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Heritage Chicken Meat Pens—a rewarding and educational experience rooted in tradition! These birds offer a unique opportunity to work with breeds that have shaped poultry history and are recognized for their quality, hardiness, and character.
Heritage chickens are APA-recognized large fowl breeds that meet a specific set of criteria. To qualify as “heritage,” birds must be:
Naturally mating
Slow growing
Long-lived and hardy
Raised to meet the APA Standard of Perfection
These breeds were developed over generations for dual-purpose use—egg laying and meat production—and many are prized for their flavorful meat, adaptability, and distinctive appearance. They also tend to have strong genetics and thrive in both farm and backyard settings.
Exhibitors in this project will raise a trio (3 birds) of a single heritage breed of large fowl. Birds may be purchased or hatched at home, and you are not required to purchase through the Pima County 4-H Poultry Project.
Birds must be between 9 months and 1 year old at the time of the fair. This means they should hatch between April 27, 2024 and July 20, 2025.
You may enter up to two trios (6 birds total) in the Heritage Meat Pen class
Trios should be uniform in size and weight
There is no minimum or maximum weight requirement, as each breed varies—check the APA standard weights for your breed to guide your project
Judging Will Focus On:
Uniformity of the trio
Production quality
Overall health and condition
Helpful Resources to Get Started:
We also recommend exploring the American Poultry Association Website to learn more about recognized breeds and purchase the Standard of Perfection, which is a valuable resource for exhibitors preparing for showmanship and breed evaluation.
Be sure to check the Pima County Fair Premium Book for official project requirements and entry details. Also be sure to connect with your 4-H leader if you have questions about raising or showing Heritage Chickens.
Please note: At the fair, the Heritage Meat Pen Grand and Reserve Champion winners are required to go to auction.
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Heritage turkeys make a fantastic and rewarding 4-H poultry project! These birds are quite different from the broad-breasted commercial turkeys commonly raised for meat. Recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA), there are eight approved heritage varieties, each with unique colors and characteristics.
Heritage turkeys are slower growing, but they are known for being friendly, curious, and intelligent. They can be raised for both meat and egg production, and unlike commercial turkeys, they can naturally reproduce and often have a much longer lifespan. These qualities make them excellent birds for youth who want to learn about traditional, sustainable poultry practices.
To help you get started, we’ve gathered some helpful links and guides:
General Turkey Care and Raising Guides:
Heritage Turkey–Specific Resources:
Heritage Turkey Info – Overview of what makes a turkey "heritage"
Heritage Turkey Manual (PDF) – In-depth care, breed, and breeding information
Heritage Turkey Variety Comparison Chart (PDF) – Side-by-side breed traits, sizes, and more
As with all poultry projects, we encourage you to connect with your 4-H leader, project coordinator, or superintendent for personalized guidance, especially if this is your first time working with turkeys.
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Quail can be a fascinating and fun poultry project, especially for those interested in hatching and learning about alternative species. While they’re allowed at the Pima County Fair, it's important to understand how quail fit into the broader 4-H and poultry show world.
Quail are not recognized in the Standards of Perfection from the American Poultry Association (APA) or American Bantam Association (ABA). This means they can be shown at the Pima County Fair, but they are not eligible to compete at APA- or ABA-sanctioned breed shows or many open shows hosted outside of fair. In this regard, they are similar to commercial turkeys and Cornish Cross chickens in terms of show limitations.
Most educational resources for 4-H poultry focus on chickens and larger fowl like turkeys. At this time, the most widely available information on quail focuses on hatching and basic care, especially for Coturnix quail. Below are a few helpful starter links:
According to the Premium Book, exhibitors can enter two pens of quail, with each entry consisting of three birds—for a total of six birds across two cages. Pen types include:
Meat pens: 3 males
Laying pens: 3 females
Breeding pens: 1 male and 2 females
Only Coturnix or Jumbo Coturnix quail are accepted, and any variety (color) is allowed. Birds must be between 6 weeks and 12 months old at fair time—meaning they must hatch between April 29, 2024, and March 9, 2025. All quail must be leg banded.
While quail may be brought to the showmanship table at the fair, we strongly encourage families to also consider raising chickens or other poultry breeds recognized in the APA and ABA Standards. These birds provide more opportunities to participate in county shows, open shows, and educational events. Additionally, quail can be flighty and difficult to handle, which may not make them ideal for first-time showmanship participants.
