If you are serious about showing I strongly suggest getting a "America Standard of Perfection book" from the APA, which can be done online. This will let you know your breeds description, color descriptions, DQ's, and the scale of points judges go by at the shows. Many of the DQ's can be hard to understand unless you find a good judge or breeder to show you examples of the real deal. The most frequent question I am asked is what are DQ's as they apply to Silkies.
Here they are!
"Bright red comb, face, and wattles. Shanks not feathered down outer sides. Feathers not truly silky (except in primaries, secondaries, leg, toe, and main tail feathers.) Vulture hocks. Split, slipped wings, twisted feathers, wry tail, anything other than a  walnut comb, they can dq for weight,
faking, roach backs, duck foot, web foot,  deformed beak, blindness, absence of crest, beard, muffs or in non bearded the  presence of them. clipped wings, angel wings, crooked keel bone, deformed feet  or joints, bow leg, knock knee, more or less than 5 toes, pg 34 talks of foreign color that is not described in the plumage as well but; The ABA Silkie Bantam Color of male and female by variety Lacings of a foreign color on black or blue variety of males one year old and scarcity of foot feathering shall not be disqualification, but they are to be rated under birds that do not have the defects. So basicly cocks can get away with a little color in the neck, but can not win." Make sure to read the color descriptions for any DQ's specific to that color.

There is currently 8 accepted colors in silkies both bearded an non bearded; Black, White, Blue, Splash, Buff, Partridge, Gray, Self Blue. All other colors are AOV or Any other variety. Examples are; showgirls, blue partridge, Self Creams, etc. These are not yet accept varieties and do not count for overall awards in the show such as BB, RB, or any of the higher awards. There is a process for new colors/"varieties" to be accepted by the APA.
Silkies are in a class called "Featherlegs" there are 9 breeds in this class. A show is broke down into classes for both Standard & Bantams, than to each breeds color or variety for a BV or Best of Variety and a RV Reserve of Variety, all accepted varieties who win BV can than be considered for BB Best of Breed or RB Reserve of Breed. Now each class of all the Best of Breed winners in the 9 breeds within "Featherleg" will go against each other for Champion Featherleg or R FL Reserve Featherleg. Get used to the the intials, most shows do not write out the whole word on the show card. The Champion Featherleg an Reserve Champion Featherleg can go on to compete with the other 4 classes to win Champion or Reserve Champion Bantam or go against the 6 standard classes for Champion or Reserve Champion of the Show.

There are a few things to note; not all exhibitors should show and not all judges should judge. So keep in mind about the politics of showing any animal that just because you do have the best that you will win. Make friends and have fun!

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