Maryland 4-H Requirements and Tools for Exhibiting Poultry (FS-2025-0773)

It’s important to ensure that you are meeting all the program requirements to show and/or sell (in the case of turkeys) poultry.

For your poultry to be eligible for the show for the current year, it must fit within the ownership deadline of the Maryland 4-H program. Maryland 4-H has a state deadline to own poultry:

• Breeding Birds - June 1st
• Market Birds - Determined by local county or event rules.

Check with your local county program office to know the dates for animal ownership as some counties may have deadlines earlier than June 1st.

Animal Science Code of Ethics:

The 4-H member and parent/ legal guardian must sign to acknowledge that they have read and agree to abide by the Animal Science Code of Ethics (Figure 2). This form helps to ensure that everyone showing animals knows and reflects the highest standards of honor and dignity when it comes to animal competitions. Animal exhibitors are under an affirmative responsibility to do more than avoid improper conduct or questionable acts, and their conduct and values must serve as a positive influence on others.

• The Animal Science Code of Ethics is also signed electronically when you enroll in Maryland 4-H and select poultry (or any other animal) as a 4-H project.
• Some counties have their own versions of this form; check with your county 4-H Educator if you have questions.

Animal Husbandry Quality Assurance (AHQA) program

Maryland 4-H members are required to participate in the AHQA online program to ensure they use best management practices in caring, grooming, and showing safely and ethically. The program is designed to be completed one time per 4-H age division (junior, intermediate, and senior).

• Junior members (8-10 years old as of January 1st) must complete one AHQA program, which will cover them in all livestock species they plan on showing.
• Intermediates (11-13 years old as of January 1st) and Seniors (14-18 years old as of January 1st) are required to participate in the AHQA program when they age up into a new division. The program for intermediates and seniors will consist of a general program, which then becomes species-specific. Therefore, these individuals will have to take a poultry-related AHQA when moving into older age divisions.

The AHQA program typically opens in the spring of each year. Keep an eye out for communication from your local county/city extension office for the opening. Also, be sure to follow your county/city 4-H deadline, as this will vary depending on when your county fair takes place during the year.

Maryland 4-H Poultry, Rabbit, and Cavy Registration Form

The Maryland 4-H Program requires that the owners of each 4-H poultry project complete a Maryland 4-H Poultry, Rabbit, and Cavy Registration Form (Figure 3). It is OK to list animals that you are unsure of. If an animal is listed on the form and not brought to the show, it is not an issue. However, if an animal is not listed on the form, it cannot be shown. The form will ask for your contact information, local 4-H club, and your 4-H age. If you are keeping your animals at a location other than your home, you need to include the address of the location where your 4-H poultry project is housed.

Note: Some counties and community shows have variations of this form, so please check with your county educator for clarification.

In the box at the top of the form, check off what type of animal you are exhibiting. You will complete one registration form per category. For example, if you have turkeys and broilers that you are showing, you will complete one form with your turkey entries and another form with your broiler entries.

You will need to complete as much information as possible, including:

• Individual Number/Tattoo: Poultry are sometimes identified with metal/plastic leg bands and/or wing bands. (Figure 4) Owners may apply plastic leg bands and/or wing bands to help ID their animals, though most small flock owners do not do this. For exhibitors that do not use their own plastic ID system, this section of the form may be left blank.
  • Note: Metal leg bands will be applied by a certified poultry inspector after a health check (See “Health Checks/Testing” below).
• Individual Name (if applicable). This is not required, but if you have a name for your bird, feel free to write it here.
• Breed: The American Poultry Association identifies all registered breeds. You must list one of these on your ID form.
• Color/Variety: You must list a recognized color/ variety for your animal. Those recognized colors and varieties can be found on the American Poultry Breeders Association website: https:// amerpoultryassn.com/accepted-breeds-varieties/.
• Sex: Male/Female
• Date of Birth/Hatch: When was your bird hatched?
• Comments: Any other comments can be added here, such as identifying features or other comments about the bird that will help distinguish it from others.
• Signature Required: The 4-H member and parent/ legal guardian must sign on the front of the form to confirm the information.

Maryland Poultry Premises Registration

Maryland Poultry Premises Registration must be submitted when you purchase/receive your first animal. Premise registration is tied to the address where the poultry is kept and is good for the duration of ownership at that location. The form is also good for all types of poultry. Therefore, if you have chickens and then decide to add turkeys or ducks at the same location, you do not need to submit a new registration form. Any change in the location where you have your poultry will require a new premise registration form to be submitted.

All Maryland premises with poultry are required to be registered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

• Visit the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) website and search for “Maryland Poultry Registration Form.” Fill out the form by providing information about your flock and the purpose of your flock, and mail or email it to the address at the bottom of the form. The MDA will return to you a Premise Identification form, which will have your name, address, and assigned Premise ID number- keep this somewhere safe!
• The Poultry Premises number must be noted on the Test Report or other documentation of NPIP U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid and U.S. H5/ H7 Avian Influenza Clean or State H5/H7 Monitored status (see more under Health Check/Testing)

Read the Fair Requirements

Many fairs leave their department rules from the previous year posted online; the new rules for your fair should be available by spring of the current year. If you are showing for the first time, talk with your club leader, poultry superintendent or Extension educator about the rules and guidelines you need to follow.

