FACT SHEET PS-33

Selecting Chickens for Show1

Jacqueline P. Jacob and F. Ben Mather2

There are a number of factors which judges take into Head

account when evaluating chickens in a poultry show.
Some of these will be discussed. In selecting chickens for The head should be broad and somewhat flat on top
show it is important to look at the bird as a whole. Judges rather than round, wide between the eyes, and moderately
are looking for a good overall bird -- and not ones that are long. Figure 1 shows an undesirable type of single-comb
good in only one or two features. head. It is narrow, shallow and over-refined. This is
referred to as a “crow head”.
Chickens can be entered in either the production
(commercial) or purebred (exhibition) category. Male and Figure 1.
female White Leghorns, Rhode Island Red, White Undesirable head type
(crow head).
Plymouth Rock, Barred Plymouth Rock, as well as female
black or red sex-links are eligible for entry in the
production category.

For information on preparing poultry for show, refer

to Fact Sheet PS-34, “Preparing Poultry for Show”.
The face should be clean cut, smooth, and wrinkle-
free. The skin should be fine-grained and soft in texture,
PRODUCTION the comb substantial in size and rich in color. The eyes
should be large and bright with the irises a rich reddish
Hens in the production category are judged on their bay color, and the pupils distinctly round.
past and current laying condition. The emphasis for
selection, therefore, is based mainly on body conformation
and sexual maturity, with some consideration given to Body Conformation
head, feathering, feet, and toes. You should look for
The body should be broad, deep, and well-developed.
certain characteristics and qualities when selecting birds
This is important for adequate intestinal development,
for show.
which is needed for quick digestion and absorption of food
necessary for good egg production. Body depth can be
determined by placing your finger tips on the back bone
and your thumb across the middle of the keel (breastbone).

1. This document is FACT SHEET PS-33, one of a series of the Dairy and Poultry Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First printed November 1997. Please visit the FAIRS Web site at http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu.
2. Jacqueline P. Jacob, poultry extension coordinator, and F. Ben Mather, poultry extension specialist, Dairy and Poultry Sciences Department, Cooperative
Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational
information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.
For information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office. Florida Cooperative
Extension Service / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences/University of Florida / Christine Taylor Waddill, Dean
Selecting Chickens for Show Page 2

Feathering

The birds should be fully feathered with the plumage

in good condition.

Feet and Toes

The bird should be well balanced on its legs. The feet

and toes should be normal.

Sexual Maturity

The comb, wattles, and earlobes should be well-

developed. Hens should be in egg production.
Figure 2. Measuring abdominal capacity (feathers
Females removed for illustration purposes).

Female chickens entered in the production category

are judged on the basis of the ability to produce eggs -- in Table 1. Comparison of good and poor layers.
the past or currently. It is relatively easy to determine
whether or not a hen is in egg production. Check the Body part Good layer Poor layer
condition of the comb, pubic bones, abdomen, and vent. If Carriage active, alert lazy, listless
a hen is laying, her comb and wattles should be large, red,
soft, and waxy. The pubic bones should be thin, flexible Eyes bright, sparkling dull, sunken
and wide apart. The abdomen should be full, soft and
Combs/Wattles large, bright small, pale
pliable. The vent should be large, moist and free of
pigment. A good layer should have more than a two- Shanks thin, flat round, full
finger width between the pubic bones (also referred to as
pelvic bones) and a three or more finger width between the Back wide narrow, tapered
pubic bones and the tip of the keel (abdominal capacity; Abdomen deep, soft shallow, hard
see Figure 2).
Pubic bones wide apart, thin tight, stiff, thick
When a hen is not in egg production, her comb and flexible
wattles may be small, pale, and shriveled. The pubic large, moist puckered, dry
Vent
bones are rigid and close together. The abdomen is hard
and tight, and the vent is small, dry and pigmented. Do
not confuse a fatty abdomen with one that is soft and
pliable due to laying conditions. See Table 1 for a
comparison of a good and poor layer. Refer to Figure 2
and Figure 3 for the parts of the chicken.

Males

Male chickens entered in the production category are

judged on the basis of physical condition, alertness and
activity. Sex-link males will only receive a white ribbon
because they are crossbreds and are not used for breeding
purposes.

Figure 3. Parts of the chicken.

November 1997
Selecting Chickens for Show Page 3

PUREBRED Purchase high quality birds. If you produce your own

stock, look for outstanding individuals in the flock when
Before selecting purebred chickens to enter in a your chickens are in the growing phase. Use plastic leg
poultry show, it is important to become familiar with the bands to identify the best birds.
criteria for your particular breed, as set out in the
American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection. After selecting birds which are in good physical
The chickens, both male and female, will be judged on condition, are not blind, and conform to the standards for
their conformance to these standards in terms of body their breed and variety, conduct a more careful inspection
weight, shape or type, color of plumage, color of shanks for disqualifications and defects. Some undesirable
and skin, color of earlobes, and shape or type of comb (see characteristics are:
Figure 4 for some of the types of combs).
Tail: Split tail, wry tail, squirrel tail, and entire absence of
main tail feathers. Some tail disqualifications are shown in
Figure 5.
Wings: Slipped wing, split wing, and clipped wing. Some
wing disqualifications are shown in Figure 6.

Figure 5. Examples of some disqualifications involving

the tail.

Figure 6. Examples of disqualifications involving the

wing.

Back: Crooked or hunchback.

Beak: Deformed.
Feathers: Twisted feathers in primaries, secondaries,
main tail feathers, and sickles.
Figure 4. Different comb types. Weights: More than 2 lbs under standard weight, except
Leghorns and Anconas, where it is more than 1½ lbs
underweight for males and more than 1 lb underweight for
females.

November 1997
Selecting Chickens for Show Page 4

Comb: A comb foreign to the breed or variety. Absence of Head and Adjuncts: Enamel white in the face of young
spikes on rose comb (see Figure 3 for typical rose comb). Mediterraneans, and enamel white in the earlobes of
Some comb disqualifications are shown in Figure 7, common breeds of the American, Asiatic, and English
including split single comb, side sprigs on single comb, classes. Red in the earlobes of some breeds.
and lopped comb (except on females of Mediterraneans, Shanks and Toes: Decidedly bowlegs or knock-knees.
New Hampshire, and some rare breeds). Some comb Stubs or down on shanks or toes of all clean shank breeds.
defects are shown in Figure 8. Entire absence of spurs on cocks. More or less than the
required number of toes. Color of shanks, toes or feet
foreign to the breed. Vulture hocks (except in Sultans and
some breeds of feather-legged Bantams) and duck foot (see
Figure 9).
Color: Red or yellow in any black variety. Black in quill
of white varieties. Foreign color in any white variety.
General: poor physical condition, disease or deformity.

There are also specific disqualifications for each breed and

variety. Refer to the American Poultry Association’s
Standard of Perfection for details regarding the birds you
have.

Figure 7. Examples of disqualifications involving

the comb.

Figure 9. Some disqualifications involving

the legs.

Figure 8. Some comb defects.

November 1997