POULTRY
LEADERS: John Foley - 336-0026
Randy Cain - 391-2605
Brad Schulz - 825-3601
RULES
1. Birds entered at the County Fair must be owned, raised and cared for by the 4-Her. Birds must be in possession of the member by May 15. Members enrolled after May 15 may display a bird but it will not be eligible for judging. Any bird purchased after May 15 may be displayed but it will not be eligible for judging. Early enrollment is not required for non-animal projects such as Poultry Poster, Cage Decorating, Egg Quality, and Poultry Showmanship.
2. Although it is desirable, individual bird identification is not required for entry.
3. It is not necessary for a 4-H Poultry exhibit to have been a county 4-H champion or selected winner to enter and compete at the State Fair.
4. In judging Commercial classes, special attention will be given to growth, development and production qualities. In Exhibition classes, the ABA Standard will govern for bantam chickens and the APA Standard will govern for all other Exhibition birds.
5. To comply with State Health requirements, each chicken, turkey and guinea fowl entry should either originate from a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) source such as a hatchery or NPIP-participating breeder or have health papers showing that blood testing was done. Blood testing arrangements can be made through the 4-H Poultry Club. Waterfowl do not need to be tested.
6. As a courtesy to the other club members, any sick or infested birds that are detected by the judge must be removed from the poultry barn that same day. If the owner of the bird(s) is not present when the judge has identified the problem, a poultry club leader will remove the bird(s) to a suitable quarantine area and notify the owner that the animal(s) must be picked up and removed from the fairgrounds. On site treatment of infestations or sickness is not permitted. Any animal that perishes during the fair will be removed immediately from its pen by a 4-H Poultry Club leader and stored on ice until the owner can be notified. Disposal of the dead animal is the owner’s responsibility.
7. READ THE 4-H GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS.
8. READ THE 4-H LIVESTOCK RULES AND REGULATIONS.
9. A member in good standing is defined as a member who has attended a minimum of two (2) meetings, participated in at least one Poultry Club fundraiser, and have all dues and debts paid in full two (2) weeks before the first day of the fair. If a member must miss a meeting, it is the member’s responsibility to inform a leader and obtain the information and minutes from the missed meeting.
10. Total number of entries not to exceed 10 birds per member. A broiler pen counts as one bird. Mini members can show only one (1) bird.
11. No exhibition birds go to the 4-H livestock sale.
12. It is the responsibility of the 4-H member to feed and water his or her own birds. If this is not possible, the 4-Her can designate another person to feed, water and/or clean. No bird will be permitted to go without food or water for extended periods of time.
13. Birds that display overly aggressive behavior towards other birds or people or exhibit self-mutilating behavior or heat stroke, can be removed by a 4-H Poultry Club leader to a suitable location. Birds that display signs of illness or parasite infestation that were not apparent at judging can also be removed by a 4-H Poultry Club leader to a quarantine area. The owner of any of these birds may be asked to remove them from the fairgrounds, but premiums and other awards will not be forfeited.
14. No extensions on due dates for enrollment in projects.
4-H POULTRY PROJECTS
1. BROILER PEN (Sales Slot)
Members can exhibit one pen (2 birds) of broiler chickens. All birds must originate from the same source, be hatched on the same date, and be of the same breed, variety and sex. Birds in a pen should be close to the same size on judging day. The 4-H Poultry Club will order the chicks but the cost is the 4-Her’s responsibility. Broiler pen project participants must sign up no later than February 5.
2. MEAT DUCK (Sales Slot)
Members can exhibit one meat duck. All birds must originate from the same source, be hatched on the same date, and be of the same breed and variety. The 4-H Poultry Club will order the ducklings but the cost is the 4-Her’s responsibility. Meat Duck project participants must sign up no later than March 5. Due to limited caging, meat ducks purchased in the current year cannot be placed in the Exhibition Duck competition.
3. MEAT TURKEY (Sales Slot)
Members can exhibit one meat turkey. All birds must originate from the same source, be hatched on the same date, and be of the same breed and variety. The 4-H Poultry Club will order the turkey poults but the cost is the 4-Her’s responsibility. Meat Turkey project participants must sign up no later than February 5. Due to limited caging, meat turkeys purchased in the current year cannot be placed in the Exhibition Turkey competition.
4. COMMERCIAL EGG LAYER (Sales Slot)
Egg Layers (hens or pullets) of any commercial type chicken (purebreds or crosses) are eligible. These include blue, brown, and white egg layers. The 4-H Poultry Club does not order birds for this project.
5. PRODUCTION ROOSTER
Males of any production type chicken (purebred or crosses) are eligible. Judging will be based on health, vigor, cleanliness, overall condition, ability to be handled, and suitability as a producer of either egg producing or meat type chicks.
6. EXHIBITION LARGE FOWL
Purebred large fowl chickens are eligible. Judging is based on the American Poultry Association (APA) Standard of Perfection.
7. EXHIBITION BANTAMS
Purebred bantam chickens are eligible. Judging is based on the American Bantam Association (ABA) Standard of Perfection.
8. EXHIBITION WATERFOWL
Purebred waterfowl are eligible. Due to limited caging, extra Meat Duck project birds from the current year are excluded from this project. Judging is based on the APA Standard of Perfection.
a) DUCKS (Heavy, Medium, Light, or Bantam)
b) GEESE (Heavy, Medium, or Light)
9. EXHIBITION TURKEYS
Purebred turkeys are eligible. Due to limited caging, extra Meat Turkey project birds from the current year are excluded from this project. Judging is based on the APA Standard of Perfection.
