even laid some eggs in spring until she got broody. I have 2 more old Dutch. Black and Pearl, they are both from my first hatch and one year younger than Ini mini (10 next April).
Janice is her 5 yo daughter in genes, hatching and mothering.

Last summer, Ini mini and Black were co-brooding and mothering the young bantam Amrocks. Because I had troubles in the hen house before when the new chicks started to roost, I decided to make a new coop for them (adjusted children's playhouse).
The troubles started again with this batch and I was glad I had a good and safe alternative for them to sleep without all the fighting.The playhouse became the new home for Ini mini, Gin and Tonic. Only Black decided to join the other hens again when I wouldn’t let her roost outside with her juveniles. This triggered her to stop mothering. Ini mini gradually stopped caring less but still accompanies her two daughters at night after 6 months.

 

[BantyChooks]

Last week in Italy occurred the 29th Italian Poultry Championships. I was able to partecipate with my Brahmas and Japanese quails.
Unfortunately I had a rough breeding season with Brahmas, the only ones I was able to take were 4 females born this year and they didn't go very well. I took with me many (maybe even too many) quails, though.
View attachment 4006766
View attachment 4006767

I got pretty good results with them: an Egyptian male won as Best of Variety and a White one won as Best of Breed, then as Best among all galliformes (except chickens).
View attachment 4006764
View attachment 4006763

I also took there some new varieties of colour, such as Red range tuxedo, Red range white wing pied and Scarlet tuxedo.
View attachment 4006765

I was also able to pass two more exams as a poultry judge: crested breeds and other fowl (turkey, guinea fowl, quails, geese and ducks). Last year I passed asian breeds and true bantams. I'm halfway to becoming a full judge

Congratulations! Those are some impressive results and even more so to passing two exams.

 

[abpatchy]

How hard is it to study for the exams to become a poultry judge?
I was able to join a poultry judge a couple of weeks ago and it was so much fun. He said I had an eye for it and that I should go for it in a couple of years. (5 years minimum of successful showing is required... couldn't show in big shows due to covid and bird flu in the beginning). I am just curious. Thank you!

 

[Skyle]

How hard is it to study for the exams to become a poultry judge?
I was able to join a poultry judge a couple of weeks ago and it was so much fun. He said I had an eye for it and that I should go for it in a couple of years. (5 years minimum of successful showing is required... couldn't show in big shows due to covid and bird flu in the beginning). I am just curious. Thank you!

It's not very easy, but if you are willing to learn and to study a lot, it isn't impossible.
At least in Italy, you have first to follow a class about rules, genetics basics, basics of judging, how to compilate the card, how to read and understand standards, disqualification faults and, then, pass an exam, whose a part has to be in english, german or french (you choose one).
Then, you have to join a judge in at least 3 different shows. Only after this, you can take the first exam to become a judge. Here, all breeds are divided into 8 groups (other poultry [galliformes: turkey, guinea fowl and quails; waterfowl: ducks and geese], game breeds, intermediate breeds, asian breeds, mediterranean breeds, crested breeds, north-western european breeds and true bantams), each group consists in an exam and you can take maximum 2 each year. In these exams you have to know as much as you can about the breed standards, you have first to take a written exam, then a practical one, in which you have to judge 6 birds for each group you are taking the exam. Once you pass the exam, you can judge only the breeds of that group; to become a full judge you have to pass all the 8 exams.