As I was walking down the aisle of the fantastic display of birds at Hawkesbury Show recently, I was stopped and asked by a well-dressed gentleman who asked why people showed chooks, after all it was about eggs and meat, wasn’t it?
Not a bad question, but one I was able to answer, albeit a little faster than I’m going to here!
Showing birds is an art, not just in the showing but in the breeding. It is here champions are made.
Breeding great birds helps keep a diverse genetic pool and many fanciers maintain rare breeds just to ensure these genetics, which may be needed in the future, are not lost.
Some of these rarer breeds can be crossed to ensure hardiness and specific qualities that new methods of farming may need.
For example, some meat bird farmers have developed a specific market with Dorking cross Malay for a fast growing, hardy, foraging type of bird that does well in an organic, free range setting.
Others breed for the pure desire to breed the ‘perfect’ bird.
Many have come close, some claim they have but there’s never been the bird at least someone can’t find a fault with!
So the fanciers keep showing up each year in hope the ‘perfect’ bird has been bred.
Also we need to remember that these fancy birds lay eggs and produce meat, it’s not mutually exclusive.
Many of what we call now the show breeds were once the traditional meat and egg producers of particular regions in England or their country of origin.
Hence the names such as Sussex, Rhode Island Red, Dorking and New Hampshire.
People have many reasons for showing birds, some even for the social aspects and to get out and about.
Many people just like to have a few birds around and share a story or two.
Whatever reason you have just enjoy your birds and your time around the sheds.
- Bruce Pattinson is a past president of the NSW Exhibition Poultry Association. Email questions to smartfarmer@theland.com.au or post to: Chook Feed, PO Box 25, Kogarah, 2217, with your name and daytime contact number.
