Bird show attracts chic hens

Feathers will be ruffled as 831 birds enter Whangarei's Badminton Hall to be judged on how good looking they are. Photo / File

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To show up the other 830 birds at this weekend's Whangarei Poultry Show.

Feathers will be ruffled as judges from as far as Napier come to Whangarei to judge the feathers, colouring, plumage and overall appearance of ducks, pigeons, fancy bantam, game bantam and poultry.

Despite the competition, Whangarei Poultry and Pigeon Club secretary Graham Bellamy said preparing for the judging was easy.

"Oh you make sure they're clean. If they're white you might give them a wash but otherwise you just give them a bit of a clean and improve their look."

Mr Bellamy has been entering birds in the show since 1965 and has been secretary of the club since 1976. He has won "best poultry" a number of times.

"Well you'd hope I'd know my stuff by now wouldn't you."

Judging a bird show isn't a simple task, Mr Bellamy said there were about 500 classes birds could enter. "There's classes for every breed and different colours within that breed. I'd expect there are about 900 classes but not every class has a bird in that category so at this show there'd be 400 to 500." The show, held tomorrow and Sunday, is in its 116th year and is expected to attract 831 birds and more than 100 humans.

On Saturdayit runs from 1-5pm and 9am-12pm on Sunday at Whangarei Badminton Hall.