Poultry

General Information:

• ID Forms and Health certificates are not required. It is highly recommended that you purchase your birds from a NPIP participating flock.
• YQCA Training - All exhibitors/showmen, including substitutes, in Poultry must have received Quality Assurance training. A certificate must be turned into the Extension Office. Training must be completed by June 15.
• Enter your poultry at the Small Animal Barn. They must be looked at by a superintendent before they are placed into cages. If something is found wrong with your animal, it will be sent home and not allowed to show.
• A Nebraska Department of Ag representative may be present to swab for Avian Influenza.
• Poultry are released by the superintendent during the scheduled Load-out.
• Animals should be free from fleas, ticks, mites, lice or other parasites.  Birds showing any sign of disease or parasites will not be allowed to check in.
• Exhibitors may show up to 7 birds.
• Exhibitors will be responsible for feeding, watering, and keeping cage areas cleaned up on a regular basis.  Feed and water containers are not provided.  The cage and wood shavings will be provided.
• The Small Animal Barn is locked at 8 pm and will be open each day by 7am except for   Load-Out day, it will be open by 8:30 am.
• All 4-H'ers entering an animal project are automatically entered in Herdsmanship.
• 4-H Dress Code is required.
• Exhibitors will be required to show their birds during judging. If there is a family emergency, a substitute showman may be appointed.  The superintendent must approve substitute showman.   Substitute showman must be a registered 4-H member in Sheridan County and have received YQCA training.
• If an exhibitor has more than one entry in a class, the exhibitor is responsible for finding an eligible Sheridan County 4-H member to substitute show one of the animals.  No parents will be allowed to show for the exhibitor.
• Minimum weights for exhibition birds will be as stated in The American Standard of Perfection and the Bantam Standard.
• If there are 5 or more of any variety, that variety may be shown and judged as a separate group.
• Limit of one poultry entry per member may be sold at the livestock sale. 

A 4-H member may sell only 2 items total. Listed are the options.

• 2 animals of different species (Rabbit Meat Pen and Poultry Pen of Broilers count as one item)
• 1 animal and 1 cake or cupcakes
• 1 animal and 1 cookie jar
• 1 cake or cupcakes and 1 cookie jar
• All market animals are automatically consigned onto the Livestock Sale.  Youth must come to the 4-H Office and remove those animals they do not wish to sell 30 minutes after the show.  If youth have more than one animal of the same species and do not remove one, neither animal will be allowed to sell.
• Remember to get a photo for your thank you card.

Poultry Showmanship Contest Rules

• All exhibitors are encouraged to enter poultry showmanship.
• Participant may use any bird they choose for Showmanship, as long as it was raised and trained by the 4-H’er.
• Coaching of exhibitors is strictly prohibited.  The exhibitor is responsible for presenting their animal on their own merit.
• Showmanship judging is based on the grooming and training of the bird, and the appearance, knowledge and behavior of the exhibitor. Exhibitors must orally and physically explain the steps in their routine and the merit of the bird.  Showmanship is the skill of the exhibitor presenting and explaining the bird before the judge.
• Showmanship scores will be based on the criteria listed on the showmanship score sheet.   
• The judge may or may not ask questions of the exhibitor at the close of the routine.
• The excellence of the bird is NOT considered in scoring.
• If there is a tie, oral questions will break the tie.

Division 69 – Poultry

G069001    Sr. Poultry Showmanship 14+ on January 1.  Past champions are eligible

G069002    Int. Poultry Showmanship- 11, 12, and 13 years old on January 1 

G069003    Jr. Poultry Showmanship- 9, and 10 years of age, January 1

G069004    Novice Poultry Showmanship- 8 years of age, January 1

Large Fowl (American, Asiatic, English, Mediterranean, Continental and other Standard Breeds)

G069010     Cockerel (current year hatch)

G069011     Pullet (current year hatch)

G069012     Cock (prior year hatch)

G069013     Hen (prior year hatch)

G069014     Trio (1 cockerel and 2 pullets 6-9 weeks of age)

G069015     Pen of 3 Layers-Egg Production

G069016     Pen of 3 Layers-before egg production

G069017     Pen of 3 Broilers 

G069018     Bantam ( Game Class, Single Comb Clean Legged, Rose Comb Clean Legged, All other Comb Clean Legged, Feather Legged Class and other Standard Breeds)

G069019     Drake Duck

G069020     Duck

G069021     Pen of 3 Ducks – 1 Drake & 2 Hens

G069022     Gander Goose

G069023     Dame Goose

G069024     Turkeys

G069025     Breeding pair of pigeons

G069026     Exotic birds or avian species – Peacock, Guinea, Ostrich, Emu, Pheasants, Quail