America's National

Indianapolis, Indiana 2006

November 17-18-19

ABA-APA-IWBA Joint National Meets

11,640 chickens entered

I started my trip on Wednesday 16th by loading up 2 white Showgirls and driving to up to the Lake of the Ozarks in gale force winds (no exaggeration here) and rain swirling so hard I was having quite the time holding my little Mini Cooper (simeon) on the road, where I spent the afternoon at my daughters house washing chickens with my granddaughters.

We got up really early Thursday morning loaded up all our birds and headed towards Indiana. The weather was absolutely horrid, but at least the rain was not quite so bad. Or at least for the first hour of driving. Once we got on I44 that all changed. We saw several 18 wheelers jack knifed into the medium from the blowing winds and slick roads from all the rain.

We had another couple following us in their truck and it was quite fun visiting via radio. The twins were in the back of the car knitting & reading. The chickens were very well behaved and waited until we were less than an hour from our destination before letting loose and creating quite "an atmosphere"

My daughter was a BRILLIANT navigator she obviously got those skills from her father and not her mother. I can't find my way out of a brown paper bag and never make a trip with out making several "u" turns. BUT I always get to my destination even if every trip is a new adventure.

We arrived at the State Fair Grounds by 2:30 PM Indianapolis time. We drove right up to the barn where the chicken show is being held. As we drove by there was one big roll up door open and I almost had my eyes fall out of my head. OH MY there is no words to describe what I saw. All I kept saying was WOW! over and over. There was trucks pulling into the barn and unloading and I couldn't believe how big the barn looked. Well forget that. We got out of the car and walked into the barn to find the check in table. Let me just say we entered on the top end of the barn and was told the check in table was at the other end of the barn. The other end of the barn was and I do not joke here.... 1/4 mile away 

First views	hardly any birds yet

The site of all the show cages and people milling around and the noise was just almost overwhelming. I just could not believe what I was seeing. The girls and I were so excited. It did not take us long to navigate the length of the barn (the first time) and it was no time before we had our show numbers and catalogs. Very efficient. I can't praise the Crossroads Poultry Club enough. There hard work and efforts can really be seen.

The girls cooped their silkies with out any problems and then I was going to coop the Showgirls, Oh OH now we have a problem. I can only find one show coop. So I walk the length of the barn again (3rd time that is 3/4 miles) Bill Wulff from the Poultry Press was just brilliant he remembered seeing my tag. Now get this there are 11,640 show tags out there and he remembers mine. After 2 more trips the length of the barn (I am now up to 1-1/4 miles that doesn't include the trips I made outside to get the bird boxes, beauty box etc) The showgirls are not next to one another something that gives me concern but I have been assured that they will be fine and that as soon as the bedlam dies down tonight I will have a coop in the right area for the other showgirl that is at the end of the White Silkie line. It had been entered wrong on the tag and was in with naked neck some other chickens. 

The girls and I set about getting our birds settled in for the night. Water first they were very thirsty. Then food, I almost lost a finger to one of the showgirls who thought her throat had been cut (what a hoot she is such a little pig) Then one more trip down the barn and back (now I am up to 1-3/4 miles oh my legs are beginning to feel it after being cooped in a car all day) After the birds had drank and ate for a while the girls and I went back and added fresh shavings, cleaned their feet and crests, powdered their bums and put vet RX on their beaks, Olive oil on their feet. They are looking good so it is time to find the motel and check in and maybe feed and water the twins who are getting restless by now as it is already 6pm

Finding the motel was not to bad in the dark with Serena at the wheel, Me I would still be out there looking for it and maybe giving up and checking in some where else. The first thing the girls did was moan as there is a heated pool right inside the door and they didn't pack their swim suits. So guess where Nanny is headed tomorrow evening? Any one out there knows where I can buy 2 swim suits in Indianapolis in the middle of winter after 6 pm on  Friday night let me know.

Dinner was at Bob Evans a simple affair we are all way to tired to worry about our stomachs, the girls are driving their poor mother nuts doing their home work. Serena has decided there is no way she will ever be a teacher.

