First Steps

Does raising poultry for exhibition, eggs, or as pets sound interesting to you? Here's how to get started:

Step 1: If you're 7-19 years old, join CT 4-H. Use the chart below to find the Poultry project group in your county and contact the group leader. Not only will 4-H teach you about poultry, you'll meet friends in your area with similar interests, and enjoy the fun of your county fair.

County Group NameGroup Leaders - Email Address

HartfordGranbyGlady Fetzer - ffetzer920@ msn.com
    Scott Thomas - n1st@yahoo.com
 W. HartfordMargaret Schuster - MargaretSc@WestHartford.org

LitchfieldLitchfield County
4-H Poultry
Fanciers
Karen & Bob Owsiany - Owsiany4HNews@AOL.COM

MiddlesexEwe & IAllison Trojanoski - HopeHollow@hotmail.com
Beth Powers - Bethietwin@yahoo.com
  Bunnies & BantamsMaureen Hollis heffmoe@comcast.net

New HavenOxfordLaura Denslow - ladenslow@comcast.net

TollandTranquil Menagerie 4HLiz Henson - hensonmenagerie@comcast.net
  Kristen Hay - tranquilmorningfarm@hotmail.com
 WillingtonBridget Bergeron - jeff8bg@sbcglobal.net

WindhamUCONNMarc Cournoyer - marc.cournoyer@uconn.edu
Click here to submit updates to this CT 4-H Poultry Group list

Step 2: Join the APA/ABA Youth Program. Read the "Standard of Perfection" if you're interested in showing fancy poultry.

Step 3: Go surfing...
www.backyardchickens.com This site has loads of information and a great message board with hundreds of new messages every day. This is also a great place to ask questions if you have an ill bird.
www.feathersite.com This site has pictures of nearly every variety.
Henderson Chicken Chart Chart of all the breeds.
Vist our Links page for additional web sites.

Step 4: Attend and get involved in shows in your area. You'll meet folks that have been in the hobby for years and maybe even someone that will um, take you under their wing.


Youth Showmanship

While Breed competition focuses on the bird's attributes, youth showmanship focuses on you. Showmanship gives you the opportunity to learn and express what you know about preparing your bird for a show, handling your bird, poultry health, and general poultry knowledge. It takes a lot of studying and practice to get good at showmanship, but it's worth it!
UCONN 4-H Showmanship Rules
UCONN 4-H Showmanship Questions
APA Youth Showmanship Junior (8-10) Guidelines
APA Youth Showmanship Intermediate (11-13) Guidelines
APA Youth Showmanship Senior (14+) Guidelines
APA Youth Showmanship Sample Questions
APA Scorecord - 1
APA Scorecord - 2

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