The term Fancy/Show birds is used here to identify specialty or rare breeds of poultry that are kept mainly for personal enjoyment or for the show ring. These might include Silky or Seabright chickens or Heritage or Narragansett turkeys, Fantail or Turkish Tumbler pigeons, Ebden geese, Indian Runner Ducks, Mute swans etc., i.e. breeds not part of the commercial food production system. Although there are individuals who keep these types of birds for commercial purposes (breeding and selling), perhaps most are kept as pet/aviary birds or for showing.
Fancy and show birds pose special challenges for biosecurity. The main challenge in preventing contact with disease causing agents is sales and show barns. Fancy bird sales are often through special interest auctions where birds from many different backgrounds are brought together. Most fancy breed shows have no vaccination requirements, health standards or pre-show health examinations. During these shows birds are in close contact with each other and the risk of disease transmission is high. All birds that are purchased through sales barns or that have visited the show ring should be considered to have been in contact with disease causing agents (i.e. make the assumption they have become “contaminated”). So to keep your home flock healthy it is important to design your biosecurity programs to include separate isolation and quarantine areas, customized vaccination programs, regular worming and parasite control and care in choosing where and from whom you will purchase your birds.
All of the biosecurity and management fact sheets on this site are pertinent to Fancy/Show birds. As we are including any type of bird in this category, all of the disease and anatomy fact sheets may also be of value.