If you’re looking to get started with quail or need help finding a good showmanship bird, please reach out—we’re happy to help! One source for Coturnix quail is:
🔗 McMurray Hatchery – Coturnix QuailIf you're passionate about quail, you might also consider joining the American Coturnix Breeders Association:
🔗 coturnixbreeders.comMost places that have resources for teaching or 4H, focus on chickens and other fowl like turkeys. The only education information that we can find, at the moment, is about hatching quail which is covered on the basic sites below.
https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-quail/beginners-guide-to-keeping-quail/
https://farmhouseguide.com/ultimate-guide-to-raising-quail/
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/coturnix-quails/
https://myshirefarm.com/coturnix-basics/
https://www.chickens.allotment-garden.org/keeping-quail/coturnix-quail-colours/
https://silverhomestead.com/standard-vs-jumbo-quail/
As for the Premium Book, it gives the basic rules needed for fair. The kids can bring two entries of quail, an entry consists of three birds. That means they can bring a total of six birds for two cages. Depending on what gender of birds they want to enter: meat pens are 3 males, laying pens are 3 females, and breeding pens are entered as 1 male with 2 females. Looking for only coturnix quail or jumbo coturnix quail but may be any variety (coloring). The quail must be of mature/reproductive age and must be under 12 months but over 6 weeks of age. That means they should be hatched between April 29, 2024 and March 9, 2025 is the latest allowed. Each bird must be leg banded.
Quail can be a fascinating and fun poultry project, especially for those interested in hatching and learning about alternative species. While they’re allowed at the Pima County Fair, it's important to understand how quail fit into the broader 4-H and poultry show world.
Quail are not recognized in the Standards of Perfection from the American Poultry Association (APA) or American Bantam Association (ABA). This means they can be shown at the Pima County Fair, but they are not eligible to compete at APA- or ABA-sanctioned breed shows or many open shows hosted outside of fair. In this regard, they are similar to commercial turkeys and Cornish Cross chickens in terms of show limitations.
Most educational resources for 4-H poultry focus on chickens and larger fowl like turkeys. At this time, the most widely available information on quail focuses on hatching and basic care, especially for Coturnix quail. Below are a few helpful starter links:
According to the Premium Book, exhibitors can enter two pens of quail, with each entry consisting of three birds—for a total of six birds across two cages. Pen types include:
Meat pens: 3 males
Laying pens: 3 females
Breeding pens: 1 male and 2 females
Only Coturnix or Jumbo Coturnix quail are accepted, and any variety (color) is allowed. Birds must be between 6 weeks and 12 months old at fair time—meaning they must hatch between April 27, 2025, and March 9, 2026. All quail must be leg banded.
While quail may be brought to the showmanship table at the fair, we strongly encourage families to also consider raising chickens or other poultry breeds recognized in the APA and ABA Standards. These birds provide more opportunities to participate in county shows, open shows, and educational events. Additionally, quail can be flighty and difficult to handle, which may not make them ideal for first-time showmanship participants.
If you’re looking to get started with quail or need help finding a good showmanship bird, please reach out—we’re happy to help! One source for Coturnix quail is:
🔗 McMurray Hatchery – Coturnix QuailIf you're passionate about quail, you might also consider joining the American Coturnix Breeders Association:
🔗 coturnixbreeders.comIf anyone needs help getting quail or showmanship birds, please reach out and we will help where we can. A possible place to buy is: https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/coturnix-quail.html
But if anyone is really into them, they can join the American Coturnix Breeders Association: https://coturnixbreeders.com/
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Guinea fowl are a unique and exciting option for your 4-H poultry project! These eye-catching birds are known for their loud calls, alert personalities, and usefulness around the farm. They’re not only fun to raise, but they also offer practical benefits like natural pest control—guineas love to eat ticks, insects, and other unwanted bugs—and they act as excellent "watchdogs", loudly alerting you to any unfamiliar activity or predators.
Guinea fowl are recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) with four accepted varieties, making them eligible for breed shows and APA-sanctioned events. While they can be more independent and flighty than chickens, they are hardy, low-maintenance birds once established and can be raised for meat and eggs as well.
Their unique appearance and behavior make them a great conversation starter and a valuable addition to your flock.
Here are some helpful resources to get you started:
Raising Guinea Fowl – Backyard Chickens
Guinea Fowl 101 – The Happy Chicken Coop
How to Raise Guinea Fowl – Morning Chores
As always, be sure to connect with your 4-H leader if you have questions about raising or showing guinea fowl.