How to Prep a Chicken for a Poultry Show
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | July 5, 2023
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Poultry shows are actually significant to us as modern pioneer homesteaders. They encourage the maintenance and preservation of heritage chicken breeds and their genetics. Participating in a poultry show does require some work, but it can be educational and rewarding. I know showing chickens isn’t for every homesteader, but these poultry show prep tips can come in handy for other situations on the homestead too…. such as learning how to safely bath a chicken! Preparing a chicken for show properly will ensure that you are displaying the breed at its best and in a way that will catch the judge’s eye. Here are the 5 steps that I take when selecting and preparing chickens from my homestead flock for a poultry show!

Step #1. Select Your Bird(s)

The first thing you should do, if you haven’t already done so, is separate your show chicken or chickens from the rest of the flock. Separating your show chickens serves two purposes: #1) It allows you to select exactly which birds you want to show, and #2) it allows you to focus your time and energy into getting those chickens into show condition. You can monitor their health and condition more closely than if they were with the rest of the homestead flock.

Exactly when you separate your show chickens will depend on what type of poultry show you are attending. State, regional, or national shows may warrant up to a 6 month separation period prior to the show. Local, county, or 4-H shows may only necessitate a 6-week to 1-week separation period.

You will need to figure out if your are entering several birds and if you are entering individuals (1 bird), a trio (1 cock, 2 hens), or a pair (1 male & 1 female). When you choose which chickens to separate, you will want to base your decisions on how the chicken looks. Here are some qualifications for show worthy birds:

How to Select Show Chickens

• few to no defects
• no disqualifying features
• meet the breed standard as closely as possible (if the breed is accepted by the APA or ABA)
• be free of disease and parasites
• be in top condition (no missing feathers, healthy feathers, healthy appearance, etc…)

For more tips on picking out show chickens, take a look at my tips in 5 Tips for Picking Out Show Chickens.

Several things to keep in mind when separating your show birds are:

• keep show hens away from roosters to prevent feather loss from treading
• make sure your chickens are coop trained (which means they are used to being caged)
• keep young show chickens away from older chickens
• quarantine any sick chickens or ones that have parasites and don’t bring those to the show
• keep the quarantine pen litter clean
• handle your show bird every day

Selecting a Quarantine Pen

Each show bird should have its own cage unless you are bringing several birds as a trio or pair. A small coop or adequate size cage should be sufficient. Keep in mind how long you will have the birds separated as well. The separation cage should provide all the functions of a coop, like protection from the elements and predators as well as food and water.

The pen that you separate your show birds into should have plenty of space for each bird and allow it access to fresh air and sunshine. Show birds should not spend too much time in direct sunlight however because it could fade the color of their feathers.

Check out my post on 4-H Poultry Showmanship for tips on how to train your show chicken to stand on a table and pose in a cage. Both of these skills are helpful for show chickens and may even be necessary for the show that you are participating in.

Note: A typical poultry show coop is 27 inches by 25 inches square for large chickens and 18 inches square for bantams. However, the quarantine pens should supply more space per bird so that they can get exercise and be active prior to the show.

Step #2. Health Check

The next step in preparing your show chickens is to examine them for disease and parasites.

I perform a chicken health check at the beginning of each month on the entire homestead flock, including my show birds. A health check will ensure that you are bringing birds who are healthy and free of parasites. Checking over your show bird also allows you to see any defects or disqualifications you may have missed when picking out your show bird. 

There are a couple of things to look for when examining a show bird:

Health & Appearence Examine

• broken, missing feathers
• signs of parasites (both internal and external)
• long nails or beak
• defects (missing toenail, off-colored earlobe or eye color, wrong weight, lack of spurs, etc…)
• disqualifications (split comb, side sprigs, stub feathers, duck foot, angel wing, split wing, etc…)
• discharge from the nostrils or eyes
• sneezing, wheezing, or coughing
• lethargy
• diarrhea
• shriveled/pale comb and wattles
• other signs of a sick chicken

I always apply a parasite preventative to my show chickens at least three weeks in advance. I use Poultry Protector as my parasite preventative. If your show bird has a parasite, don’t plan on bringing it to the show unless you know you have enough time to get rid of the parasite.

Trim any long nails or overgrown beaks at least one week before the show. Judges like natural looking nails and beaks. Trimming them one week before the show allows them to grow out and look natural again.

How to Remove a Broken Feather

If your show chicken has a broken feather, you may consider removing it at least 2 months prior to the show. Do not pull out a broken feather. Instead, cut it off about 2 inches from the base. Then cut the remaining portion lengthwise down to the base. This will help loosen the feather follicle, allowing you to pull it out a few days later. If there is not enough time for the feather to regrow before the show, it is best to just leave the feather as it is.

Step #3. Diet Supplements

You can improve your show chickens’ outward appearance by changing their diet or incorporating supplements into their daily ration. The chickens that I raise to show at my county fair are fed starter/grower rations because they are usually not old enough to be fed other rations.

For the older chickens that I plan on showing, I like to increase the protein in their feed. A high protein diet makes for healthier birds since protein is essential for almost all body functions and for feather health. Some people feed their show birds breeder ration or showbird ration which has a higher protein content. You can also add supplements into your show birds’ diet to improve the nutrition and increase the protein content.

