Help for the show season
Show Pen keeps your entry sheet, the prep countdown to penning and every bird's show record in one place.
Getting started
1. Look round the sample loft
The app opens on a sample season so you can see a full entry sheet. When you're ready, go to Index → Settings → "Start my own season".
2. Add your next show
Index → "Add a show". Enter the entries-close, penning and judging times, plus the schedule and entry-form web addresses if you have them.
3. Ring your birds
Index → "Ring a new bird". Add the leg-ring number, section, breed, colour, sex, hatch date and parents.
4. Enter them
On the entry sheet tap "Enter a bird", pick the class and pen number. The prep jobs appear straight away, counted back from penning.
Common questions
How are the prep jobs worked out?
Each entered bird gets handling a week out, scaly-leg treatment five days out, washing three days out, trimming two days out, leg-scale cleaning the day before and oiling comb and legs on penning morning. Ducks get clean bathing water instead of a wash. Team jobs (pen cards, travel box, show kit) are added once per show. If you move the penning date, every unfinished job moves with it.
I'm not getting reminders.
Tap "Remind me" on the entry sheet or turn on reminders in Settings, then allow notifications. If you declined earlier, open the iOS Settings app → Show Pen → Notifications and allow them. You can choose the reminder hour in Show Pen's Settings.
How do I log a result after judging?
Open the show from the calendar, long-press the entry and choose "Log the result". Pick the placing, any cards won (Best of Breed, Best in Show and so on), the judge's name and remarks. You can photograph the judge's card too. It all appears on the bird card.
How do I score a bird against the standard?
Open the bird card and tap "Score to the standard". Move each slider to the points you would award, and Show Pen totals them out of 100 and tells you whether the bird is ready to enter.
How do I add the widget?
Touch and hold the Home Screen, tap Edit → Add Widget, search for Show Pen and choose the small or medium size.
Can I share my entries with the show secretary?
Yes. On the entry sheet or a show page tap "Share list" to send the pens, classes and ring numbers as text. From a bird card, the ••• menu shares the bird card as an image.
Is my data backed up?
Everything stays on your device and is included in your normal iPhone or iPad backup. Show Pen has no account and no server.
How do I delete everything?
Settings → "Start my own season" clears birds, shows, results and photos. Deleting the app removes all of its data.
Contact
Need a hand, or have an idea for the next version?
Email [email protected] with your device model and iOS version. We usually reply within two working days.