Fair Entry System

To be eligible to exhibit at fairs, you must pre-enter your poultry. Only poultry previously submitted on the Maryland 4-H Poultry and Cavy Registration Form (which must be turned in at your local extension office prior to the opening of the fair entry system) are eligible to be exhibited. Most fairs use an online entry system, and your county extension office and local fair board will release the information when the entry system is open and the closing date for entries. When making your entries, you will need to complete the following steps:

• Register as a 4-H member exhibitor. The 4-H project must be registered in the member’s name.
• Enter the correct classes with your poultry, especially if you are exhibiting several animals. Make sure that your animals are entered into the correct divisions and breed classes because some shows won’t let you change that information on the day of the show
• Enter extra classes such as showmanship, posters, or demonstrations.
• Enter the correct ID numbers for all animals. Double-check your information because it’s easy to get mixed up when entering multiple animals. If you do not use owner ID bands, this section can be left blank.
• When you have finished entering all classes for your poultry project, and you are ready to check out, make sure to pay any costs associated with the entry and confirm that you have entered them. You should print out a confirmation number for your entry, along with receiving a confirmation email. Keep these in your records just in case there are problems with the fair entry system.

Health Checks/Testing

• Poultry require testing for various diseases before they can be cleared to show. Below are some common diseases that the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) checks for prior to animals being allowed to show. A list of current Maryland Independent Authorized Poultry Testing Agents can be found on the MDA website. You will need to reach out and schedule a time for testing. Be sure to have your Premise ID on hand when the tester arrives. Some counties set up testing days for their 4-Hers, so be on the lookout for emails or reach out to your county educator for help if needed.

Avian Influenza

• This is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause respiratory illness and even death in poultry.
  • Please check the MDA website for the most up-to-date rules and regulations surrounding the required testing of this disease. Here are the general testing requirements; more details may be added each year.
  • All in-state poultry must be tested for avian influenza within 30 days prior to the exhibition or originate from an NPIP U.S. H5/H7 Avian Influenza Clean flock.
  • All out-of-state poultry must be tested for avian influenza within 21 days prior to the exhibition or originate from an NPIP U.S. H5/H7 Avian Influenza Clean flock.
  • Note: The negative avian influenza test must be conducted on at least 15 birds from the flock (or a complete flock if fewer than 15 birds) within 30 days. Those tested birds must remain segregated from all birds with unknown or positive avian influenza test status.

Salmonella Pullorum-Typhoid

• This disease has high mortality rates and is spread through eggs and/or direct contact with contaminated feed, water, or litter.
• Please check the MDA website for the most up-to-date rules and regulations surrounding the required testing of this disease. Here are the general testing requirements; more details may be added each year.
  • All in-state and out-of-state poultry must be tested for Salmonella Pullorum-Typhoid within 90 days before the exhibition or originate directly from a U.S. Salmonella Pullorum-Typhoid Clean flock as defined in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Documentation of the above test results must be provided at the time of the show. The results forms will be sent to you from the lab once the test results are received, typically within 5-7 business days after the test was conducted. When the testing is complete, you will be given a copy of the test (pink sheet of paper) so be sure to keep this for your records, as it will be required on the day of the show.

Poultry Self-Certification form

• The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) requires poultry self-certification forms for exhibitors to verify the health of their birds before they enter fairs or shows. This measure helps prevent the spread of infectious and contagious diseases by ensuring that only healthy birds are allowed at these events. The form will ask exhibitors to look over every part of their bird (feathers, head, underside, etc.) and certify that there are no health issues. The form can be found on the MDA website here: https://mda.maryland.gov/ animalhealth/pages/fairs-shows.aspx. This form must be filled out and presented each time you bring your animals to a show. The form should be filled out no more than seven (7) days before the show.

Animal ID

This would be a poultry band, which can either be plastic or metal and will fit around the bottom part of the poultry’s leg. Poultry bands typically are pre-numbered, and you assign the number to each bird you are banding. Make sure to add the numbers that have been used for banding to the breed and sex of the bird to your records. If you use ID bands, be sure to also record the band number assigned during poultry testing.

Min/Max weights

• The min/max weights for each species are determined by local fair boards. Be sure to check the fair regulations in your area. Min/max weights typically only apply for market animals, not breeding.

Below is a list of paperwork you will need to bring with you on the day of the poultry show.

