Poultry

POULTRY 

Department G 

Superintendents: Melissa Nicholson & Connie Moore 

Junior Superintendent: Ada Norman 

POULTRY RULES AND GUIDELINES: 

  1. General Animal Science Rules apply to this Department.
  2. Number of Entries per Exhibitor: A 4-H Member is limited to exhibiting 6 entries excluding showmanship and meat (egg production birds is considered one entry.)
  3. Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) – Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). Refer to the Nebraska State Fair General Rules and Regulations for additional information.
  4. Exhibitors furnish their own feed and bedding.
  5. Check-In and Show: Check in is Monday, July 27 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Show is Tuesday, July 28. Show will follow Rabbit Show.
  6. Poultry must be dusted for mites.
  7. Breeds: To be eligible for exhibition, cockerel, pullet, cock or hen chicken entries must be fair representatives of one of the breeds listed in the American Standard of Perfection. There are 19 classes of poultry recognized by the American Poultry Association. Ten of these classes are devoted to chickens, of which 6 are classes of large breeds, and 5 are bantam classes. There are four classes of ducks and three classes of geese, both divided by weight. All breeds of turkeys are grouped into one class.
  8. Weights: The minimum weights for market birds will be 3 lbs. for females and 4 lbs. for males of light breeds and 4 lbs. for females and 5 lbs. for males of heavy breeds.
  9. Trio: A pen of egg production birds can be hybrids, crossbred or purebred and shall consist of 3 sexually mature females. Egg production females will be judged for production qualities only and need not necessarily conform to breed standards.
  10. Rules for Bantam & Other Poultry: The rules for standard size chickens apply equally to bantams, waterfowl, and turkey where applicable.
  11. Entries must be 4-H Project Birds: All poultry exhibited must be grown in a 4-H member’s project.
  12. Egg exhibits are limited to one per exhibitor. Class options will consist of 1 dozen white, brown, or colored eggs. Eggs will be judged according to uniformity of size, weight and color as well as cleanliness. Do not refrigerate prior to exhibiting eggs. 4-H’ers may only exhibit ONE dozen of each color. 
  13. POULTRY SHOWMANSHIP CONTEST RULES:
  • The participant may use any bird they choose, so long as it was raised and trained by the 4-H’er. Showmanship class must be entered with advance entry. Birds not entered in the poultry exhibit MUST be brought to and removed from the fairgrounds on the same day as the contest.
  • Basis for Judging – Showmanship is based on grooming and training of the bird and the appearance and behavior of the exhibitor. The exhibitor must vocally explain the steps in their routine and the merit of the bird. Primarily showmanship is the skill of the exhibitor in presenting and explaining the bird before the judge. The excellence of the bird is not considered in scoring.
  • Maximum length of showmanship presentations is five minutes. One (1) point for every 30 seconds over will be deducted for showmanship presentations exceeding time limit.  Exhibitors will be timed, the judges may or may not ask questions of the exhibitor at the close of the routine.
  • Information on the basis of judging poultry showmanship is found in Nebraska Cooperative Extension. 4-H 191.
  • Each entry should fit the appropriate class and breed. Substitutions within class will be allowed but not between classes. If you have difficulty identifying your birds breed and class, please contact the show superintendent at the time of entering. 

DIVISION 070: POULTRY 

G070033. Senior Showmanship.  

G070032. Intermediate Showmanship.  

G070031. Junior Showmanship. 

G07000C. Clover Kid Showmanship.  

 

Large Fowl: 

G070002. American. (Plymouth Rock, Jersey Giant, Wyandotte, New Hampshire Red, Rhode Island Red) 

G070003. Asiatic. (Cochin, Brahmas, Langshan) 

G070004. English. (Cornish, Orpington, Australorps, Sussex, Dorklings)  

G070005. Mediterranean. (Leghorn, Buttercup, Minorca) 

G070006. Continental. (Polish, Hamburg, Campines, Faverolles, Houdan) 

G070007. All Other Breeds. (Naked Neck, Game, Sumatra, Araucanas, Ameraucanas)  

 

Bantam: 

G070008. Game Bantam. (Modern and Old English) 

G070009. Clean Legged. (Plymouth Rock, Leghorn, Japanese, Rhode Island Red, Orpingtons, New Hampshire)  

G070010. Rose Comb Clean Legged. (Rosecomb, Wyandotte, Sebright, Leghorn, Belgian Bearded 

D’Anver) 

G070011. All Other Comb Clean Legged. (Polish, Cornish, Houdan, Sumatra) 

G070012. Feather Legged Class. (Silkie, Chochin, Brahma, Belgian Bearded D’Uccle, Langshan)  

 

Ducks: 

G070013. Heavy (Pekin, Rouen, Alyesbury Muscovy)  

G070014. Medium (Swedish, Buff, Crested, Cayuga)  

G070015. Light (Runner, Khaki, Campbell, Magpie) 

G070016. Bantam Ducks (Call, Mallard, East Indie, Wood Ducks and Mandarins)  

G070017. Goose (all weights)  

G070018. Turkeys (all weights)  

G070019. Egg Production Trios.  

 

Eggs: 

G070020. One dozen white eggs  

G070021. One dozen brown eggs  

G070022. One dozen other colored eggs  

 

Not State Fair Eligible: 

G070023. Barnyard Class (Cross Bred Poultry)  

G070024. Pigeons 

G070025. Exotic Poultry (Includes Peacock, Guinea, Ostrich, Emu, Pheasants, Quails, etc.)  

G070026. Pair male & female 

G070027. Market Broilers (A chicken grown for meat, usually a hybrid (REQUIRED CLASS TO SELL AT FAIR)  

Dawes County Fair Book