How to Get Started in Exhibition Poultry in Australia: A Beginner's Guide

Thinking about diving into the world of exhibition poultry? You're in good company. Showing chickens is one of Australia's oldest agricultural traditions, with poultry competitions at the Sydney Royal Easter Show dating back to 1858. It's a hobby that rewards patience, attention to detail, and a genuine love of the birds, and once you're in, it tends to stick.

Here's how to get started.

Step 1: Choose a Breed You Love

The single most important decision you'll make as a new exhibitor is which breed to commit to. Exhibition poultry is a long game. A serious breeding program takes years to develop, so choosing a breed you genuinely love matters more than chasing what's winning at shows right now.

That said, some practical considerations are worth thinking through:

It will likely be easier to start with a breed that has a well-established showing history in Australia. The Australian Poultry Standards covers over 85 breeds of fowl, bantams, ducks, geese, turkeys, and guinea fowl. Breeds with strong exhibition communities, like Langshans, Light Sussex, Leghorns, Australorps, and Pekin Bantams, tend to have more shows with open classes, more experienced breeders to learn from, and a deeper pool of quality breeding stock to start with. Rarer breeds are gaining popularity in the show ring, but good advice and experienced breeders can be harder to find while you're still learning.

Consider whether softfeather or hardfeather suits you. Softfeather breeds (Leghorns, Sussex, Orpingtons, Silkies) are generally the starting point for most new exhibitors. Hardfeather breeds (Old English Game, Australian Game) are judged very differently and reward a different kind of eye. Know which world you're entering.

Think practically about housing and space. Some breeds need more room, more specialist housing, or more careful management. Before you fall for a breed, make sure you can actually give it what it needs.

Resist the urge to collect breeds early on. Focus on one, maybe two, and give them your full attention. Mastering a single breed, its standard, its quirks, its bloodlines, takes years of careful observation and selection. Spread yourself across four or five breeds from the start and you'll likely master none of them. Get good at one first. There will always be time to add another later.

Step 2: Do Your Homework on Breed Standards

Once you've chosen your breed, the Australian Poultry Standards is the first thing you read and keep reading. It defines the ideal characteristics, conformation, and markings for every recognised breed in Australia. It's what judges use. It's what experienced breeders breed to. It's the benchmark everything else is measured against.

Breed standards vary significantly between breeds. For example there are 10 head points available for a Light Sussex but 28 head points for a Leghorn. Understanding exactly what a judge is looking for in your chosen breed before you enter your first show is the difference between walking in informed and walking in guessing.

Beyond the standards, join online communities and forums where exhibitors discuss specific breeds. Read show results. Attend shows as a spectator before you enter as a competitor. Watch what wins and try to understand why.

Step 3: Find a Mentor

There's a limit to what you can learn from books and observation alone. Finding an experienced exhibitor who's willing to share their knowledge is one of the most valuable things a new breeder can do, and the exhibition poultry community in Australia is, broadly speaking, a generous one.

Poultry clubs are the natural starting point. The Exhibition Poultry Association of NSW and its equivalents in each state run events, maintain judge and breeder registers, and provide a direct connection to the wider exhibition community. Turning up to a local club night or attending a show as a spectator is often enough to make the first introductions.

A good mentor will help you read a bird against the standard, give you honest feedback on your breeding selections, and save you from the kind of mistakes that set a breeding program back by a generation. Don't underestimate how much that's worth.

Step 4: Source Quality Birds From a Reputable Breeder

The birds you start with set the ceiling on what your program can achieve. Buying well-started, exhibition-quality birds from a reputable breeder who breeds to the Australian Poultry Standards is essential. A breeder who's competed at major shows, keeps proper records, and is honest about what they're selling is worth seeking out, even if it means waiting for availability.

What you're buying when you buy from a serious breeder isn't just a bird. It's bloodlines developed over years, a breeding program that's been tested at shows, and access to the knowledge of someone who's done the work. That's a very different starting point to buying from a hatchery or a general poultry seller.

Step 5: Start Local and Build From There

Your first shows don't need to be major events. Local agricultural shows and poultry club competitions are where most exhibitors develop their skills, and they're genuinely valuable for that reason. The competition might not be as fierce as at a Royal show or national event, but the learning is real. You'll get judge feedback, see how your birds compare to others in the class, and start building the experience and reputation that matters at bigger shows.

Every show is a chance to improve your preparation, your eye for a good bird, and your understanding of what it takes to compete at the next level. Don't rush to the Royal Easter Show in your first season. Get a few local and regional events under your belt first.

The Exhibition Poultry Community

One of the things most new exhibitors don't expect is how much they'll enjoy the people. The poultry show community in Australia is full of enthusiasts who've been doing this for decades and are largely happy to talk about breeds, bloodlines, preparation, and results with anyone who shows genuine interest. Go to shows, introduce yourself, ask questions. That's how this community has always worked.

We're Here If You Want to Talk Birds

We love sharing our exhibition poultry journey and connecting with fellow enthusiasts. Follow our adventures on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the shows we attend, our results, and behind-the-scenes from the breeding program.

After a quality bird to start your program with, or have questions about getting into exhibition poultry? Join our Exhibition Poultry Waitlist to get exclusive access to our Annual Stud Release.