2020 FRANKLIN COUNTY 4-H
​VIRTUAL
POULTRY show

Each 4-H Member can exhibit in two (2) classes plus Showmanship
Classes:
  • Same as normal show breakdown
  • No egg classes
  • Production: same classes as previous years
    • Laying Production: 2 hens or pullets of same variety and breed
    • Meat Production: 2 birds of same sex and breed (broilers and roasters)
  • Exhibition: same classes as previous years, one bird per pen
  • Showmanship

Additional Poultry Requirements:

Laying Production:
  • Begin a log on June 15 ending on July 12 to track eggs laid each day and feed costs. Record what you are feeding your birds (including percentage of protein). Log templates are provided.
  • Questions to answer :
  1. Does what you feed your birds affect their production and or egg quality? If so, why?
  2. Does the age of your birds affect their production?
  3. How much would you need to charge for a dozen of your eggs to at least cover the cost of feed?
  • Items to submit for Laying Production (3 pages):
  1. Log and answers to above questions.
  2. At least 4 pictures (1 each week) of the 4-H member collecting eggs, feeding, recording information, or sorting / cleaning eggs. Try to make this a collage on one page.
  3. A “close-up” picture of the two birds the 4-H member is exhibiting. And a picture of the 4-H member holding the birds. Would like these pictures on one page. Make sure the birds are clean and the 4-H member is wearing proper show clothes.

Meat Production:

  • Begin a log on June 15 ending on July 12 to track weight each week and all feed costs. If you can, include costs of feed from the time you purchased the chicks. Record what you are feeding your birds (including percentage of protein). You may need to put a color-coded ring on your birds’ legs to identify them for tracking their weights. Log templates are provided.
  • On July 12, prepare a summary of your data to see what your average weekly weight gain was for the four week period.
  • What was the average cost of feed per bird (be sure to include the cost from time of purchasing chicks)?
  • Questions to answer for Meat Production:
  1. At what week did your birds seem to gain the most weight?
  2. If you had pullets and cockerels, which seemed to gain weight more quickly?
  3. Does what you feed your birds affect their growth rate? If so, why?
  4. What does it cost to have a processor butcher your birds?
  5. Total the purchase cost of your chicks, the cost of feed, and butchering costs. Then divide this total by the number of birds being butchered. What is the amount you have to sell one meat production bird for to at least cover these three costs?
  • Items to submit for Meat Production:
  1. Log and answers to above questions
  2. At least 4 pictures (1 each week) showing the progress of your birds. Pictures can be the 4-H member weighing a bird, taking a ruler and holding it next to the bird showing the height and/or width of the breast, feeding or cleaning the pen. Try to make this a collage on one page.
  3. A “close-up” picture of the two birds (standing side by side) that the 4-H member is exhibiting. And a picture of the 4-H member in the background with the birds standing on a table. Make sure the birds are clean and the 4-H member is wearing proper show clothes. Would like these pictures on one page.

Exhibition Poultry:

  • Make sure your bird is clean and “groomed” for showing.
  • Identify the class, breed, variety, and whether your bird is a Cock, Cockerel, Hen or Pullet.
  • Items to submit for Exhibition poultry:
  1. Picture of all 4 sides of the bird.
  2. One picture each of a fanned-out wing and tail feathers.
  3. One picture each of the head and legs (fairly close up).
  4. Pictures need to be close enough to clearly see the color and condition of feathers, head, and legs.
  5. One picture of the 4-H member in proper show clothes holding their bird.

Showmanship:

Items to submit for Showmanship:
  • Junior – prepare a one minute video presentation on your exhibit. Be sure to wear show clothes and have your bird clean. Demonstrate holding your bird, taking it in and out of the cage, identify parts of your bird, talk about where the breed originated, what do you like about the breed, is your bird a cock/ cockerel / hen / or pullet, (what do those terms mean), how long does it take for a chick egg to hatch / a duck egg / a turkey egg, what do you feed your bird, identify parts of the wing, etc.
 
  • Intermediate – prepare a two minute video presentation on your exhibit. Be sure to wear show clothes and have your bird clean. Demonstrate proper handling of your bird. You can cover some of the same topics as the Junior class but be more specific and use proper terms, talk about common parasites / diseases and how to prevent or get rid of them, what is unique about the breed you are exhibiting, what class is your bird in, what other breeds are in that class, what is the difference between a defect and a disqualification, does your bird have any defects, what are common defects or disqualifications for the breed you have, etc.
 
  • Senior – prepare a three minute video presentation on your exhibit. Be sure to wear show clothes and have your bird clean. Demonstrate proper handling of your bird. You can cover some of the same topics as the Intermediate group but be more detailed. You can talk about hatching and using an incubator; proper procedures for raising chicks; how to select an exhibition bird / meat pen birds / laying production birds. You can evaluate your bird according to the Standard of Perfection.
 
  • Premier – prepare a three minute video presentation on your exhibit. Be sure to wear show clothes and have your bird clean. Wow the judge with your poultry knowledge; be creative.

Awards:
​
  • Grand & Reserve Grand of Show
  • Champion & Reserve Champ Standard Exhibition
  • Champion & Reserve Champ Bantam Exhibition
  • Champion & Reserve Champ Miscellaneous Exhibition
  • Champion & Reserve Champ Duck Exhibition
  • Champion & Reserve Champ Broiler Meat Production
  • Champion & Reserve Champ Roaster Meat Production
  • Champion & Reserve Champ Laying Production
  • Champion Showmanship (Junior, Intermediate, Senior, and Premier) (will premier by just previous senior winners?)
  • 10 Year Members will be recognized
  • First year members will be recognized at the 2021 fair​

Register here

    Questions about
    this show?