Have you checked your grow out pens lately?

[Birdcrazy]

How many have checked their grow out pens lately? Did you find that standard of perfection reflection? How proud are you of your Ameraucana Breeding Program? What do you do with those birds? You can keep them at home or share them with others! How? Enter them in the ABC National Show October 28-29 in Hutchinson MN. Here are some pictures of what is up for grabs!

[Susan Mouw]

I was just out there looking everyone over and wondering which ones to send to the National...My cockerels are just coming out of the "awkward teenage" stage and starting to look like something I'm proud to claim as Sand Castles Farm stock.  The pullets have been showing off for a bit and I was beginning to think this was going to be the "Year of the Pullets".

Those trophys look great!  Don't forget Jean's awesome egg contest awards, too.  She makes those every year and does an awesome job.  Her Sebastopol geese told me they wish she would stop though, they'd rather keep those beautiful white feathers right where they are.   I reckon they won't miss a few fluffy white feathers, though and it's all for a great cause.

All the special rosettes for the National should be on their way to you soon, too.

[Birdcrazy]

Just a reminder that entry deadlines for the 2017 ABC National Show in Hutchinson MN is just a little over a month away. There is an insert in the August issue of the Poultry Press with rules, information and an entry form. If you do not get the Poultry Press the Minnesota State Poultry Assn Show Secretary is Mike Dornseif, P.O. Box 1106, Forest Lake MN 55025. Phone 1-612-965-0770. email: majkenzie@aol.com.

               ENTRY DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 9. 2017 !

               NO ENTRY CHANGES AT SHOWROOM or ENTRY FEE REFUNDS due to computerization of entries.

[Birdcrazy]

Below is a list of awards and trophies that the ABC will be handing out at the National Show. In addition to this the Minnesota State Poultry Assn will be handing out Plaques and cash awards for Champion and Reserve LF and Bantam Ameraucana (plaques) Best Display, Best and Reserve Trios LF and Bantam (cash awards).

                                                                     
                                                                 ABC LIST OF AWARDS
                                                FOR 2017 NATIONAL SHOW HUTCHINSON MN


NATIONAL HIGH POINT AWARD                      OPEN                $50 ROSETTE      TROPHY
NATIONAL HIGH POINT AWARD                      JUNIOR             $25 ROSETTE      TROPHY
NATIONAL CHAMPION AMERAUCANA                                       $50 ROSETTE      TROPHY
RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPION AMERAUCANA                         $25 ROSETTE      TROPHY
BEST OF VARIETY                                               OPEN LF & BANTAM (16)   $10 ROSETTE & EGG BASKET
RESERVE OF VARIETY                                         OPEN LF & BANTAM (16)   $5 ROSETTE & EGG BASKET
BEST OF VARIETY-AOV                                        OPEN LF & BANTAM (2)     $10 ROSETTE & EGG BASKET
RESERVE OF VARIETY-AOV                                          OPEN LF & BANTAM (2)    $5 ROSETTE & EGG BASKET
EGG CONTEST                                                     LF HEN, LF PULLET, BANTAM HEN, BANTAM PULLET    (4)
                                                                                 AWARD DONATED BY JEAN RIBBECK
BEST TRIO LF & BANTAM                                    ROSETTE
BEST DISPLAY LF & BANTAM                               ROSETTE

[Birdcrazy]

The clock is ticking! Only 22 days left to get your entries postmarked and in the mail for the 2017 ABC National Show. Egg contest anyone? No entry postmark deadline there, just show up with your eggs at the show. See rules on egg contest below.


Egg Contest Information
2017 National Meet
 
Four classes are provided: Large Fowl Hen, Large Fowl Pullet, Bantam Hen, and Bantam Pullet. Awards will be given for the Best in each class.
 
Ameraucana eggs only.
 
No entry fee.
 
Entries will consist of six eggs presented in a suitable container of the entrant’s choice.
 
Exhibitors may enter the same class more than once only if each entry represents a different Ameraucana variety and/or under hen or pullet status. Entries from pens or flocks of commingled varieties shall be limited to one per class and shall be designated “Various” on the entry form. 
 
No unsolicited remarks by any exhibitor may be made within hearing of the judge during the judging process. Violations will result in automatic disqualification of all entries of the violator(s).
 
All entries become the property of the Ameraucana Breeders Club at the time of entry.
 
Two out of each entry of six eggs will be opened by the judge or the clerk to facilitate the judging of interior qualities and coloring. 
 
Each class will be judged to third place.

[Birdcrazy]

Just a reminder, Entry Postmark deadline for the 2017 ABC National Show is next Monday October 9!

[Paul]

  We mailed our entries off today.  Be sure to mail your entries in on Saturday because Monday is Columbus Day and the post office will be closed.

[Birdcrazy]

Thanks Paul for the heads up on Columbus Day mail.

[Kelly Gore]

Good luck all and have fun! Do we know where the 2018 Nationals will be?

[Don]

Kelly,  The 2018 National rotates to the North East District next year.  Larry has mentioned in the bulletin that he was thinking of one of the shows in Ohio unless he changes his mind between now and Nov.

[Birdcrazy]

Kelly, Larry said he was going to the Ohio National Show in Columbus Ohio on November 11. He is going to see what they will offer for a 2018 ABC National Show. He will make his decision on a location when he returns.

[Kelly Gore]

Thanks! I just read the bulletin this morning.

[Susan Mouw]

Remember this is the final for High Point awards - both National and Overall, so get those Meet Reports in!

[Paul]

We planned for a great show season, but the weather and birds had their own ideas!  A few day before the Red River Bantam Club show our best white pullet decided to start dropping feathers.  A few days after the show our best blue pullet decided to start dropping feathers also.  A few days ago our best white cockerel damaged a main tail sickle.  Friday our best black cockerel broke the end off a tail feather.  The unusual weather had caused the birds to start molting very early this time.  One of our local poultry show members said that some of his OEG bantam pullets have already started setting.

  Unfortunately the younger hatched birds are not ready to be shown.  Looks like we won’t be as hard to beat as in the past.  Hope to see you at the Hutchinson, MN. National and Fayetteville, ARK. SC district meet the next two weekends.

  Paul & Angela

[Birdcrazy]

Paul, this year seems like the heaviest molt we have had in years. I could make a lot of feather pillows with the feathers in my pen runs. Sorry to hear you had other problems with broken feathers-heavy molt before a show is bad enough. Sounds like I will be packing extra clothes for Hutchinson this weekend even though I AM NOT IN MOLT! Forecast is for 40's daytime 29-30 night time.