So you want to show ducks? Awesome!! I’ve been showing since 2017 starting with mallards now also showing muscovies. Here’s how you start:
Chirpy my Mallard Drake at a show
Preparing for ducks
When getting ducks both not for showing and for showing you want to make sure you have got a duck which works for you. But first you should check the laws and councils in your area to make sure you can keep ducks.
Next it’s time to get some ducks if you don’t have any yet. For first time duck keepers you should make sure you know what ducks need, to do this you can check out other threads in the BYC community, read some books or go on some websites. Once you have everything ready for your webbed legged friends now it’s time to find a breed for you.
Some threads for anyone who wants to start with ducks:
INTRODUCTION TO KEEPING DUCKS by jtn42248: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introduction-to-keeping-ducks.67402/
How To Raise Ducks For Meat, Eggs, Companions by catcrazy632: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-raise-ducks-for-meat-eggs-companions-❤.67215/
Raising Ducklings To Ducks by DuckLady0427:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/raising-ducklings-to-ducks.68180/
Getting the right breed
So your ready to get some ducks now, first you should research on the breed(s) your interested in. Once you’ve finished your research you can find someone who has some of the breed, for this I recommend you get some off breeders who show their birds as they should know a lot about how the breed should look. But if you can’t it’s ok but just make sure you know what the breeds size is, what their standard is and importantly what a healthy duck looks like/ behaves. After getting the ducks make sure you give them time to settle in to their new home.
Finding a show
Now you have your ducks and you want to see when and where a show is. I started showing at local show first and still go to the shows in that area. What you should do is start with local and go further and further when you get more experience. When you find a show you want to enter birds into look on their website and find and print a entry form and fill out your details and then your ducks classes. Then you will need to mail it or hand it in with money. Also this is a good time to join in a local poultry club.
One of my entry forms:
Preparing for Show
So you now have a show in a few weeks and your ducks aren’t the best being handled, use this time to get them used to being handled. Google up a duck showmanship demonstration (this isn’t what your doing but similar to how the duck is going to be handled when being judged) and practice this with your duck(s), this is also a good time to get them pen trained.
Duck Showmanship Demonstration by poultrycrazy:
So you have to take the ducks into the show in a few days or tomorrow now is a good time to wash them. You should let the ducks wash themselves then get them and wash there bills, legs and feet. Note: if you have any white breeds you should keep them in a clean area where they can’t get poo or mud on them so they stay clean, as they get easily stained. After they are all clean, put them in a pen where they can’t get all dirty.
Penning the ducks
Today you are taking the ducks to get penned, remember to bring some baby oil or Vaseline and most importantly your paper that you get to pen the birds (they also give them on the day but you need to tell them your name). So you’re penning the duck(s) now and when they are all penned (make sure they are in the right pens) you can go around and put vaseline or baby oil on their bills, legs, feet and also for muscovies the red stuff. After your done you have to leave or at least go out as penning time should end soon.
Vaseline
Collecting the ducks back
So the show is now over and you’re here to pick up the ducks. Now you need your paper which has your name on it and your pens that you put the ducks on that you should’ve had the day you took them in, now you find a member who should be unpenning birds with people and wait until one comes to you then give them the paper and they should take you to the pens where the ducks are. After each one is unpenned they tick the paper. Also if you have won any awards you will be taking them too. After it’s all done and the ducks are all loaded up and you have your awards you need to help clean out the pens (this may not be for all areas).
I hope this has helped anyone who plans on showing ducks, does already show ducks or is just interested.
Chirpy my Mallard Drake at a show
Preparing for ducks
When getting ducks both not for showing and for showing you want to make sure you have got a duck which works for you. But first you should check the laws and councils in your area to make sure you can keep ducks.
Next it’s time to get some ducks if you don’t have any yet. For first time duck keepers you should make sure you know what ducks need, to do this you can check out other threads in the BYC community, read some books or go on some websites. Once you have everything ready for your webbed legged friends now it’s time to find a breed for you.
Some threads for anyone who wants to start with ducks:
INTRODUCTION TO KEEPING DUCKS by jtn42248: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introduction-to-keeping-ducks.67402/
How To Raise Ducks For Meat, Eggs, Companions by catcrazy632: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-raise-ducks-for-meat-eggs-companions-❤.67215/
Raising Ducklings To Ducks by DuckLady0427:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/raising-ducklings-to-ducks.68180/
Getting the right breed
So your ready to get some ducks now, first you should research on the breed(s) your interested in. Once you’ve finished your research you can find someone who has some of the breed, for this I recommend you get some off breeders who show their birds as they should know a lot about how the breed should look. But if you can’t it’s ok but just make sure you know what the breeds size is, what their standard is and importantly what a healthy duck looks like/ behaves. After getting the ducks make sure you give them time to settle in to their new home.
Finding a show
Now you have your ducks and you want to see when and where a show is. I started showing at local show first and still go to the shows in that area. What you should do is start with local and go further and further when you get more experience. When you find a show you want to enter birds into look on their website and find and print a entry form and fill out your details and then your ducks classes. Then you will need to mail it or hand it in with money. Also this is a good time to join in a local poultry club.
One of my entry forms:
Preparing for Show
So you now have a show in a few weeks and your ducks aren’t the best being handled, use this time to get them used to being handled. Google up a duck showmanship demonstration (this isn’t what your doing but similar to how the duck is going to be handled when being judged) and practice this with your duck(s), this is also a good time to get them pen trained.
Duck Showmanship Demonstration by poultrycrazy:
So you have to take the ducks into the show in a few days or tomorrow now is a good time to wash them. You should let the ducks wash themselves then get them and wash there bills, legs and feet. Note: if you have any white breeds you should keep them in a clean area where they can’t get poo or mud on them so they stay clean, as they get easily stained. After they are all clean, put them in a pen where they can’t get all dirty.
Penning the ducks
Today you are taking the ducks to get penned, remember to bring some baby oil or Vaseline and most importantly your paper that you get to pen the birds (they also give them on the day but you need to tell them your name). So you’re penning the duck(s) now and when they are all penned (make sure they are in the right pens) you can go around and put vaseline or baby oil on their bills, legs, feet and also for muscovies the red stuff. After your done you have to leave or at least go out as penning time should end soon.
Vaseline
Collecting the ducks back
So the show is now over and you’re here to pick up the ducks. Now you need your paper which has your name on it and your pens that you put the ducks on that you should’ve had the day you took them in, now you find a member who should be unpenning birds with people and wait until one comes to you then give them the paper and they should take you to the pens where the ducks are. After each one is unpenned they tick the paper. Also if you have won any awards you will be taking them too. After it’s all done and the ducks are all loaded up and you have your awards you need to help clean out the pens (this may not be for all areas).
I hope this has helped anyone who plans on showing ducks, does already show ducks or is just interested.
