The 2020 Northeastern Poultry Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts
I have some new feathered friends here at my Bedford, New York farm.
Last weekend, I attended the 2020 Northeastern Poultry Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts - a poultry show held every year at the Eastern States Exposition Center. The event features three-thousand birds, including large fowl, waterfowl, turkeys, pigeons, Guineas, and of course, a variety of wonderful breed chickens. I attended the show last year and had so much fun, I couldn’t wait to return. It’s a great way to learn about these fascinating birds and to build relationships with knowledgeable, passionate breeders. I purchased two Rhode Island Reds, six Partridge Plymouth Rock Bantams, two White Plymouth Rocks, two White Cochin Bantams, two Sumatras, four Faverolles, two Brown Parlor Pigeons and two African Geese.
Enjoy these photos.
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- The Northeastern Poultry Congress holds its annual poultry show every January. Various breeds are exhibited and judged for ribbons and prizes. It is a very popular and well-attended event.
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- More than 1400-chicken breeds were shows – some with gorgeous markings and feathers. This is a non-bearded White Crested Black Polish pullet – a unique breed with its huge bouffant crest of feathers and v-shaped comb. These birds are sweet, beautiful exhibition birds and can be good layers in the backyard flock.
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- The birds are judged against others of the same color, sex, and age. They are also judged based on variety and breed. In the end, chickens compete against large fowl and waterfowl.
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- Prior to poultry shows, these birds are carefully bathed and groomed – every feather is in place.
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- This is a single-comb White Leghorn hen. This breed is very prolific – hens lay large, white eggs consistently almost every day.
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- Here is a Red Pyle Modern Game cockerel. This breed has beautiful red and white feathers and is known for its docile nature. They are very easy to handle and maintain and are very impressive show birds.
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- This large fowl is a Red Shoulder Yokohama. The Yokohama is a German breed, with unusual coloring and very long tail-feathers. The breed was developed in the 1880s from ornamental birds brought to Europe from Japan.
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- In this cage – a cream Brabanter. The Brabanter breed originated in the historic region of Brabant in the Netherlands. It is an attractive bird with its narrow, flattened crest, and its three-cornered beard. The recognized colors include black, blue, white cuckoo, gold, silver, chamois, and cream.
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- I also stopped to look at the fancy show pigeons. As many of you know, I also keep rare and unusual pigeons at my farm. This is a Silver Grizzle Back, known for the curls on the wing shield feathers.
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- These are Black East Indie ducks. They are among the most popular bantam ducks at poultry shows. They tend to be much quieter than call ducks and are friendly and easy to keep.
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- My friend, Ari Katz, on the right, and his Wyandotte breeding partner, Tom Roebuck, won Reserve Champion of the entire show – second out of three-thousand!
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- Here is a closer look at Ari’s and Tom’s gorgeous award-winning white Wyandotte hen. The Wyandotte is an American breed of chicken developed in the 1870s. It was named for the indigenous Wyandot people of North America. The Wyandotte is a dual-purpose breed. It is a popular show bird and has many color variants.
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- Sisters, Heather and Laura Candea also had winning poultry – Rhode Island Reds. Rhode Island Reds were created in America in the late 1800s as another dual-purpose fowl, meaning they were used for their eggs and their meat.
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- The Rhode Island Red is also the state bird of Rhode Island – elected to this honored position in 1954.
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- Here is the large awards table at one end of the Mallory Complex in the Eastern States Exposition Center.
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- My friend, Christopher Spitzmiller, also attended the event. Christopher loves Golden Buff Orpingtons – in fact, he shows and breeds them himself. This year, Christopher brought home one Buff Orpington hen and one Ameraucana rooster.
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- Here I am with Christopher and one of my new chickens.
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- Unfortunately, Christopher’s rooster and hen did not want to share the same crate on the way home, so the rooster road “shotgun” on Christopher’s lap – he was quite happy the entire ride.
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- Ari, his friend Rachel and I stopped for a quick photo after loading up my car for my ride home. Ari and Rachael have known each other since they were very young. Rachel’s dad sold me six beautiful Partridge Rock Bantams and two White Plymouth Rock large fowl pullets.
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- Back at my Bedford, New York farm, I always keep the newest birds in the first coop, where they are most visible and can be kept separated from the others until they are fully acclimated to the new surroundings.
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- Inside the coop, one of my two white Plymouth Rock large fowl hens is resting comfortably – she looks like she feels right at home.
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- Nearby were these two new Partridge Plymouth Rock Bantams.
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- The rooster on the right is a Faverolle. The Faverolle is a French breed developed in the 1860s in north-central France. They are very unique looking with their muffs, beards, and feathered feet. These birds are very friendly and curious.
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- The Faverolle hens are beautiful, with snowy breasts and fluffy white faces. Their backs are a lovely honeyed salmon color with white lacing.
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- And this is my new pair of Brown African Geese – a breed of domestic goose derived from the wild swan goose. The African goose is a massive bird. Its heavy body, thick neck, stout bill, and jaunty posture give the impression of strength and vitality – they will all be great additions to my beautiful flock.
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