Poultry breeders strive for perfection

Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird Club president Stuart Aitken holds up his partner's prize-winning bird at the Dunedin Poultry Show yesterday.Photos / Gerard O'Brien

There is no such thing as the perfect chicken, but a leading Dunedin breeder says his partner's prize-winning Pekin bantam is about as close as you can get.

Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird Club president Stuart Aitken, of Mosgiel, was proud to have had a hand in raising his partner Kaye Sangster's Pekin bantam, which cleaned up several awards, including best overall bird, at the 40th Dunedin Poultry Show over the weekend.

The bird was the closest to perfection he had seen in more than 50 years he had been involved in poultry breeding, Mr Aitken said.

It was round like a ball, low to the ground, had nice waddles and long, soft feathers, which were all attributes the judges were looking for.

''There is no such thing as the perfect bird, but you can get pretty close.''

The bird was one of hundreds on show over the weekend at Forrester Park, which was abuzz with the sound of roosters crowing, ducks quacking and pigeons cooing.

Mr Aitken said the world of poultry breeding was a competitive one.

''Everybody's here to beat each other. As far as you are concerned, you have got the best bird.''

The occasional competitor cried fowl when the judges did not pick their bird, but the competition, while fierce, was generally good-natured.

Despite more people keeping chickens in their backyards this was not translating to increased membership and the club was keen for younger members to join.