My bed will feel good. Tomorrow morning will arrive pretty quickly I am sure. Back to the show room at 7 am to fluff and buff the chickens and get them ready for judging. The girls are scheduled for their showmanship competitions at 11:30 am. Then they will be doing wood carving, wood painting and a whole list of exciting events for them all poultry related and directed to help them learn more about the "fancy"

No sleep here with 9 year old twin urchins to share a room with

DAY TWO

The day started pretty early. Serena had to scrape frost off the windshield while the girls and I sat in a warm dining room and ate bagels smothered in cream cheese.

Arriving at the chicken show was even more unbelievable than yesterday. All the chickens had been cooped and people were milling around getting their birds fluffed and buffed. I picked up my cell phone and called bren, just had to share the bedlam that I could hear. There was no way we could have a conversation but it was fun just to let her hear all the din. I went with the girls first and helped them fluff and buff their Silkies and change the shavings and top off the water and feed. Then over to the Showgirls to clean them up and make them look their best. Bad news they could not get the 2 birds next to one another so both birds will be judged separately in two different classes now this is going to prove to be interesting.

Ashton gives her bird a few words of advice	Nina just hanging out waiting her turn

Then over to the junior area where the girls were to report for their showmanship competition. The girls stood around awhile and watched and soon Ashton announced she was going to with draw. She was a little overwhelmed with the number of entries and the level of questions being asked. Nina was still up for it so out to the car to get the show coat and clean her up ready for showing.

Panic we need the tide to go stick		Nina was not impressed with the questions

While hanging out in the Guinea aisle, I felt a tap on my shoulder and a voice from behind says, "Do you remember me?" I turn around and there is Amy, I had no clue she was planning on being there. How cool is this the day is starting out pretty good. Amy was there not to show but just to "SEE, what all the fuss was about" She is into Call ducks and spent most of the day at their check in table but she did check in from time to time and visit. It is a small world as she is staying in the same hotel as us so we will get to visit more I am sure before the weekend is over.

86 Guineas entered		Most from New York

While hanging out in the junior show area I get a phone call from Mary. She has arrived, I thought I was expecting her Saturday, This is getting to be a really fun day. It took quite a while to give her directions to where we were, the noise was deafening and the room is LARGE, did I mention it is 1/4 mile long from end to end. I still don't have the width of the building that needs to be on my agenda tomorrow. Mary finally finds us and we spend the day chatting getting to know one another. The twins are getting restless it is almost lunch time and Serena has had all the chickens she can handle. She is really allergic to feathers and they are flying every where. So she takes the twins off to the motel for some quiet time. 

Mary and I set off on our 22 mile hike (slight exaggeration but my legs don't feel like it was exaggerated) I put a mark on my show form every time I made it to one end of the building trying to keep track of how many miles I walked today. I had 22 marks, divide that by 4 and you have how many miles I walked. Trouble is I was so busy yakking and gawking I would forget to make my mark every time. So Mary said I could add at least 4 more marks so add another mile to my total. No joke we walked, and walked, and walked and walked. We still did not see all the birds that are there. We did have fun in the guinea area. I was cracked up at the state their show tags were in. There was not one tag in tact. The guineas had either chewed on the corners, ripped the tag completely off the cage and was in the process of eating it or had kicked it down on the ground to never be seen again. What a hoot. We made several treks back to this area as we really wanting to see the judging, we were both really wanting to see how the judges were  going to get these very excitable birds out of the cages to look them over and judge them. Much to our disappointment they were not judged today so I will have to trek up and down that aisle again tomorrow keeping watch.

	Mary says hey this isn't a  Lavender?		We think pied coral blue

 Many miles and chickens later, which included the purchase of a raffle ticket for a new really cool incubator (Mary sorry you don't need to drive back for it I am going to win it) A Nankin cock for Ashton who has decided she needs to show something besides Silkies. It was time to say goodbye to Mary. I had a really good day visiting with her and look forward to meeting her again some day. 

Oh I almost forgot to post a picture of the mystery chickens we found, or did they find us?

Some of the birds we looked at today

		Are these birds drinking BEER?

We ended the day by taking the twins to see the movie Happy Feet, ate a late supper and now the girls are doing homework before hitting the bed. Hopefully to SLEEP tonight. Me I have downed a half bottle of Advil (another slight exaggeration but not by much) and am sitting here with drooping eye lids so am off to the land of nod to dream about birds, birds and more birds that are NOT making any noise.

