The 2025 Northeastern Poultry Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts

January 22, 2025

The 2025 Northeastern Poultry Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts

If my schedule allows, I always try to attend the annual Northeastern Poultry Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts. It's a great event for anyone interested in learning about large fowl, waterfowl, turkeys, pigeons, pheasants, Guineas, and of course, chickens.

I just attended the 51st show. The event is held at the Eastern States Exposition Center and features more than 3000 birds. Various breeds of poultry are exhibited and judged for ribbons and prizes. There are also informative seminars offered on different topics, and an area for vendors of good, nutritious feed and other supplies. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see the birds up close and to build relationships with very knowledgeable, passionate, and serious breeders. This year, I brought home five chickens, two pheasants, and 30-eggs to hatch in my own incubator.

Enjoy these photos.

: The Northeastern Poultry Congress holds its show every January. All the show birds are exhibited and judged in the Mallory Complex of the Expo Center. Visitors are able to see the various breeds in their crates. I have been making the trip for several years and always learn something new.

: Poultry shows are family-friendly and allow visitors to see both traditional and new breeds. The first poultry show in the United States was in 1854, before there were even standards for showing.

: The show enters more than a thousand chicken breeds – some with gorgeous markings and feathers.

: The birds are judged against others of the same color, sex and age. They are also judged based on variety and breed. In the end, chickens compete against large fowl and water fowl.

: The birds are also ranked in each of their classes and then compete for super champion. These are gold laced cochins.

: Each cage is tagged with the bird’s breed, color or variety, and gender. This is a white tufted Roman goose hen.

: Prior to poultry shows and again before judging, these birds are groomed and groomed again – every feather is in place. This is a beautiful bobtail cochin chicken.

: This is a brown Chinese goose hen – a bit smaller than the white Chinese geese I have at my farm, but a little more talkative.

: There were also stunning specialty breed turkeys at the show.

: This turkey breed is called royal palm, with its unique largely white body with bands of metallic black.

: Here is a pair of peach golden pheasants. They are so beautiful, I had to bring these home with me. Peach golden pheasants are a rare and special color mutation of the wild red golden pheasant. Males are mostly white with light gold on their breast and body, and white wings and tail. The cape, or ruff, is peach colored with light white barring.

: Some exhibitors also brought homemade cookies to sell – these in the shapes of Silkie chickens and cochin chickens.

: White Embden geese originated in Germany. These are large, tall birds with long necks and orange bills.

: I also saw these gorgeous black swan cygnets, which are young swans. These bird are only three months old. When mature, they have the longest necks of any of the swan species.

: Here are some of the award ribbons displayed on one side of the large exhibition room.

: In another area, vendors display their products, such as this interestingly shaped coop.

: Back at my Bedford, New York farm, here are the eggs I brought home. All Silkie eggs. Silkies are best known for their characteristically fluffy plumage said to feel like silk or satin. These eggs are from Stonebrook Silkies. They are placed into the incubator where they are safe from other birds and closely monitored until they hatch. Chicken eggs take 21-days. While the eggs incubate, they are automatically turned once a day, 45-degrees each way, back and forth during this period.

: This is one of two bobtail cochins I brought home from the show. Bobtail cochins have feathered feet, flat rears, and a beautiful gray color. I’ve been raising chickens for many years. Not only do I love keeping them for their fresh, delicious eggs, but I also enjoy learning about the different breeds, varieties and their fun personalities.

: These cochins are known to be calm friendly, docile, and sweet. Right now, these birds are in a separate enclosure until they acclimate to life at my farm. In a few weeks, they can join the rest of my flock.

: And these two are golden laced cochins, with their striking black and golden brown feathers, also from this year’s poultry congress. I am looking forward to seeing all these chickens mature and thrive here at my farm.