I knew there was quite a bit of interest in rabbits and poultry at this fair (middle of 4H country and mostly farms instead of city folks). But I was NOT prepared for the number of rabbits and poultry. Holy moly. I didn't take many pictures inside because lighting was REALLY poor (cloudy day, with minimal lights inside the barns...and the cages just weren't conducive to getting good pictures of rabbits) and I didn't want to use a flash without knowing if it would disturb the animals...so...I just looked.
This is the JUNIOR poultry barn..HALF of it. The chickens were mostly on tables, with ducks and geese underneath..Chickens 2 high, 18" to 2' cages (smaller for bantams), stacked 2 high. lordy that's a lot of crowing and clucking.
quite a few Bantams (12" cages) but the vast majority of the poultry was normal farm sized birds..LOADS of turkeys, which is unusual at the fairs here. And ducks and geese! good lord!
The 4-H show rabbits had a barn just as large, with 5 double sided tables...34cages each side...so that's approx. 340 rabbits. PLUS a Cavy section. HOWEVER....at least 2 full tables were lops
..another 1/4 were Rex. A few rare breeds, like this Havana
I must say...the rex are REALLY gorgeous. Oh yes...there were quite a few Satins, too. ONE angora. ONE! and he was in horrible shape..I couldn't believe anyone would enter a fiber rabbit with MATS! Unless he was supposed to be used as a "how to groom a fiber rabbit", it was really disgusting.
The "open" barn rabbits were, again, a lot of lops and rex...but that's where we found the Californians and New Zelands. Also the "fryer" pens. And I have now seen my first Giant Flemish buck. Again, no picture, but he FILLED his cage.
The only judging that day was junior showmanship, so not a lot of people around to talk to in the rabbit area, sadly. The showmanship was interesting to watch...hehehe...there were 2 types of kids..those in normal "kid" dress, and those who mom had dressed in "professional" looks
Have to include a picture of the lamb barn. LOTS of meat sheep...but the best of show, in my humble opinion, was this pair My jammies aren't NEARLY so cool looking!
The rest of the day was spent watching some classes in the steer and heifer sections, some lamb showing, and then wandering through the food and crafts sections. LOTS to look at. Oh..and the rides and games and FOOD!
This is the JUNIOR poultry barn..HALF of it. The chickens were mostly on tables, with ducks and geese underneath..Chickens 2 high, 18" to 2' cages (smaller for bantams), stacked 2 high. lordy that's a lot of crowing and clucking.
quite a few Bantams (12" cages) but the vast majority of the poultry was normal farm sized birds..LOADS of turkeys, which is unusual at the fairs here. And ducks and geese! good lord!
The 4-H show rabbits had a barn just as large, with 5 double sided tables...34cages each side...so that's approx. 340 rabbits. PLUS a Cavy section. HOWEVER....at least 2 full tables were lops
..another 1/4 were Rex. A few rare breeds, like this Havana
I must say...the rex are REALLY gorgeous. Oh yes...there were quite a few Satins, too. ONE angora. ONE! and he was in horrible shape..I couldn't believe anyone would enter a fiber rabbit with MATS! Unless he was supposed to be used as a "how to groom a fiber rabbit", it was really disgusting.
The "open" barn rabbits were, again, a lot of lops and rex...but that's where we found the Californians and New Zelands. Also the "fryer" pens. And I have now seen my first Giant Flemish buck. Again, no picture, but he FILLED his cage.
The only judging that day was junior showmanship, so not a lot of people around to talk to in the rabbit area, sadly. The showmanship was interesting to watch...hehehe...there were 2 types of kids..those in normal "kid" dress, and those who mom had dressed in "professional" looks
Have to include a picture of the lamb barn. LOTS of meat sheep...but the best of show, in my humble opinion, was this pair My jammies aren't NEARLY so cool looking!
The rest of the day was spent watching some classes in the steer and heifer sections, some lamb showing, and then wandering through the food and crafts sections. LOTS to look at. Oh..and the rides and games and FOOD!