Virtual Poultry Show! A Day at the Northeastern Poultry Congress

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Virtual Poultry Show, Bantam Splash Sikie
The Northeastern Poultry Congress is held in Massachusetts annually and, as fate would have it, it’s only a fifteen minute drive from my house!

Mr. Chicken Chick and I packed up two vehicles for our booth and headed to the show first thing in the morning. The day was filled with major feathered eye-candy, chatting with old and new peeps and catching up with several sponsors and we returned home with three new flock members.

The American Poultry Association provides information to locate shows nationwide here. Do try to catch one if you’ve never been- they are a real treat. I regret that I was unable to clone myself- I ran out of time to see all of the breeds in the competition, catch most of the presenters who attended and speak with all of the peeps that gathered at my booth to say hello, but did the best I could and am happy to share a peek at the day’s events. Virtual Poultry Show, A Day at the Northeastern Poultry Congress Northeastern Poultry Congress, West Springfield, MA 2014

4-H students showing their birds — Some of the junior chicken-keepers showing their peeps

I caught a small portion of a riveting presentation by Dr. Michael Darre. Dr. Darre is a Professor of Animal Science at my alma mater, the University of Connecticut & the Department of Agriculture Extension Poultry Specialist for Connecticut & New England.
Dr. Michael Darre, Poultry Expert from the University of Connecticut Each wire cage at the show is labelled with a “Coop Tag,” which contains a great deal of information about the bird, including breed, sex, the chicken-keeper/exhibitor’s identifying number and more. To learn how to read a Coop Tag, visit the Northeastern Poultry Congress’ how-to here. I relied upon the Coop Tags to help identify the birds below, I apologize in advance if I got any of the identifying information wrong. I did the best I could in rushed circumstances. (Mr. Chicken Chick was texting me to return to our booth!) To learn more about many of the breeds that follow, I have provided clickable links to additional information.
How to read a Coop Tag at a poultry show

Junior exhibitor with his Serama cockerel — Tanner, a young exhibitor and his Serama cockerel

Black Langshan Pullet — Black Langshan pullet

Virtual Poultry Show, A Day at the Northeastern Poultry Congress — Black Langshan cock

Bantam WHITE CRESTED BLUE POLISH COCKEREL — Bantam White Crested Blue Polish cockerel

The following photos are of double-tufted, rumpless, true Araucanas and they made my heart skip a beat. They were amazing! Read what makes them special in my article here.
Black Araucana

Black Araucana chicken double tufted, rumpless
Black Araucana double tufted, rumpless chicken
True Araucana chicken, double tufted and rumpless