10. EXHIBITION GUINEA FOWL
Purebred Guinea Fowl are eligible. Judging is based on the APA Standard of Perfection.
11. MINI POULTRY PROJECT
Mini members (in kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade on January 1 of current year) are eligible to show one bird (chicken, turkey, guinea or waterfowl). All mini members will receive a first place ribbon.
12. POULTRY POSTER
Exhibit a poster on any topic relating to poultry. All posters must be foam core board (22”x28”) and be displayed horizontally. Reserve a 4 inch by 5 inch area in the bottom right corner for Name, Level and County. Foam core board, plastic cover, and hook tape are available at the Extension Office. See General Poster Rules in the Fair Book for more information. This project is open to any 4-H Poultry Club member.
Mini – members in Kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade on January 1 of current year
Level 1 - members in 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade on January 1 of current year
Level 2 - members in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade on January 1 of current year
Level 3 - members in 9th grade or above on January 1 of current year
First place winners in Levels 1-3 are eligible to enter their posters in State Fair competition.
13. CAGE DECORATING
Decorate any cage in the Poultry Barn. Competition is open to all 4-H Poultry Club members and minis. Judging will be based on criteria to be announced. Limit one cage per participant.
14. EGG QUALITY COMPETITION
Six eggs, produced by your flock and displayed in a container of your choice will constitute an entry. Entries with more or less than six eggs will be disqualified. Only one entry per exhibitor in each class will be accepted.
Classes: White shell chicken eggs
Brown shell chicken eggs
All other color shell chicken eggs
All other poultry eggs (duck, goose, guinea, turkey)
Eggs may be judged for internal and external quality. Eggs should be clean and of uniform size. After judging, the eggs may be put on display during Fair Week, depending on available space.
15. POULTRY SHOWMANSHIP CONTEST
4-Hers will demonstrate their ability to present birds that are clean, healthy, trained and manageable, along with the techniques of proper display. This activity provides an opportunity to competitively demonstrate the 4-Her’s knowledge and skill in raising, conditioning, evaluating and handling poultry. Under certain circumstances, a judge may ask a 4-Her to demonstrate some aspect of showmanship using a bird not owned by the 4-Her. All 4-H members are strongly encouraged to participate in the showmanship contest.
Mini – members in Kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade on January 1 of current year
Beginner - members in 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade on January 1 of current year
Junior - members in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade on January 1 of current year
Senior - members in 9th grade or above on January 1 of current year
16. HOME CROSS COMPETITION
This is an advanced project for 4-H members that are breeding and hatching their own chickens. It includes displaying one male and one female bird that are the result of a cross between two or more recognized breeds. The birds must be accompanied by a report that describes the improved features of the crossbreed, the genetics of the features selected, and possibly details about productivity (meat or eggs). The entry must also contain a pedigree that links the initial purebred founders to the birds that are on display. Judging will be based on the appearance and condition of the birds (40%), the accompanying report (40%), and the pedigree (20%).
POULTRY BARN SUPERVISION
A parent or guardian from each family is asked to volunteer their services during fair week.
LIVESTOCK SALE SLOTS
Broiler Pen
Meat Duck
Meat Turkey
Commercial Egg Layer
A Poultry Club member in good standing (see Rule #9) and having the top placing entry in each of these categories has the opportunity to take their bird(s) to the Livestock Sale. If the owner of the top placing entry declines to sell, the opportunity will be given to the owner of the next animal in the placing for that project. Please note that a 4-H member can only sell one small livestock item. No substitutions are permitted.
ENTRY FORMS: Completed entry forms with a list of birds to be shown by each 4-H member are due the first Wednesday in July at the 4-H meeting. Additional information and blank forms will be provided by the 4-H Poultry Club leaders.
CHECK-IN: 4-H Poultry check-in will be on Friday July 23 from 6pm until 9pm or Saturday July 24 until 10am.
JUDGING: 4-H Poultry will be judged Saturday July 24, starting at 10am. Poultry Showmanship will be held on Saturday July 24, after 10am.
RELEASE: 4-H Poultry will be released Friday July 30 after 9pm or Saturday July 31 until 8am. Tear down begins at 7am. Premium payments and the Small Animal Auction will follow tear down.
SMALL ANIMAL AUCTON: Any bird (or rabbit or pigeon) that was shown in the Fair is eligible for sale in the Small Animal Auction. Also eligible are extra meat project birds that were purchased through the poultry club but were not shown. The auction begins at 10am on Saturday July 31. There will be no minimum bids on the auction animals. The poultry club leaders will provide an instruction sheet with auction details if you are interested in participating.
THANK YOU 2009 Sponsors!
Monroe Co. Fair Board Pat Martin
Belcher Motors Monroe Co. Equipment Co.
Community Hardware, Inc. Pampered Chef
Frito-Lay Richardson’s Feed and Supply
Graphic Visions Sav-a-lot
Kroger West United Commerce Bank
Lakeside Market
THANK YOU 2009 Sale Buyers!
Ted Everett Farms
Property Management Group
Peoples State Bank
Pat Haley
