In continuing our series on going to a show I'd like to discuss what happens when you arrive with your birds.
First port of call is the show secretary's office to get the entry form back with pen numbers listed on them.
At a normal show it will have a class number and a pen number.
For example Rhode Island Red Pullet might have a class number of 125.
Your pullet will have Pen 3 and that means the entry form will have 125/3 on it.
Place your bird in the correct pen and ask a steward about any problems.
Most shows are divided up into hard-feather large and bantam, soft-feather large and bantam, waterfowl and AOB such as turkeys and guinea fowl.
Some classes will have large numbers and pen number sometimes go up to 15 or more, especially at the club breed shows.
When you pen your bird you must ensure it is in the correct pen as this is the bird you will take home.
It also causes confusion to other competitors if birds have to be shuffled about and stewards are required to complete this task.
When your bird is penned make sure it has water in one of the containers provided by the club, especially if you are penning the night before the show.
Make sure the container is well secured so the bird can't knock it over and soak the sawdust in the pen.
Some breeders prefer to feed their birds at penning and some clubs allow this and some don't.
It is a matter of preference, but I don't feed if it's a morning penning as I can feed after judging.
Try and pen early rather than just before penning closes as it gives the bird time to settle in and become used to the shed and surrounds.
Most birds should have some pen training so they don't go crazy in the pen and are used to people.
The next step is the judging and we'll have more on this in the next article.
All the best with your birds and I have seen some shows opening up in the last month or so. Let's hope we all get to share our birds next show season.
- Bruce Pattinson is a past president of the NSW Exhibition Poultry Association. Email questions to smartfarmer@theland.com.au or post to: Chook Feed, PO Box 25, Kogarah, 2217, with your name and daytime contact number.
