Bird shows: standards, classes and the judging scale
A bird entered in a show is not compared with the others on the bench but with a written standard, an ideal model describing its breed or mutation, and the judge awards points while justifying that judgement in writing.
The standard comes before the bird
Every breed, every recognised mutation has a standard: a text describing the expected size, position, plumage, colour and bearing. The judge does not express a preference, they measure a deviation from that text.
The World Ornithological Confederation has set itself the goal of studying and publishing these standards in order to arrive at a single international description per species. That is what allows a canary judged in one country to be judged on the same criteria in another.
The scale, and what it implies
Judging follows the scale of the World Order of Judges. The thresholds are explicit: a minimum average of 89 points is required for a bird to carry forward to the following year, 90 points to be eligible for a medal, and 360 points in a team, harmony points included.
Two practical consequences follow. First, the gap between a good bird and a medal-winning bird comes down to a few points, sometimes to a single one. Second, the team, that group of four birds shown together, adds a demand for consistency: four good but dissimilar birds count for less than four even ones.
What breeders wish they had recorded
A show result only means something in context: which bird, which class, which judge, which year, and above all which bloodline it came from.
It is by cross-referencing several seasons that a breeder sees which of their pairs regularly produce well-scored birds. That information already exists in the record books, but scattered between prize lists, clutch notes and memory.
What this changes in AviarySoft
Each entry attaches to the bird shown: event, town, date, class, score and placing. The history stays on its record, and results naturally trace back to its parents.
Show types are configurable, because a regional show, a national championship and a world show are not comparable, and because software has no business imposing a hierarchy that varies between federations.
What types of exhibitions can I manage with AviarySoft?
The Exhibitions module is designed for avian beauty shows and competitions (standard judging, with an individual score). It is not suited for racing pigeon competitions (releases, speed, distance rankings), but we are considering adding support for this in a future version. If you participate in racing pigeon contests, this feature won't meet your needs for now.
How do I create an exhibition?
From the 'Exhibitions' page, click the add button. Fill in the exhibition name, date, location (the field suggests towns), exhibition type and number of subjects entered.
Can I customize exhibition types?
Yes, in the Configuration page, you can create your own exhibition types with a name, icon and color. Default types can be modified or deactivated.
How do I register birds for an exhibition?
From the exhibition's detail card, add results for each bird entered. You can link the result to an existing bird in your farm (breed, color and gender are auto-filled) or enter the information manually.
What fields are available for each result?
For each registered bird: ring number, breed, color, gender, age category (juvenile or adult, automatically calculated from birth date), individual score, entered on whatever scale the show uses, and global result (free text: prize, certificate, etc.).
How is the age category determined?
AviarySoft automatically calculates the category: a bird born the same year as the exhibition is classified as 'Juvenile', otherwise 'Adult'. You can manually correct the category if needed.
What does the exhibition detail card show?
The card displays: number of subjects, results entered, progress percentage and average score. Charts show the breakdown by breed, gender, age category and score distribution. A ranking (palmares) lists the top results.
How do I find a bird's exhibition results?
All exhibition results for a bird are visible in its history. They also appear in the family tree as colored badges with the score.
How do I search and filter my exhibitions?
You can search by name, location or exhibition type. A year filter lets you navigate between seasons. Sorting by date (most recent first) is applied by default.
What statistics are available for exhibitions?
The Statistics page (Premium and Pro plans) displays: total exhibitions, number of subjects, results entered, average score, score distribution, score trends over time, results by breed, type, location, gender and age category, and a top 10 of the best birds.
How do I delete an exhibition?
Via the three-dot menu, context menu (right-click), or the delete button in the detail card. Deleting an exhibition also removes all associated results.