[Bionic]

I am thinking of showing half a dozen eggs at my local show. The problem is the schedule doesn't say how they should be staged.
Paper plate/china plate/bowl.basket?
Sand/sawdust/straw etc
I have tried googling and haven't come up with much.
thanks

[mowhaugh]

I am certainly no expert, I only show eggs at my local show, but there it is a round, white plate, as flat as possible, paper is OK but don't know if that's the case everywhere, and then sawdust.

Good luck!

[Victorian Farmer]

http://www.poultryclub.org/eggs/showing-eggs/                              http://www.smallholder.co.uk/poultry/1238456.egg/                                http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1809                                           ok bionic this will help you    marran eggs do well as cream legbar try and get 3 the same .Most impotant is a good green field so when you open the eggs they look good inside .If you go for showing eggs you could build a flok for this people will wont youre eggs .Dark brown eggs would be worth it all the best.

[darkbrowneggs]

I have never shown eggs, but loved producing stock which laid showable eggs.  What mowhaugh says is generally right, and I would guess the plates and sawdust are provided


What the judges will (or should) be looking for is matching eggs, so do make sure that all your eggs are as near the same size shape and colour as possible, and rub your fingers over the shell as they will be looking for a perfect texture.  Nice thick smooth shelled eggs will normally perform better than thin shelled eggs.


This is a link to the Poultry Club Website Egg Showing page


PS Victorian Farmer and I were typing at the same time, but I got sidetracked   


http://www.poultryclub.org/eggs/showing-eggs/


Good luck 

[Bionic]

I would like to show the maran eggs as the are a lovely colour but quite often they look a bit 'damaged', thats probably not the right word but the shells wouldn't necessarily feel smooth although the dark eggs always have thick shells.
I only have 2 marans and need to show 6 eggs so will be on the look out about a week beforehand (show in on 15th Aug) to see if I can get 6 that look good enough.
 
thanks for the links

[darkbrowneggs]

As I say, I have never shown eggs, but occasionally got to go to some of the major shows.  A couple of years ago I made it to The National


Now I am a very "law abiding" personality, and I know you are not supposed to touch any of the exhibits and one of the very dark single eggs which had been entered looked so "old" that in the end all my inhibitions went out of the window and I just had to pick it up.  It had been entered by a well know and respected exhibitor, and if I said it was at least 6 mths old I would not be exaggerating


I certainly wouldnt suggest you do that but bearing in mind that eggs are still suitable for incubation for up to 3 weeks and they reckon most of the supermarket eggs are around 2 mths old, then I don't think it would be unreasonable to keep back nice looking eggs for a month or even maybe 5 weeks prior to the show


I would think that a cellar or cool dampish garage or pantry and store them in the fibre egg boxes, as if they are dark shelled it is imperative they are kept away from daylight which will fade the shells


Then having got a good selection of eggs to choose from, I have heard the experienced showers draw a line on some white lining paper and then set their eggs out on the kitchen table to select those nearest matching in size shape and colour.  Make sure you rub your fingers over the shell, especially the narrow end at the bottom as that is where there are most likely to be shell imperfections.


Good luck  [size=78%] [/size]

[fiestyredhead331]

our local show its paper plate and sand for display, I now need to go through this weeks eggs to find 4 that match 

[leaswood]

i have never showed but i was at the Oswestry show at the weekend and it was small 8" plate (paper) and sand showing three eggs mainly. On the plates that the eggs were broken there was no sand..

[darkbrowneggs]

That would have been the class for       "Contents - One Egg"

[Bionic]

Some great tips there DBE, thanks

[Victorian Farmer]

in my time i have sold lots of eggs and had some good eggs the best eggs iv ever had was black rock good size shape etc .Wish you all good luck .Naw Marians are coming to Scotland who nows Whit will win all the best .I WISH DARK BROWN EGGS the best in travels and a safe trip .

[Big Light]

Start off by preparing the nest box and shed fine shavings in the nest box and a clean shed /clean entrance to shed (use a slab if it muddy)

Grab all the eggs you can and store in a cool dark location freshest eggs are best and judges can break eggs at their discretion (although few do)

Eggs should be oval not round and match each other as best as you can
All eggs from same hen or hens of same age is easiest
Use a white paper plate to do your selection as that is what they will be seen on
Biggest isn't always best but a reasonable size will beat a smaller egg if all are equally matching
6 is a nightmare to try and match so don't worry if you can't just get as close as you can poultry club shows have plates of 3 for this reason
They should hopefully be clean but if not give them a wipe rather than wash it
Eggs should be smooth without any folds or marks
Occasionally 6 eggs can be shown in the egg box but it depends on the show
And finally take a spare egg to the show in case of disasters

[shygirl]

we showed eggs once but were the only entry so obviously won hands down! funny thing was i had put them on the wrong plate so they won "best white eggs" even though they should have been "best brown eggs"...lol.
they were on a paper plate with sawdust. they need to be identical aswell as a good shape/colour. goodluck

[funkyfish]

I'd never thought of showing eggs! I saw them being shown at the Honiton show, and it looked great. How can I find out about local shows for next year? We have Cream Legbars (not show standard but lay a fab bright blue egg) so would love to show them.


Hubby wants to show chickens but I worry about he disease risk as we have a closed flock and no where to isolate birds properly.

[Bionic]

It seems that every little village here (Carmarthenshire) has a show. There is more or less one each weekend in summer. The eggs are shown in the domestic produce section so along with my jar of jam and jar of chutney I thought I might just as well show some eggs