The entry form: You can find out if there any local shows to you by purchasing a copy of Fancy Fowl magazine which has a comprehensive list of poultry shows throughout the UK for the coming months in each edition.

To get an entry form you will have to contact the show's secretary and give him / her your address. They will post you an entry form which you will fill out to let them know which class you will be entering and also how many birds you will be taking. Once complete, you post your entries back to the secretary along with relevant entry fees and you are now entered for the show!

The actual entry form will list every class in the show. It is up to you to choose which class to enter your birds into - so you may have a Black Pekin Hen, in this case you would look for the class which best describes her. This may be "Black Pekin M/F" (a combined male and female class) or "Black Pekin F" (a class for females only).

Once you have found the class, notice the "class number" next to it. This is important as it helps the show secretary plan the number of cages needed for each section of the show.

Let's look at a sample entry form which has kindly been given to us by Stuart Gamble of Oswestry Poultry Society.

Some key things to look at have been highlighted in red. From top to bottom they are:

• The date of the show - check you are able to attend before sending your fees off
• The class number - as explained above, this is the class that corresponds to the description of the bird you are taking
• The breed - this is the breed of your bird
• Male / Female - here you can simply put a M for male and F for female
• Entry fee - this will be displayed normally on the last page of the entry form.
• Closing date for entries - so that the show organizers have plenty of time to set the show up and create the correct penning slips and cage numbers there will be a deadline for entries. Ensure you get your fees and form sent off before this date to avoid disappointment.

Note: if you are entering two birds of exactly the same description, breed, colour and age then you must use two lines in the entry form. Do not simply write "x 2" as this becomes confusing for the organisers to work out.

The entry descriptions could be a little confusing for the first time exhibitor so let's look at some of the abbreviations you may find on the form:

Membership: Many clubs will have an entry fee system something like the one to the left. As you will see, there is also a fee to become a member of the club. You do not need to pay this if you do not wish - however you will not be entitled to win any of the club special awards. These are usually cups or shields for prizes donated by past members.

You simply add up the amounts shown on the entry fee page with the corresponding entry you have written down on the entry form and send a cheque off to the secretary. Details on who to make the cheque payable to will be found somewhere on the form.

Preparation: Immediately after entering the show, bring your birds inside. Feed them well and keep them clean and dry. Ideally, if possible, you should wash them around 4 days prior to the show. This will give them time to get their natural oils back and fluff up again. More details about washing birds (not just Pekins) can be found here.

When you get home: If you have prize cards - pin them up in the house where you can see them as a source of inspiration! If not - think how lucky you were to have a bird good enough to make it to a show.

Thoroughly louse powder or spray your birds on arrival back home incase any unwanted visitors crawled onto them from neighboring pens. Put the birds back in their pens and give them some food and water. If possible, you could quarantine them for a few days, but if this is not possible just keep a close eye on each one to ensure they haven't caught a cold or picked up any illness.