The 2026 Northeastern Poultry Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts
If you're interested in raising chickens or just love learning about all the different and fascinating breeds, find a poultry show near you! Whenever my schedule allows, I always try to attend the annual Northeastern Poultry Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The event is held every year at the Eastern States Exposition Center and features more than three-thousand birds, including large fowl, waterfowl, turkeys, pigeons, Guineas, and of course, a variety of wonderful breed chickens. It’s a great way to see beautiful chickens up close and to build relationships with knowledgeable, passionate breeders. There are also informative seminars offered on different topics, and an area for vendors of good, nutritious feed, and other supplies. This year, I brought home 13 birds including Araucanas, Silkies, Sultans, Crested Polish, Buff Orpingtons, and Rhode Island Reds.
Enjoy these photos.
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- The Northeastern Poultry Congress holds its show every January. I have been making the trip for several years – it is a very popular and well-attended event. All the show birds are exhibited and judged in the Mallory Complex of the Expo Center.
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- Poultry shows are family-friendly and allow visitors to see both traditional and new breeds. The first poultry show in the United States was in 1854, before there were even standards for showing.
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- Visitors are able to see the various breeds up close in their crates. Each cage is tagged with the bird’s breed, color or variety, and gender.
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- These birds are very accustomed to traveling and being shown. Breeders and exhibitors take excellent care of their birds.
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- This is a non-bearded White Crested Black Polish pullet. A pullet is a young hen under one year old.
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- Here’s my friend and fellow poultry fancier, Christopher Spitzmiller. We love attending this annual event whenever we can.
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- This year, I brought home 13 beautiful chickens. Once they arrive at the farm, the chickens are placed in an enclosure designated for new birds. They will be mixed in with the rest of my flock later.
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- Here is a black Araucana hen. She is stunning! And her eggs have pale blue shells.
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- White Polish roosters are quite handsome with their dramatic top crests and long legs.
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- Here is the white Polish rooster in front of a white Silkie rooster.
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- This is a white Sultan rooster – a rare and very old ornamental breed once loved by rulers of Turkey. It has pure white feathering with a dramatic bright red comb.
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- This large rooster is a Buff Orpington. Its color is often described as gold. They were introduced from England in the 1800s and are very popular among poultry fanciers here in the US.
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- I always have at least several Silkies in my flock. This is a black splash Silkie hen. The Silkie, also known as the Silky or Chinese silk chicken, is soft to the touch – like silk – and so friendly.
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- The Silkie’s head is small with a crest of feathers on top. These birds come in a variety of colors including black, blue, buff, gray, splash, and white.
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- Naked neck chickens are unique breeds characterized by the featherless necks. They are gentle, hardy, and have nice temperaments.
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- The White Crested Black Polish is known for its fun and unique appearance, friendly temperament and excellent egg-laying capabilities. It has lustrous black plumage and a distinctive white “top hat.”
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- Rhode Island Reds are also striking birds. This is a rooster. This breed is known for its hardiness and friendly disposition. One can see its deep colored plumage. Their combs and wattles are bright red and significantly larger than the hen’s.
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- Nearby is this Rhode Island Red hen. She is an excellent egg layer and can produce 200-300 brown eggs per year.
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- I have always loved raising chickens and other fowl – not only for their beauty, but also for their great companionship. I have more than 100 different chickens of various breeds at my farm.
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- If you want to learn more about raising chickens, geese, pigeons and other birds, I encourage you to attend a poultry show near you – you’ll love it.
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