[dyedinthewool]

Brilliant idea , how about we post our photos and forum members get to judge them on a points system , the monthly winner's photo gets made into a calendar for the following year and sold for MacMillan Nurses or Cancer research. ?

I'm all for it, you show me your's and I'll show you mine.!

I'll second that.  bet mines floppier than yours

[Dan]

We can do this I think. 

Can someone volunteer as the show organiser please? We'll need a list of classes, some rules and a points system. The Poultry Club of Ireland had an online show earlier this year and you can read their rules and classes here:

http://www.poultryclubofireland.com/onlineshow2011.htm

I'll sort out the photo upload and voting next week. 

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks Dan,

   i will have a look at it over the weekend and post something next week.

Buffy

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Ok,

   how about this idea...,

    We have one class per month, only one entry per class judged by forum members who kindly volunteer their services. My suggestions for the classes are,

cutest chick

most handsom cock

most promising cockeril

cheakiest hen

best before and after

prettiest pullet

best cross breed

best rare breed

I am happy to judge a class which means I need 7 more judges.  Do bear in mind when judging a class that you cannot enter the class your self. 

Classes would be judged to 3rd place with the option of a "Special" rosette at the judges discresion.

Details of the current months class would be posted in the first week of the month by the relevant judge with a closing date of the end of the 3rd week. The judge would then post their decision on the thread at the end of the month.

Let me know what you think....,

Buffy

[Rosemary]

I'm happy to judge.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks Rosemary,

                 If I get the ball rolling with best cross breed as the first class in Dec will you do the Jan one?

Buffy

[Rosemary]

Absolutely 

[Dan]

If I get the ball rolling with best cross breed as the first class in Dec will you do the Jan one?

Okay, I'll try to get it ready for 1st December - will PM you when there's something to test. 

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi Dan,

  I didnt realise that it had some implications for you and the site, lets start it in Jan to give you time to do whatever you need to.

Buffy

[Womble]

Hi Buffy,

Great idea, but I think there are too many classes there at the moment, given that this might take a while to get going.

How about just restricting entries to something like Cutest chick(s), cluckiest hen and handsomist cock?   That would give us all something to go at, and would mean less judging, setting up, and general hassle.  If there are lots of entries, you could award 1st, 2nd, 3rd even, just to make it more interesting.

What do you think?

[bigchicken]

I agree Womble, A case of less is more maybe. I would also give judging a go.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi All,

   thanks for all your enthusiasm with this and all your suggestions.  I dont really mind how we do it as long as its easy to do.

my aim was to give members a chance to celebrate all thier much loved poultry and recognise the qualities that mean so much to the backyard keeper but that would never be recog nised in the show ring.

Dan is all over this and seems to feel that one class a month is achevable and a system could be set up where by the thing can almost run its self.

Im not at all precious about the classes but wanted to provide something for everyone. The best before and after class fer examples will suit those who take on ex bats. The cutest chick one which wold be held in late spring might suit some of our younger members.

Im not sure how many entrants we will get for each class and wouldn't want the judges to be overwhelmed by entries but I guess we we will just see how it goes.

The suggestion of giving prizes is great but again would be another organisational responcibility so its a case of seing just how deliverable that one is.

The idea of the calendar is also great but apart from someone needing to take on the responcibility for arranging this or finding sponsorship for it, It would also mean that the winning birds also had to be the best photographed birds which may not be the case.

I suggest that we do the calandar seperatly and send in our best quality photographs to whoever is coordinating it.

Thanks again to all that have contributed to this thread and thank you too for taking it from an undeveloped idea into a fun and exciting feature of the site and a potential way of raising money for a worthey cause.

Thanks especially to Rosemary and Dan for all the behind the sceens work to make it possibe.

Watch this thread for the next update 

Buffy

[doganjo]

I suggest that we do the calandar seperatly and send in our best quality photographs to whoever is coordinating it.
Buffy

The calendar suggestion and the donations to charity were my ideas - you might have noticed I organised(with the help of Dan and Rosemary, and Calum, our other Judge) a photographic competition this year in aid of the victims of the Japan and New Zealand earthquakes.  We raised over £350 including Gift Aid. 
I organise the calendar for Central Scotland Smallholders Association and the winners of the competition were featured in that calendar, and also received a free copy as a prize.  it is not difficult to do, and although I wouldn't necessarily envisage a whole calendar with only chickens in it, the top winner in each category could be on a feature page outwith the normal months if that would suit?

I'm always looking for new photographs for the calendar anyway, so everyone is welcome to submit them for 2013 from now on.
Annie

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks doganjo,

  that would be great. Perhaps members could send photos of their stock and you could pick 12 of the best. I'm happy to send you some of mine please PM me your email.

Buffy

[little blue]

The best before and after class for example will suit those who take on ex bats.

I thought you meant before as a handsome cockerel... and after as oven-ready or casseroled!!