The motions and movement requirements of showmanship may be dependant upon the county of the 4-H participants

Whenever you are required to hold your fowl you must be in control of the fowl

Taking your hand and spreading your fingers to allow the breast to rest in your palm and the legs to be between your fingers, your middle finger should be aligned with the breastbone or keel

Once the fowl is in position in your hand the fowl’s head should be facing you

For bantams you can place your thumb on one side over the wing and your small finger over the other wing while the fowl rests in your palm and gently place your free hand upon back if moving to another location

For standard fowl while the fowl rests in palm with legs between fingers you may need to gently place your hand upon back to control fowl

You will need to use this method each time you are required to pick up your fowl

Placing one hand under the fowl with your other hand gently on back always remove the fowl head first from the cage

While holding the fowl with your one hand, with fowl tucked close to your body with the head of the fowl between your arm and body for large fowl and for bantams simply resting against the side of your chest

With your free hand Close the Cage door

Now turn and approach the Showmanship Table carrying the fowl with one hand in position against the side of chest while the other hand placed upon the fowls back for control

Caging your fowl should be done in the same manner as removing only the fowl should always enter the cage Head First

Always remember to close the cage door

Once door is closed step to the side and face the judge, in principal you are not to be between your fowl and the judge or his view of the fowl

Pose your fowl in a profile position fowl should be all facing the same way at showmanship table

The fowl must remain stationary, calm and alert

The fowl must not attack another fowl, must not sit or appear apprehensive

Posing requires training and confidence between exhibitor and fowl

Showing that the fowl has been worked with by the exhibitor

A fowl trained for Showmanship should respond in the appropriate manner to any exhibitor, some judges in the higher divisions will ask exhibitors to exchange fowl

Requires you to hold the fowl correctly with one hand (dependant upon right or left handed), in control with fowl balanced, holding the fowl up at shoulder level

Using your other hand only with your thumb at tip of beak you will slightly turn fowls head to reveal both sides of face, you may find some gently turn the fowl as they turn the face to expose the right and left side

Hold the fowl correctly, with the fowl facing you

Arm holding fowl slightly extended and at a downward angle for proper view by the judge

Take your free hand and first show the left wing

With the last joint of wing between your thumb on top of wing at joint and fingers under wing at joint, you will apply slight pressure to fan and spread the wing, revealing all parts of the wing

To show the right wing while still holding the fowl correctly you will take your free hand and cross over your hand that is holding the fowl, crossing at wrist and in front of the fowl to spread the wing in the same manner with thumb up and fingers underneath at last wing joint

You never change hands to show the wings

Holding fowl correctly at a visual downward angle, with free hand beginning at saddle or cushion area working your way up back each time to end at shoulder area, gently lift the feathers out of natural position revealing the under color, before moving to next section gently stroke the feathers back into natural position

Holding the fowl correctly, with fowl facing you

With the spread of your thumb and index finger while your remaining fingers are closed and tucked you will show the width of the body at middle of back area

Holding the fowl correctly, turn the back of the fowl to place the back against your chest. The fowl is now in a horizontal position against your chest

Still holding the fowl correctly slide your free hand down the legs and gently grasping the feet

With the hand that is holding the fowl gently manipulate separation of the breast feathers using your fingertips of your index and middle fingers to reveal the breastbone, this must be accomplished without the exhibitor looking for the breastbone

If the fowl is held correctly the fowl’s chest should be resting upon the middle finger, which would be in direct location of the breastbone

When done correctly the breastbone will be revealed between the two fingers

Holding the fowl correctly place the fowl in a vertical position with fowls back against your chest

With your free hand show the fowls feet, shanks and toes of each leg

After all areas of showing are finished you will need to once again pose your fowl to its advantage, you also may be required to take one slight backwards step away from table while fowl remains posed

Written for the

Chicken Chronicles