West Springfield, MA
Northeastern Poultry Congress
January 17-18, 2026
The Northeastern Poultry Congress is the largest annual poultry show in New England, held every January at the Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Drawing more than 3,000 birds—including chickens, turkeys, pigeons, waterfowl, guineas, and pheasants—the event features competitive judging, ribbons, prizes, and a wide variety of breeds on display. Visitors can attend educational seminars, browse vendor booths for feed and supplies, and connect with knowledgeable breeders.
Open to the public and family-friendly, the Congress has become a major gathering for poultry enthusiasts, celebrating over 50 years of showcasing the diversity and value of poultry.
For the best experience, most day-trippers should plan their visit on a Saturday as Sundays are for Exhibitors.
Location: Eastern States Expo Center, Mallory Complex
1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, MA
Future Dates: typically held the third weekend of January.
Contact: Cheryl Barnaba; showchicken@yahoo.com
Photo Credits & Acknowledgements: Seth Johnson & Cheryl Barnaba
COMING SOON!
Frequently Asked Questions:
18 or under.
Juniors who are entered in the show can if they wish sign up for showmanship classes.
No. Showmanship is offered in addition to our Junior show.
Yes. This practice is supported and encouraged for experienced juniors at NEPC. Please fill out two different entry forms. One labeled “junior” and the other labeled “junior open class”. Staple both together and pay with one check. The open entries will be judged only with the adults, while the junior entries will be judged only with the juniors.
No. One bird can not be in two places at once.
Thats up to you. NEPC does supply water cups. There is water in the building for exhibitors to water their own birds with.
Any birds left behind after the show ends on Sunday become the property of NEPC.
Yes. Turkeys are shown in both open and Junior classes. Turkey cages are provided by NEPC at no additional fee.
Yes you can. Please note that if you do, you are only allowed to sell just pigeons or waterfowl.
A current Pullorum test. Please refer to the show catalog for more information.
Call your States Agricultural department. Please be sure to give them a couple of months lead time if you can.
Please refer to the show catalog for details.
No early coop out is not allowed. The NEPC is a two day show. Exhibits remain in place until after the awards ceremony on Sunday, usually before 11:00am. If you can not commit due to conflicts please do not send in an entry.
No. Anyone who does so will not be allowed to attend future shows.
A two day show is a historical event that is slower paced and usually reserved for larger poultry shows. There is simply too much to fit into a one day show for a grand show such as the Poultry Congress.
Yes. As always we welcome visitors. We do not charge for entry. Donations to the club are appreciated.
Parking is included at no charge for exhibitors. Visitors do pay to park.
NEPC keeps a keen eye on the weather. In our 52 years of shows, we have only canceled one show due to weather before Friday. Our show manager Brian Knox has you and your trip home in mind and will plan accordingly if there is a looming problem during the weekend.
Please refer to the show catalog for closing times and other important information.
We consistently hear from new folks that we are an exceptionally welcoming group. 52 years of Poultry Congress shows, we are still a family friendly event. We take pride in helping newcomers and old friends. Drunks, bad showman, and other bad behavior is not tolerated. Problems should be reported to the show staff.
Yes, however some older or Heritage breeds are no longer recognized. Those will be entered by the show secretary as NRB or non recognized breed.
Yes. They will be entered as NRV or Non recognized variety.
If the coop tags have not been printed, our show secretaries can usually accommodate a change. Changes are not allowed during national shows as the volume of entries is higher.
Yes, BUT only after his or her assignments for the day have been completed.
Yes. The show hall has heat. We aim to keep humans and birds just warm enough to be comfortable. Some folks will wear jackets, some folks will not wear jackets.
Contact Richard Trojanoski at Hopehollow@hotmail.com for details.
Yes. There is a food vendor which serves sandwiches, salads and hamburgers. Outside food is restricted as per our contract with the Fairgrounds. Please be respectful of this rule.
No. Dogs are prohibited from the show hall.
No. All birds that have been entered into the show have a cage with a coop card that is all its own for the weekend. The only exception is junior SHOWMANSHIP birds. We suggest that you bring a comfortable box or guinea pig cage with food and water that can be tucked under your child's show birds.
Yes they can BUT we ask that exhibitors add 2 weeks flock quarantine to the manufacturers instructions for quarantine recommendations. The very last thing any of us want is to accidentally spread disease to our fellow friends in the fancy.
Not really. While the show is technically open on Sunday is a bad day for visitors. Sunday is reserved for exhibitors final judging and awards. There is almost nothing for visitors on Sunday. Most visitors attending on a Sunday leave disappointed. Please attend on Saturday no Sunday if you are a visitor.
The Eastern States Exposition generously supports the Poultry Congress. We are grateful that they believe in Agriculture as much as we do !
We can really use your help! It takes an enormous amount of volunteers to bring forward a fun well organized show such as the Congress. We need folks to help in the office for Friday afternoon and evening, and also Saturday. We need help with the teardown of the show on Sunday !! Please email us at showchicken@yahoo.com for more info !
Yes. Outside sales are strictly prohibited. All the birds for sale inside the building come from tested flocks. Birds from non exhibitors might not have been tested. This practice puts the bird within the show hall at risk. Anyone caught making a transaction in the parking lot will be banned from attending all future shows.
No. There is no “Flipping” of chickens. This rule is strictly enforced and will not be tolerated.
Yes absolutely. Quarantine is the best way to protect your birds at home from diseases. We highly recommend this age old method for both your show birds and any birds you may have purchased at the show.
We honestly have no idea. It's a chicken farmers market of sorts. The in-demand birds sell out quickly. Please do not contact us about what birds will be for sale. We do not know. FYI the selling of chicks is highly discouraged.
