09/06/06 Vigo the sleeping chicken

Lauren Hooker of Boise has spent a lot of time working with Vigo the chicken. HOOKER "He's just kind of narcoleptic. He just falls asleep at random times." When Vigo the sleeping chicken is awake he and Lauren compete at the Western Idaho Fair. HOOKER "He is a white-legged horned Bianson. He is about four years old and he was one of the first birds I got from a breeder so he is really special to me." Lauren Hooker says she studies during the year and doesn't just rely on what her 4-H leaders are teaching her. HOOKER "We have a standard of perfection and it basically has over 300 breeds in it and it kind of states what the perfect bird for that breed would be. Like for him they want him to be pure white. You have to have white ear lobes. You have to have five points on the comb and it says what color they should be. How they should be shaped and how heavy they need to be." And that's why the day we saw Lauren and Vigo at the fair they were entered in the small animal round robin competition. Open to show and reserve champions only this was the best versus the best showman. More about kids and learning in tomorrow's report. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott