Chickens come in a bewildering array of shapes, sizes and colours, from compact little white bantams to large, colourful faverolles and everything in between.
And the people who keep them are no less diverse.
Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Poultry Club’s spring show this weekend attracted bird fanciers of all ages and backgrounds from across Suffolk and Norfolk.
The event, at the club’s headquarters at Grange Farm in Hall Road, Barsham, featured 225 hens and ducks as well as 90 plates of eggs, all competing for a coveted first place trophy.
HGV driver Leon Smith, from Great Yarmouth, won best in show for an australorp chicken.
Mr Smith, 26, has been showing birds ever since he can remember and keeps a mixture of rare breed ducks and chickens in the garden of his terraced seaside home.
He said: “Having a prize-winning bird is more to do with how you keep them than anything you can do to prepare them. Keeping them fit throughout the year is the challenge. I give them different foods and wormers, whatever they need to keep them looking nice.”
Madison Clark, aged seven, from Lower Gresham, near Cromer. was best junior exhibitor with her old English game bird and her brother Callum Clark, five, took the prize for best junior Asian game bird.
Trevor Martin, from Wroxham, entered his Suffolk Chequers in to the show. Mr Martin developed the breed himself and is waiting to hear if it will be formally recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain. He said: “I am a trained agricultural scientist so when I retired I was looking for something to do and it had to be something to do with living things.”
Charley English, seven, from Aslacton, near Long Stratton, was taking part in his first poultry show with blue pekin bantam Emily.
His mum Jane said: “Charley got Emily for Christmas. He saw the pekins at a show and liked them.
“Emily spends a lot of time inside and stands on the sofa watching television.”
The club, which was formed 24 years ago, has up to 80 members aged from five years old to people in their late 80s.
Contact Stuart Clark on 01263 577843 for more information.
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