DAY THREE

The day started with 4 very sleepy females dragging out of bed. Oh it was so hard to get my feet on the floor. We were in the showroom before 8 AM and the first order of the day was to fluff and buff the twins silkies. As usual Nina's white silkie was an absolute mess. This time it called for a real wash that included water and a blow dryer.

A helping hand is needed	No help needed here

The showroom was extremely crowded today, I think this was the day for visitors. When we walked in first thing there was like a fog cloud hanging over all the cages. I tried to take a picture but it just didn't show up. As the day progressed it got more and more difficult to breath. I had a senior moment that my family loved. I had been walking around with a bottle of water in my hand sipping as I went. At one point I needed both hands so I put the top on my bottle and put it in my pocket. Later I looked down and noticed the water bottle in my hand was NOT MINE now where was mine. OH NO it was in my pocket. I had picked up some ones else's water bottle and was quite happily DRINKING IT. I almost lost it. I was gagging so BAD, my daughter was doubled up laughing at me and the twins will NEVER let me live it down. I am sitting here with Amy on my right and she is now laughing just as loud as Serena with the re-telling of the story. I am just praying that the person that owned the water did not "back wash" or have any "cooties"

Amy and I sat and visited for quite awhile while she sat at the National Call Breeders Association table. Amy was not showing this trip as I mentioned earlier but was helping out with the association.

After all my trekking up and down yesterday I missed the guinea judging. I was so disappointed. I did notice that all the coop tags had been replaced and this time they were hung up really high in the hopes the birds would leave them alone today. The Coral Blue Pied bird that had been entered as a lavender actually placed and was not disqualified. I was amazed. I was not able to find a judge to ask why. I plan on looking again in the morning before all the awards are handed out.  

Just some extra pictures of the birds and show areas.

The walk ways were getting pretty bad	I noticed the birds were as tired as us today

Tomorrow we have to load up and head home, It has been such an experience I know I have not even covered a 1/10th of what I have seen since being here. These memories will be with me for a long time to come. I am only going home with 6 new birds, phew I was sweating it for awhile, both girls were really taken with the ducks. Instead I managed to steer them over to the Nankin section a much smaller bird and easier to handle. I covered my bases with this bird not only did I buy Nina and Ashton their own pair I bought their dad a pair as well. These birds will be staying at THEIR HOUSE!

I ended the day with winning the raffle for a painting of a chicken. I was quite pleased as I have just the wall to hang it on. Sorry Mary we did not win the incubator. In fact the raffle was very strange. We purchased our tickets yesterday for a $1.00 each today they went up to $5.00 each and then later in the day they were back to $1.00 per ticket so I am hoping the person that actually got drawn out of the hat was able to take the incubator home.

We called it a day early and left the showroom a little after 4 pm and headed to Bob Evans for supper. Then a quick trip to pets mart to pick up some kind of carrier to haul the 6 new birds home tomorrow. I purchased a foldable wire cage that had a divider in it. I think it will work to house a few of these nankins in for awhile.

The girls spent an hour in the pool while I sat here and typed this. Amy was reading over my shoulder and Serena was playing Zuma on her laptop. In all a pleasant, restful evening before a very hectic day tomorrow. Oh and guess what?

Yep snow in the forecast. 

No I did not forget..... Nina won a 4th and 5th place with her white Silkies. Ashton won a 2nd and 3rd with her black silkies. (not bad considering this is such a HUGE show)

Bren and I won with the showgirls. But again I am confused with the judging. One bird was cooped wrong and was judged in with the naked necks, she  won Best Variety with a notation on the tag saying good type, nice colour but needed to work on a single comb. Now a Silkie/Naked neck aka Showgirl should have a small walnut comb. I hunted for a judge on and off all day to no avail. I really wanted to ask about this.

We also won in the Showgirl division BUT there was 2 white showgirls entered and we took Best Variety and Kim Cash also took Best Variety. I would have thought one of us would be BV and the other one Reserve Variety. Kim also won Best Variety with her Buff Showgirl she was the only one entered and Eddy Travis won Best Variety with his Blue Showgirl again she was the only one entered. 

