Preparing and Giving Oral Reasons for Poultry Judging

Preparing and Giving Oral Reasons for Poultry Judging Competitions at the State and National Level by Kristina Koranek

Outline § § § § Judging Tips Preparing Your Reasons Things to Say or Do While Giving Reasons Things Not to Say or Do While Giving Reasons Scoring Factors A Good Set of Reasons Summary

Tips: Know What You’re Looking For § Pigment Loss § Vent § Eye ring § Ear lobe- (although in list it only bleaches on rare occasions!) don’t judge by it § Beak § Bottom of the foot § Entire shank § Tops of the hocks and toes

Tips: Know What You’re Looking For (cont. ) § Handling Qualities § Sharp, pliable pubic bones vs. dull and thick § Soft, full abdomen (not fat) vs. hard and tight § Abdominal Capacity § Size of spread § Measure by # of fingers (width by depth) § Molt § How many feathers has she lost if any?

Additional Tips § Usually good to group hens into pairs before handling them § Be Gentle with the hens § Could result in broken pubic bones or sprung joints § Keep track of time - use your time wisely § You only have 9 -10 minutes § Remember that you are working with up to 3 other people so judge the hen available

Tips: Written Notes § Learn to take good written notes § Make a table that allows for easy comparison § Use detail words so you can tell the hens apart § But stay brief so you don’t waste time § Your notes should be written § Fast but still readable (understandable shorthand) § So that you don’t get confused and make up details § Be sure that’s the way the hen really is (e. g. Did you really see her? )

Good Chart #1 - Full Table Placing _ _

Good Chart #2 - 1 Bird Table

Bad Chart #1 Placing _ _ Need better descriptions for handling qualities Need something to jog your memory for molt

Bad Chart #2

Preparing Your Reasons § § Preparing means silent practice You will have about 10 -20 minutes Take your notes from judging Compare pairs - top, middle, bottom pair

Preparing Your Reasons § § § § § Greeting Contest Number Your Placing Top pair Middle pair Bottom pair Last bird Repeat your placing Any Questions?

Preparing Your Reasons (continued) § Think how you separated your pairs § Judges want to know reasons § Compare the pair characteristics together

Things to Say/Do While Giving Reasons § § § Look at the Judges Smile Relax, with serious countenance Talk clearly, loudly Be confident, convincing § You are the authority figure

Things to Say/Do While Giving Reasons (continued) § § § Respect the judges Give contestant number Compare difficulty placing the pairs § Hard top pair § Difficult middle pair § Easy bottom pair

Things to Say/Do While Giving Reasons (continued) § If you forget § Pause, rethink what was just said, and then continue § Remember the 2 minute time limit for presenting

What Not to Say/Do While Giving Reasons § Don’t § Memorize AC numbers (describe by comparison) § Noticeably shift your weight § Let your eyes wander § Talk softly or too loudly § Have a question in your voice § Fill silence with gibberish

What Not to Say/Do While Giving Reasons (continued) § Don’t § Say who you are § Say where you’re from § Take more than the allotted 2 minutes § Talk about anything other than the 4 hens

Scoring Factors Appearance and Delivery (24 points) § Did the contestant § Stand still and face judge? § Speak loud and clearly? § Have an appropriate opening and closing sentence? § Speak smoothly without long pauses? § Have confidence and was he or she convincing?

Scoring Factors Proper Use of Terms (20 points) § Did the contestant § Mention important factors? § Use terms properly? § Understand terms used? § Define asked terms?

Scoring Factors Accuracy of Statement (20 points) § Did the contestant § Really see hens? § Statements ring true, half-true, or false?

Scoring Factors Completeness of Coverage (36 points) § Did the contestant discuss § Why they placed one bird over the other? § Crucial differences? § All there was to tell of importance?

A Good Set of Reasons

Summary (continued) § Don’t talk about anything other than the hens § Remember the scoring factors § This is a great learning experience! § So have fun!