Getting started may seem overwhelming at first, especially if you’ve never shown animals or joined a 4-H club before. But with the right guidance, your family can move from “chicken curious” to confident show participants in just a few seasons.

Here’s everything you need to know to start your 4-H poultry journey and get ready for your very first poultry show.

Step 1: Join Your Local 4-H Program

The first step is finding and enrolling in your local 4-H chapter. You can search through your state’s Cooperative Extension office or 4-H website. Most counties have a dedicated 4-H agent or coordinator who can connect you with a club near you.

When you join, choose “Poultry” as your project area. If poultry isn’t listed in your local program, you can often still pursue it as a self-directed project with your agent’s support.

Most clubs offer:

• Monthly meetings

• Access to project books and materials

• Local workshops or clinics

• Opportunities to participate in county and state fairs

Ask about deadlines for registration, especially if you want to show at the next fair season.

Step 2: Choose Your Poultry Project

4-H poultry projects are flexible and can be tailored to your family’s goals and space.

Options include:

• Raising laying hens (egg production)

• Raising meat birds (broilers)

• Showing fancy or heritage breeds (like Silkies, Polish, or Wyandottes)

• Hatching chicks and learning about embryology

• Learning poultry science, anatomy, or nutrition through non-animal projects

Many beginners start with a small flock of egg-laying hens or a single show-quality bird. Your project can be as simple or complex as you like.

Step 3: Select Your Bird(s)

If your child wants to show a chicken, the bird must usually meet the standards for its breed and age category. Show birds should be healthy, well-groomed, and of known lineage whenever possible.

You can find birds through:

• Local breeders familiar with show-quality stock

• Poultry shows or fairs

• Hatcheries that sell exhibition lines

• Fellow 4-H families

For showmanship practice, even a regular backyard hen can be a great place to start. Don’t worry about perfection early on—what matters most is the learning process.

Step 4: Learn Basic Poultry Care

Once you have your bird(s), your child will need to take full responsibility for their care. This includes:

• Feeding a proper diet (starter, grower, or layer feed depending on age)

• Providing clean water daily

• Keeping the coop or cage clean and dry

• Monitoring health and behavior

• Socializing and handling their bird gently

Good husbandry is the foundation of any successful 4-H poultry project. Kids should get in the habit of doing daily chores, keeping records, and observing their animals closely.

Step 5: Practice Showmanship Skills

In 4-H poultry shows, kids don’t just show their bird—they show what they know. Showmanship is judged separately from the bird’s breed quality and focuses on the handler’s skills, confidence, and knowledge.

To prepare, kids should practice:

• Handling the bird calmly: removing it from a cage, holding it securely, and placing it on a show table

• Examining the bird: checking feathers, eyes, beak, feet, and vent while explaining what they’re looking for

• Answering questions: such as breed characteristics, diet, egg production, or common poultry diseases

Showmanship classes may be available locally, or your 4-H agent can help you find videos and guides.

Step 6: Prepare for the Show

In the weeks leading up to a fair or poultry show:

• Bathe and groom your bird if needed (gently washing feathers and drying thoroughly)

• Trim nails and check for mites or injuries

• Practice handling daily so the bird stays calm in public

• Pack supplies: comb and brush, waterer, feed, cage decorations (if allowed), paperwork, and a chair for long days

Make sure you check the rules of your fair or show in advance. Some have requirements for vet checks, vaccinations, or arrival times.

On show day, arrive early, stay organized, and encourage your child to enjoy the experience. Even if they don’t win a ribbon, they’ve already accomplished something big.

Step 7: Reflect and Grow

After the show, 4-H encourages kids to reflect on what they learned and where they can improve. Did the bird behave well? Were there questions they couldn’t answer? What would they do differently next time?

These reflections help children set goals for the next project year—and build lifelong learning habits.

Ready to Begin?

Starting a 4-H poultry project is more than just a hobby. It’s an investment in your child’s personal development, self-esteem, and knowledge of animals. Whether they raise a single hen or a whole flock, they’ll gain skills that last long after the show ribbons fade.

So grab a feed scoop, clean out that coop, and get ready to learn side-by-side with your child. The 4-H journey is full of feathers, friendships, and fantastic growth—one chicken at a time.