Here are a few show supplements that I use:

Show Supplements

• dried grubs- high in protein (black soldier fly grubs are the healthiest!)
• whole oats- improves feather quality without making the bird fat (gluten-free whole oats)
• sunflower seeds- stimulates natural oil production for shiny feathers
• flax seeds
• kelp- improves overall health (I like this brand)

I mix those supplements all together and feed my show birds a little bit of it each day. Do not supplement with corn, which can cause white birds to have a brassy hue to their feathers and is also higher in fat and energy. Remember, these should only be supplements, not the sole ration. Too much of any of these supplements could cause health issues such as fatty liver syndrome, reduced nutrient absorption, and other unwanted health problems.

On the day of the show you can feed your show chicken scratch grains. Scratch grains help keep a chicken’s poop solid so that it is less likely to soil itself while at the show. Don’t feed scratch grains to chickens who are not fully grown and always offer grit to your show birds when giving them supplements.

Step #4. Bath Time!

The next step in preparing your chicken for show is giving it a bath. Bathing your show chicken will make sure that your chicken is clean and give it a radiant glow!

It is best to bath your chicken 3-4 days before the show. This will ensure that the bird can replenish the oil on its feathers that got washed off. You can easily bath a chicken in a laundry room, utility room, or outside if the weather is nice and the temperature is not too cold.

How to Bathe a Chicken:

#1. Washing

First, fill a tub with warm water (about 90° F) and put some poultry show shampoo in the water. Alternatively, you can use a flea and tick shampoo designed for dogs and cats. Avoid using harsh detergents that can cause the feathers to become brittle.

Hold the chicken securely (one hand at the legs, the other holding the wings) and slowly place it in the water. The chicken should relax once it is in the warm water. Do not let its head go under the water. Swish the bird around in the soapy water, making sure that all the feathers get wet. Gently rub the feathers to remove any dirt or stains. Pay special attention to the feathers near the oil gland and around the vent. If you have a crested breed, hold the bird upside down and submerge its crest in the water. Scrub the bird’s shanks, feet, and toes with a toothbrush.

If you are bathing a bird with white plumage you can add a splash of Bluing to the bath water. This will make the bird look very white. Do not add too much or you might end up with a blue bird instead of a white one!

#2. Rinsing

Next, move your bird to a rinse tub. The rinse tub should contain clean water that is slightly cooler than the wash water. You can add a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice to the rinse water to help remove any suds. Once again thoroughly swish the bird around in the water. It is especially important not to leave soap residue or suds in the feathers.

#3. Drying

After the bird is completely rinsed, wrap it in a towel and gently dry it off. Keep the bird in a warm area until it is completely dried. When the weather is warm (above 70°F) and sunny, you can place the bird in a clean outside pen with access to the sunshine to aid with drying feathers. If the bird has loose, fluffy feathers, you might consider blow drying it to give it a fluffy appearance. Complete drying will take 12-18 hours. Keep in mind that breeds that have a lot of feathers will take longer to dry.

#4. Tidying

Clean the comb and wattles using a Q-tip and water. If the bird has some dirt around its nostrils, use a toothpick to gently remove the dirt. For breeds that have white earlobes, you can apply a little bit of baby powder to make them look super white. Apply some Vaseline or baby oil to the comb, wattles, shanks and toes to make tidying at the show grounds easier. You can just wipe the dirt right off!

I recommend tidying your bird every day after the bath prior to the show. Using Vaseline, baby oil, or VetRx every day prior to the show will also help hydrate the chicken’s skin.

Step #5. Getting to the Show

The last step in preparing for a poultry show is figuring out how you are going to transport your nicely cleaned and tidied show bird (or birds) to the show grounds! When picking out a carrier to transport your show chicken in consider these tips:

• no slats, holes, or cracks that a feather or toe can get caught in
• no protruding nails, wood slivers, staples, or wire
• good ventilation
• small enough that chicken will not get tossed around in it
• big enough that the chicken can stand in it and turn completely around it without squeezing against the sides
• easy to put the chicken in and out of
• sturdy flooring

Make sure the litter in the carrier is clean and will not get the bird dirty. Wood shavings often work well. If you have to travel quite a ways to get to the show, make sure you can provide your bird with water and food (if necessary) while it is in the carrier.

Show Day Prep

Once you are at the show, you will need to ‘coop in’, which basically means checking into the show and finding where your birds will be penned. Many times birds are penned according their their breed class. When cooping in, give each chicken a little once over to remove any litter or debris that got on them during travel.

The day of the show you can apply a little vitamin E or baby oil to the chicken’s comb and wattles to give them a shiny glow! VetRx is also great to apply instead of vitamin E or baby oil. It brightens the color of the comb and wattles, invigorates the bird, prevents external parasites, and makes the shanks and legs shine! Baby wipes or paper towel also come in handy for wiping down shanks, feet, and toes.

Once your birds are cooped in, make sure you take care of them on a daily basis to ensure they have food, water, and clean litter every day that they are at the show.

Poultry shows are fun and preparing for them can be too! If your bird is prepared properly and is good quality, you may even win some awards! I love showing my chickens and attending poultry shows. Not only is it great to exhibit my chickens, but it is also fun to go around and see other people’s birds and talk with more experienced poultry keepers. You can learn a lot from networking with other poultry enthusiasts, breeders, and you may even find other homesteaders!

Best of luck with your poultry and have a good time! Don’t forget to join our pioneer community to get more helpful tips for raising chickens and living a sustainable lifestyle!

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