Good question! Please do not go to the office in search of a person or persons. Volunteers working in the office have no idea where a person in the vast halls of the Mallory building is. My best advice is look for someone who looks like they are an exhibitor and ask them if they have seen the person your looking for. Repeat this until you have found your person.
No, the Poultry Congress does not provide boxes. If you think you will be bringing any extras home with you, then come prepared with boxes.
Yes. We expect there to be a nice assortment of vendors.
Yes. Bradley International Airport is nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions:
18 or under.
Juniors who are entered in the show can if they wish sign up for showmanship classes.
No. Showmanship is offered in addition to our Junior show.
Yes. This practice is supported and encouraged for experienced juniors at NEPC. Please fill out two different entry forms. One labeled “junior” and the other labeled “junior open class”. Staple both together and pay with one check. The open entries will be judged only with the adults, while the junior entries will be judged only with the juniors.
No. One bird can not be in two places at once.
Thats up to you. NEPC does supply water cups. There is water in the building for exhibitors to water their own birds with.
Any birds left behind after the show ends on Sunday become the property of NEPC.
Yes. Turkeys are shown in both open and Junior classes. Turkey cages are provided by NEPC at no additional fee.
Yes you can. Please note that if you do, you are only allowed to sell just pigeons or waterfowl.
A current Pullorum test. Please refer to the show catalog for more information.
Call your States Agricultural department. Please be sure to give them a couple of months lead time if you can.
Please refer to the show catalog for details.
No early coop out is not allowed. The NEPC is a two day show. Exhibits remain in place until after the awards ceremony on Sunday, usually before 11:00am. If you can not commit due to conflicts please do not send in an entry.
No. Anyone who does so will not be allowed to attend future shows.
A two day show is a historical event that is slower paced and usually reserved for larger poultry shows. There is simply too much to fit into a one day show for a grand show such as the Poultry Congress.
Yes. As always we welcome visitors. We do not charge for entry. Donations to the club are appreciated.
Parking is included at no charge for exhibitors. Visitors do pay to park.
NEPC keeps a keen eye on the weather. In our 52 years of shows, we have only canceled one show due to weather before Friday. Our show manager Brian Knox has you and your trip home in mind and will plan accordingly if there is a looming problem during the weekend.
Please refer to the show catalog for closing times and other important information.
We consistently hear from new folks that we are an exceptionally welcoming group. 52 years of Poultry Congress shows, we are still a family friendly event. We take pride in helping newcomers and old friends. Drunks, bad showman, and other bad behavior is not tolerated. Problems should be reported to the show staff.
Yes, however some older or Heritage breeds are no longer recognized. Those will be entered by the show secretary as NRB or non recognized breed.
Yes. They will be entered as NRV or Non recognized variety.
If the coop tags have not been printed, our show secretaries can usually accommodate a change. Changes are not allowed during national shows as the volume of entries is higher.
Yes, BUT only after his or her assignments for the day have been completed.
Yes. The show hall has heat. We aim to keep humans and birds just warm enough to be comfortable. Some folks will wear jackets, some folks will not wear jackets.
Contact Richard Trojanoski at Hopehollow@hotmail.com for details.
Yes. There is a food vendor which serves sandwiches, salads and hamburgers. Outside food is restricted as per our contract with the Fairgrounds. Please be respectful of this rule.
No. Dogs are prohibited from the show hall.
No. All birds that have been entered into the show have a cage with a coop card that is all its own for the weekend. The only exception is junior SHOWMANSHIP birds. We suggest that you bring a comfortable box or guinea pig cage with food and water that can be tucked under your child's show birds.
Yes they can BUT we ask that exhibitors add 2 weeks flock quarantine to the manufacturers instructions for quarantine recommendations. The very last thing any of us want is to accidentally spread disease to our fellow friends in the fancy.
Not really. While the show is technically open on Sunday is a bad day for visitors. Sunday is reserved for exhibitors final judging and awards. There is almost nothing for visitors on Sunday. Most visitors attending on a Sunday leave disappointed. Please attend on Saturday no Sunday if you are a visitor.
The Eastern States Exposition generously supports the Poultry Congress. We are grateful that they believe in Agriculture as much as we do !
We can really use your help! It takes an enormous amount of volunteers to bring forward a fun well organized show such as the Congress. We need folks to help in the office for Friday afternoon and evening, and also Saturday. We need help with the teardown of the show on Sunday !! Please email us at showchicken@yahoo.com for more info !
Yes. Outside sales are strictly prohibited. All the birds for sale inside the building come from tested flocks. Birds from non exhibitors might not have been tested. This practice puts the bird within the show hall at risk. Anyone caught making a transaction in the parking lot will be banned from attending all future shows.
No. There is no “Flipping” of chickens. This rule is strictly enforced and will not be tolerated.
Yes absolutely. Quarantine is the best way to protect your birds at home from diseases. We highly recommend this age old method for both your show birds and any birds you may have purchased at the show.
We honestly have no idea. It's a chicken farmers market of sorts. The in-demand birds sell out quickly. Please do not contact us about what birds will be for sale. We do not know. FYI the selling of chicks is highly discouraged.
Good question! Please do not go to the office in search of a person or persons. Volunteers working in the office have no idea where a person in the vast halls of the Mallory building is. My best advice is look for someone who looks like they are an exhibitor and ask them if they have seen the person your looking for. Repeat this until you have found your person.
No, the Poultry Congress does not provide boxes. If you think you will be bringing any extras home with you, then come prepared with boxes.
Yes. We expect there to be a nice assortment of vendors.
Yes. Bradley International Airport is nearby.