Fancy or exhibition poultry are selectively bred for their visual appeal and ornamental qualities rather than for egg or meat production. These birds are always purebred, never hybrids or crossbreeds, ensuring consistency in their physical characteristics and lineage.
The American Poultry Association (APA) is the oldest livestock organization in North American and an organization which promotes the standard for fancy/exhibition:
- Large Fowl (Chickens of Standard Size)
- Bantam (Chickens of Miniature Size)
- Waterfowl
- Turkeys
- Guinea
The American Bantam Association (ABA) is an organization of poultry enthusiasts that promote the standard appearance of fancy/exhibition bantam poultry.
Both organizations produce a publication called the Standard of Perfection, which details the officially recognized breeds of fancy and exhibition poultry. This book provides comprehensive descriptions of each breed, outlining the ideal characteristics such as accepted colors, feather patterns, optimal weight, body shape, and comb structure.
The Standard of Perfection organizes poultry information into distinct categories:
- Poultry Type: Includes Large Fowl, Bantam, Waterfowl, Turkeys, and Guinea.
- Class: A collection of breeds that share geographical origins, physical traits, and common characteristics.
- Breed: A group of birds with consistent physical features, such as body shape, skin color, toe count, and feather presence on the shanks, that are reliably passed to offspring when two birds of the same breed are mated.
- Variety: A subset within a breed distinguished by specific genetic traits like plumage color, comb type, and the presence of beards or muffs.
Blanchard Valley Poultry Association 