• COPY of your premise ID
• COPY of your poultry testing results
• Pink testing paper provided to you by your certified poultry tester at the time of testing
• Completed Self Certification

Accurate record keeping is an important part of raising your 4-H poultry project. Using the Maryland 4-H Animal Science- Poultry Project Record (Figure 5) will help you keep appropriate records and prompt you to consider what you are learning throughout the year. You will be asked to complete the following areas for your poultry project:

• Goals – At the beginning of raising your poultry, what goals did you set for yourself for the year, and did you achieve them?
• Learning – What did you learn throughout the year about your poultry project?
• Improve or do differently? What is something you would like to improve for next year, or something you learned you need to do differently for your project in the future?
• Life skills – Using the life skill wheel provided on the project record, what skill(s) did you learn, and how did you learn that skill?
• Project activities – What activities did you attend that relate to your poultry project, such as poultry workshops, poultry judging, spring 4-H show, county fair, etc.?
• Project communication – Most counties require 4-H members to have some sort of communication about their project. This could be a speech about “Why I chose to show Rhode Island Red chickens to show” or a demonstration on “What equipment do I need to raise meat turkeys?” Most of the time, you can give your speech or demonstration at a club meeting, a county demonstration, or a public speaking event. You might also be asked to give a presentation at school or at a local library or at a community event. These would also count.
• Exhibits – Where did you exhibit your animals? Write down all the shows you went to and each class you entered, and the awards won.
• Information on project animals – Keeping records on each animal you raise is important, so you know where you started and where you will end with the project.
• Expenses –
  • Feed – A daily expense during your project year
  • Other expenses – There are many other expenses to think about with your poultry project, from equipment to entry fees for shows.
• Health records – You should keep records of every veterinarian visit and exactly what was needed, even if it’s a vet visit for health papers.
• Income –
  • Sale income – From either a county fair or a private sale of your animal.
  • Other – This includes the premium money you received from exhibiting at fairs.

Workshops

Your 4-H county Extension office or the fair may hold animal workshops or field day opportunities. These events typically cover a wide variety of educational topics, including grooming, showing, animal health, and nutrition.

Spring Shows

Throughout the state, regional shows are held for 4-H members. These shows offer 4-H members of all ages and experience levels a chance to bring their animals. By participating in regional shows, 4-H members learn how to prepare their poultry and equipment for their county and state fairs, which are typically held later in the year.

Poultry Judging/Skillathon

Participating in poultry judging and Skillathon helps you learn more about the qualities that make good poultry, different types of breeds, nutrition, reproduction, equipment, etc. Through judging and Skillathon, you will not only learn how to place classes of poultry, but you will also gain important life skills like public speaking, teamwork, problemsolving, etc.

Showmanship

While most shows judge the size, shape, and performance of the animal being exhibited against the breed standards, showmanship classes are different in that they judge the human showing the animal, rather than the animal itself. Showmanship classes are all about how well the exhibitor works with their animal and how well they prepare, control, and present the animal to the judge. Showmanship helps teach kids important life skills such as teamwork, communication, confidence, and self-responsibility. For more information on how to prepare for showmanship in your species, go to: https://www.canr.msu.edu/washtenaw/uploads/4-H_ PoultryShowingCurriculum_2018_FINAL-WEB_(1).pdf

Demonstrations

Demonstrations are a required part of being a 4-Her as they help youth to develop important communication and other social skills, but they are also a great opportunity to learn more about the animal species that you are showing. Teaching others about your animal project helps you to increase your own knowledge too. Look for ways that you might be able to do a demonstration about your animal. Many 4-Hers are often invited to give talks about their animals at libraries, schools, fairs, community events, club meetings, etc.

Service

Take your poultry to an educational display at a local event, help with setting up for the poultry show, etc. By engaging in service activities with your poultry, you can practice handling your animals, deepen your knowledge of your animals as people ask you questions, and grow in your project area. Keep in mind that you must follow all MDA guidelines if taking your poultry to exhibit/showcase as a service opportunity (i.e., poultry must be tested within 30 days and self-certification completed).

Field Trips

Either individually or with your club, consider taking a field trip to learn more about your poultry project. Tour a poultry farm or processing facility, visit a vet with poultry, visit an equipment or feed manufacturer, etc.

Print/Online Resources

• Local poultry social media pages – Oftentimes, local breeders share great tips and resources for raising poultry.
• Project Books: Project materials to assist youth in learning may be available through your county 4-H office, or you can order directly. The following resources are available at National 4-H at www.4-hmall.org: “Poultry Level 1: Scratching the Surface”; “Level 2: Testing Your Wings”; and “Level 3: Flocking Together.”

Exhibiting poultry through Maryland 4-H is an exciting and rewarding opportunity that helps youth build knowledge, confidence, and lifelong skills. While the requirements may feel extensive at first, following each step carefully — and staying organized with your records, deadlines, and animal identification — ensures a smooth and successful show experience. Remember that you are never expected to navigate these expectations alone. If you have questions at any point, reach out to your county fair superintendent, your 4-H club leader, or your local Maryland 4-H Extension educator. They are there to support you, clarify requirements, and help you make the most of your 4-H poultry project journey.