Everyday Ag

Poultry

Everyday Ag – Audio Tour

Poultry

Everyday Ag – Audio Tour

Welcome to the Wyoming State Fair Poultry Tent!

Chickens are raised primarily for one of two purposes–meat or eggs. Chickens that are bred for meat production are known as “broilers” whereas chickens bred for egg production are referred to as “layers”. Chicken is the second most consumed meat worldwide, coming in just behind pork, and is featured in a wide variety of dishes across many different cultures. Eggs are a multi-use product, either being eaten plain or being used to produce products like baked goods, ice cream, mayonnaise, and even some cosmetics. 

Manure is also a significant by-product of chicken production, commonly used to produce fertilizers. 

Due to their small size and relatively low maintenance, chickens are often raised outside of a commercial setting, populating backyards and producing eggs for households. Many people who raise them personally consider them pets.

Here at the State Fair, chickens are shown divided by their breed ethnicity, meaning that they are shown based on where that breed originated from. The animals are then presented and judged based on their individual breed’s standards. Judges will typically look at things like feather quality and confirmation. 

Chickens tend to get dirty fairly easily, so cleanliness is very important and factors into the judging as well. Because of this and the health of the animals, as you look around you will likely see exhibitors thoroughly cleaning their animals and their cages, as well as caring for the chicken’s basic needs such as food and water.