One of WA’s biggest exhibition poultry competitions will be among the attractions at this year’s Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day, with the Bullsbrook Poultry Club’s popular Young Bird Show returning for the third time.
The Poultry Pavillion will showcase a dazzling display of birds under the age of one, with champions crowned in eight sections and major prizes awarded for bird of show and reserve.
Club secretary Peta Coombs said the exhibition would include hundreds of entries including all manner of waterfowl, hard feather and soft feather birds.
“Your hard feather birds are your gamebirds; they are a tightly feathered bird and you can see the contours of the body,” she explained.
“They are generally a more athletic bird. Then you’ve got soft feather birds, which are more your laying birds and your meat birds — a universal bird.
“We award a best of section for eight sections: soft feather heavy breed in bantam and large, light breed soft feather in bantam and large, hard feather bantam and large, and then you’ve got bantam and large in waterfowl as well.”
Attendees will be able to view the exhibition throughout the day, except for between 9am and 9.30am, when the pavilion will be closed for judging by Australian Poultry accredited judges.
Now in its 25th year, the club is based at the Gidgegannup Showgrounds and has been hosting exhibitions in various forms at the Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day for much of that time, with the Young Bird Show first held in 2021.
“Our club president, Shane McNamara, has been breeding and showing Indian Game for 50 plus years and judges all breeds Australia-wide,” Ms Coombs said.
“Our treasurer, Maxine King, has been treasurer of the club since its inception, and I think that’s a huge commitment.”
For Ms Coombs, the love of exhibition poultry comes from a lifelong interest in high-quality animals of all sorts.
“We had a few birds in the backyard and then a friend gave us some show quality birds and said ‘why don’t you come along to a show?’ So we did,” she said.
“I figure everyone can breed a chook, but whether you can breed a bird good enough to win an exhibition is another story. That’s the challenge.”
The club will also hold a bird raffle on the day, with purebred poultry prizes donated by members.
The Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day will be held from 9am-4.30pm on Sunday, May 28, at the Gidgegannup Showgrounds at 2171 Toodyay Road in Gidgegannup.
Entry for children under 16 is free.
Tickets are $15 for adults and can be purchased at the gate or online at https://events.humanitix.com/gidgegannup-small-farm-field-day-bn8ruyjr
