So, what are the top breeds of show quality chickens for an exhibition? Raising, choosing and preparing exhibition chickens for the show allows me to learn proper animal husbandry. The entire project provides me with the right platform to take responsibility, make sound decisions and acquire showmanship skills. But knowledge of the right chicken breeds for the exhibition is the most important part of this project. If you’re planning to participate in such exhibitions, this knowledge will help you make the right choice of your show chickens.
Even though there are numerous breeds of chickens to choose for exhibitions, only a few qualify for such events. On our list of 9 breed chickens to show in an exhibition we have Braham, Cochin, Faverolle, Orpington, Cubalaya, Polish, Old English Game, Houdan, and Java.
Showing chickens is a hobby that has been past down from one generation to another. As a matter of fact, this tradition is increasingly growing in popularity from one society to another. Whether you are participating in the show directly or just watching it, there’s nothing as fascinating as a chicken exhibition. This is because you get a chance to see all types of finest and adorable chickens on display.
This list of top breeds of show quality chickens for an exhibition will help you choose the right birds. You don’t have to go for all of them but you can select a few that you can showcase. Let’s look at each in detail to enable you to have a clear picture of what you should expect.
Brahma Chickens
Brahma Chickens: From The Book of Poultry
- Brahma chickens are large, fully feathered chickens that can thrive best in cold climates. These birds are beautiful and easy to handle thanks to their gentle temperament. Because of these unique attributes, Brahmas are among the most favorite chicken breeds for the exhibition.
- You can always identify them from their dense feathering that extends to their feet. Although they mature late, these birds can grow to weigh 10 pounds or even more. They come in buff, light or dark shades. If you are looking for an excellent chicken breed for an exhibition, include Brahmas on your search list.
Cochin Chickens
Cochin Chickens: From The Book of Poultry
- Cochins are another large chicken breed that resembles giant feather balls. In addition to their distinctive feathery features, these birds are also characterized by sport toe feathers. You will always find them in shades of black, white, blue, partridge and buff. The partridge ones are usually brown with some black lacing on their feather tips.
- When it comes to temperament, Cochins are relatively calm and easy to get along with. Besides, these birds have an outstanding reputation of broodiness as well as maternal skills. With all these attributes in your mind, you can raise a few Cochins as your exhibition birds.
Faverolle Chicken
Faverolle Chicken
- Faverolle chickens are relatively rare breeds and are referred to as the “French poodle of chicken breeds”. Unlike other chickens, these large fancy chickens boast of five toes on each of their feet. Also, they come with lots of feathering that make them a unique breed of chickens.
- Available in salmon or white with laced feathering all over their bodies, Faverolles stand out from any mixed flock. Their gentle temperature makes them an easy target for harassment by more aggressive chickens. Due to their appealing looks and unique disposition, these birds are a perfect choice for the exhibition.
Orpington Chickens
Orpington Chickens
Orpington chickens serve three major purposes; they are suitable for meat, eggs, and exhibition. Their common color is buff although some have black, blue and white feathering. These big beautiful birds are friendly, social and easy to handle. Additionally, they are softly feathered with clean legs. At least you will enjoy grooming them a few days to the chicken show.
Cubalaya Chickens
- Cubalaya chicken breed is native to Cuba hence the name. These birds have unique physical features that make them attractive even when they are in a mixed flock. Their tails look almost similar to those of lobsters. Interestingly, they lack spurs on their legs.
Cubalaya Chickens
- Unlike other chicken breeds for exhibition, Cubalaya breeds are more aggressive and territorial. To add to that, they are flighty, yet friendly and calm. Nevertheless, these birds are gorgeous and quite fascinating to look at.
- In their native country, these chickens were raised for their delicious meat and cockfighting. They are also fair layers whereby they lay cream-colored eggs. On the negative side, Cubalaya Chickens are more likely to prey on other flocks. Their feathers range from black to white all the way to some traces of red. They thrive well in warmer regions and not in a cold climate.
Polish Chickens
Old English Game and Modern Game Chickens
Old English Game Chicken
- As the name suggests, the Old English Game chicken breed originates in Britain. These hens are excellent for brooding as well as raising chicks. The Modern English Game chickens are a good choice for the exhibition.
- Historically, the Old English Game chickens were raised mainly for cockfighting. People either love or dislike the appearance of these chickens. This is because they have a reputation for standing very upright with their long legs and necks. Additionally, these birds have tight, sleek feathers that complement their looks.
- They come in different colors and they are active as well as aggressive birds. The Modern English Game chickens are larger and slightly heavier than their older version. Both breeds lay small-sized white eggs. While the Older English Game chickens are excellent brooders, the Modern Game is not. Regardless of these differences, the birds are a great choice for showing.
Houdan Chickens
Houdan chickens
- Houdan is one of the few chickens breeds that have five toes instead of four. This is an old breed with its origin in France. These birds come in two main colors which include white and black. Also, you’ll find some of them bearing black splashed with white, a combination commonly referred to as mottled Houdan.
- With their big fluffy topknots, you can easily mistake these breed of chickens with Polish. Houdan chickens mature early and were once raised for meat despite their small size.
- These birds are good layers of white eggs and they fall under the top breeds of show quality chickens for an exhibition?
- Just like the rest of other crested breeds, Houdan is often the victim of bullying from other breeds of chickens. To enhance their vision, you must trim their feathers occasionally. When it comes to behavior, these birds are gentle, calm and friendly.
Java Chickens
Java Chickens
- Java is another breed that has made it to the list of top breeds of show quality chickens for an exhibition. This American heritage breed is heavy in size and is raised as a dual-purpose breed. On the contrary, these birds take time to grow to maturity despite being an excellent layer and source of meat.
- One thing that makes Java chickens unique is their feathers. These birds have black feathers with an attractive shiny beetle-green appearance. You can get some of these birds in white and black mottled. Besides being a great choice of the exhibition, Java is included on the list of Livestock Conservancy watch for endangered chickens.
Related Questions
- What is the importance of raising chickens for the exhibition? Chicken shows encourage the preservation of certain breeds of chickens that are raised for ornamental reasons. This is because some birds exist today as pets and not for egg or meat production. So, the practice of displaying these breeds to the chicken exhibition helps in keeping them alive.
- How do you select birds for the exhibition? There are guidelines that you need to follow when choosing chickens for show. These birds are selected according to their production, breed, behavior and physical appearance. For the production, you will consider egg-producing breeds, dual-purpose breeds, and meat-producing chickens. In each category, you must select a certain number of birds based on their uniformity. This will help you draw comparisons among these birds in a bid to get the best in each category.
In Conclusion
If you have been wondering where to get the right information for chicken breeds for the show, we have you covered. Check out from the top breeds of show quality chickens for an exhibition. listed above to get started. At least, you will find one or two breeds that will suit your needs.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Chicken Board!!
