Spring show full of feathered friends and fun
The annual Lowestoft and Gt Yarmouth Poultry club spring show at Barsham. Elicia Smithers (6) with her feathered friend. PHOTO: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
With their feathers preened and beaks polished, entrants flocked to Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Poultry Club's annual spring show.
The annual Lowestoft and Gt Yarmouth Poultry club spring show at Barsham. PHOTO: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
The event, held at Grange Farm in Barsham near Beccles, saw some 200 entries, from ornamental Pekin chickens to fluffy Silkies.
Club chairman Fay Shephard, of Wangford, said there was an element of friendly competition at the show yesterday.
She said: 'Everybody likes to breed something a little bit better than somebody else.
'Then when you put them in a pen beside another bird of the same breed there is a bit of competition.'
But despite the rivalry, there was a very friendly atmosphere as enthusiasts enjoyed sharing tips and meeting up with each other.
'That's what I aim for,' she said. 'I do like to put the emphasis on a nice, friendly club getting people together who enjoy a common hobby.'
Most Read
- 1 Where the streets have no cars... the community that banned the school run
- 2 Fake chefs deliver out-of-date lasagne to Carrow Road ahead of Spurs clash
- 3 Restaurant apologises after boy hospitalised with allergic reaction
- 4 Can you answer these 10 GCSE questions designed for 16-year-olds?
- 5 Heaven & Hell: David Whiteley and Amelia Reynolds
- 6 Cyclist airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following incident
- 7 Revamped 'hidden gem' restaurant hoping to put village on map for food
- 8 'God's waiting room' - Norfolk town is country's pensioner hotspot
- 9 Town faces disruption from roadworks 15 miles away
- 10 Former vicarage set in one acre is up for sale - and it needs some TLC
And while some entrants came from as far afield as Lincolnshire to show their poultry, Les and Shirley Allen only had to travel from Lowestoft to bring their birds.
The retired couple brought five of their birds to show, and often travel around the country to competitions.
Mr Allen said: 'It's addictive. We did our first show here about three or four years ago and came up before just to have a look.
'Someone suggested bringing up our birds, which we did and got a couple of first places and that was that!'
The couple said caring for their 35 birds is a lot of work, but a hobby they enjoy.
'It took us a year to get a first place prize with our Sultan chickens,' said Mr Allen. 'It's hard, but you just keep trying and it's worth it in the end.
'There aren't many Sultans about but if you don't show them here then people won't see them.
'But if they come to the show and have a look they might breed them and show them themselves.'
Six-year-old Elicia Smithers from Wymondham also enjoyed showing her Pekin chicken Peggy.
'I've got three chickens,' she said.
'And I brought Peggy because she is very pretty. I feed them every day, they like pasta and they have peas and carrots and pellets too.'
Ash Denny of Great Yarmouth was also at the show, encouraged by a friend who entered.
She said: 'I help my friend out with his chickens and I learnt from him. I'm still learning now.
'They're quite easy to keep, but like any other animal, they've all got their own personalities!'
Are you running an event? Email polly.grice@archant.co.uk
