Raising Speckled Sussex for Show: Conditioning, Training, and Presentation

A show bird is not a regular hen with a bath. It is a bird that has been chosen carefully, fed and housed for condition, handled until it is calm and finally groomed to look its best on the day. Our guides on washing and conditioning and junior showmanship cover specific tasks. This article puts them in order, from the day you pick a chick to the minutes before the judge reaches your coop.

Show rules differ from one event to the next, so read your fair book or entry rules early. If you want to find poultry shows and clinics near you, agriculture.directory can help you find agriculture events in your area.

Step One: Start With the Right Bird

Winning begins with the bird you choose. The American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection describes what a judge is looking for, and our guide to reading the Standard explains how to interpret it. Choose a bird that is sound in the back, breastbone, tail and wings, with good color and a calm disposition. Check it against the list in show faults and disqualifications. Speckled Sussex are described by Oklahoma State University as alert, sociable and stout, and a temperament like that suits the show table. Pullets, hens, cockerels and cocks may be judged in different classes, and color may change as the bird ages, as explained in our color guide, so ask which class your bird fits and when the show is held.

Step Two: Condition Through Good Management

Conditioning is mostly ordinary good care. A show bird needs:

• Steady feeding. A balanced, complete ration. Feed quality shows in feather and body.
• Clean housing. Dry bedding keeps feathers and feet clean. See our guide to bedding and cleaning.
• Parasite control. Mites, lice and scaly leg all cost points and can spread at a show. Our guide to parasite control explains the routine.
• Shade and shelter. Sun fades the mahogany and bleaches the feathers on birds kept outdoors in strong light, and rain muddies the plumage. A covered run keeps the color richer.
• Separation. Keep show birds away from bullies and from rough males, so feathers and combs stay unmarked.

Molt timing matters too. A bird in heavy molt will look ragged, so plan the season so your bird is in full plumage on show day. Our article on molting explains the process.

Step Three: Train the Bird

Utah State University Extension's guide Preparing Your Bird for the Poultry Showmanship Contest lays out a clear training plan, and the points below follow it.

Bond and handle

Handle the bird often, talk to it and offer tidbits from your hand. Be careful with roosters, which can turn aggressive. Trust takes time, so begin early.

Teach the pose

• Study the pose in the Standard, noting head posture, tail angle and wing position.
• Practice on a small non-slick surface, like a rug on a table.
• Lower the bird until its feet touch the surface, then adjust the head and tail.
• Reward stillness with a stroke under the beak or a treat, and slowly remove your hand.
• The goal given is a bird that holds the pose for 30 to 60 seconds, in sessions of about 10 minutes at a time, several times a day.

The guide warns against keeping a hand on the bird's back during posing, since that can make it squat.

Teach the walk

Use a table covered with non-slick material and a collapsible pointer or a dowel. Tap the inner hackle to turn the bird and the saddle to move it forward, starting firm and getting lighter as it learns. Reward it at the end of the table.

Step Four: Wash at the Right Time

The same Utah State guide recommends washing two to five days before the show, and at least 24 hours before, since drying takes 12 to 18 hours. Work in a draft-free, warm area, and use a multi-tub method of soap, vinegar rinse and plain water, keeping the head out of the water. Rinse out all the soap, press the bird dry with a towel instead of rubbing, and keep it in clean, well-bedded cages afterward. Practice first on a bird you do not plan to exhibit. Our washing guide has a fuller walkthrough, including feet and comb care.

Step Five: Show-Day Presentation

About 30 minutes before judging, the Utah guide advises you to:

1. Clean the toenails and soles, wipe the legs and feet, and add a touch of baby oil for shine.
2. Check the vent area for manure and wipe it.
3. Rub a little baby oil or ointment into the comb and wattles.
4. Polish the plumage head to tail with a silk cloth.
5. Return the bird to its cage until the class is called.

Bring spare bedding, feed, water, a small towel and wipes. Biosecurity matters at shows, since birds mix from many farms. Our guide to backyard flock biosecurity explains how to protect your flock, and you should keep returning birds separate for a while afterward.

Common Mistakes

• Washing too close to the show, so the bird does not dry or preen.
• Skipping practice and handling the bird for the first time at the show.
• Cutting toenails too short, which can cause bleeding.
• Using too much bluing or product, leaving odd tints or residue.
• Entering a bird with a disqualifying fault, because you like it.

Keep Perspective

Judges compare birds to a written standard, and every bird has flaws, so do not be discouraged by a middling placing. Ask the judge for feedback, watch what the winners look like and take notes for next season. Show ribbons also feed breeding decisions, as covered in selecting breeding stock. If you are working with young exhibitors, farm.fm has a hub for 4-H and FFA stories and news that may be useful.