DAY FOUR HEADING HOME

Didn't spring out of bed to early this AM as we knew we had a long ride home. Made it to the showroom just a little before 9 AM. The swap area was already packing up boxes and moving tables and tent awnings out of the area. No birds were allowed to leave the showroom until the officials said it was okay to release after all the awards were handed out. The noise level was unbelievable with every one saying their goodbyes and trying to get their bird boxes in place ready for the mass exit. People were crowding in the aisles. It was very chaotic but with a major sense of excitement. There was so many coops with birds in and so many long aisles I was in a bit of a panic about loosing my birds. The twins and I went around and zip tied our cages so no one could take one of our birds by mistake I could see how easily that could happen. In fact as we were leaving the area after the release announcement there was some one on the intercom system asking for every one to check their Toulouse Geese as one had gone astray. Now I don't know about you but I could not wrestle such a large bird with out realizing it was not mine. I could see a small Jap Banty which was also gone but NOT a great big heavy goose. 

Out side the showroom was unbelievable with all the trailers and trucks backed up to all the doors. I was amazed at some of the ingenious ways people were transporting their birds. I think it was just as fascinating watching people pack their birds to leave as it was to see all the birds in the cages. 

We pulled out of the State Fair Grounds at exactly 11 AM Indiana time. It was over cast and drizzling. At least we were leaving before the predicted snow was to arrive. No problem navigating to I70 West with Serena at the wheel. Did I mention what a GREAT kid I have raised, she was a real trooper through out this whole trip. Mega allergic to feathers yet she never moaned once. In fact I think secretly she had a pretty good time. She was very impressed that there was hand sanitizers at the bottom of every aisle and instructed the twins to use them. They didn't need to be told twice it was like a new toy. She spent the first 30 minutes of our trip home sneezing so bad I thought I was going to have to drive for her but she managed to get it under control and got us home safe and sound with no "ueys" We pulled into her drive way at 6 PM Missouri time. The weather was wet thru Indiana, then cloudy and the occasional rain shower thru Illinois then once over the Missouri State Line the sun greeted us. It was a most welcome sight except when we got closer to home then it was full tilt in Serena's eyes which made the last hour of the drive pretty miserable for her.

Once at the house we all rushed in to use the bathroom, then tackle the unloading and sorting the chickens and getting them watered and fed. They traveled really well with no problems. The girls are so tickled with their new Nankins. Ashton has called hers Sexy and Hotty, Nina has called hers Hershey's Kisses and Reece's Pieces . Their Dad has not decided what to name his yet. 

The girls are showered and in bed snoring their little heads off. Tomorrow I will drive the last 3 hours home and get all the birds re-settled in my garage where they will reside until the Shawnee Show in Ok next month. Which is coming up fast.

DAY FIVE AND FINALLY HOME

Oh does it ever feel good to be HOME. I left Serena's house at 8:30 AM after scraping thick frost off the windows and seeing the twins off to school. My Mini was loaded down with all the birds. I brought the girls birds back home with me as they will not be showing now till March of next year. I did leave the new Nankins in their garage though. 

I made it home with out any mishaps around noon and immediately took the birds out of their boxes and turned them loose in my fenced garden for some much needed sunshine and fresh air. The temperature had soured with the sun coming up and it was about 56 out there this afternoon.

I took the carry boxes apart and disinfected them and let them sit out in the sun all afternoon. I also took my show "beauty box" apart and cleaned it all out and left it in the sun to air.

The birds are now all in my garage where they will remain until after the Shawnee show in Oklahoma. I have given them some extra treats to snack on for being such good birds during the show.

I am now sitting here looking at all the pictures I took and running the memories thru my mind. I have the coop tags in front of me and finally figured out how come the 2 white Showgirls had Best Variety. Kim had entered hers as a non bearded Showgirl, Duh! I must have been really, really tired not to have figured that one out.

What an experience to remember always. I am so glad I made the trip. I got to meet lots of people who were just names to me on the internet. Now I have faces to put with those names. I met Mary from IN, Amy from IO, Eddy Travers, Janet from Hattricks, Connie from Premier Farms, Kermit from the Peafowl board. (What an interesting person to visit with.) There was so many I stopped and visited with it will take me awhile to sort them all in my mind. 

I even visited with a young couple who had stumbled into the showroom looking for the art exhibition in a nearby building and were fascinated by the all the birds. I believe they will go home and purchase some silkies for their daughter they were very taken with them. Especially when the twins handed them one of theirs out of the show cage and it sat in their arms and just "purred"  

In all a terrific trip that I am glad I did not pass up. A special thank you to my daughter Serena who helped me make this trip, she was really a good sport thru out the whole trip.

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