Exhibitors from throughout the South Island will descend on Dunedin’s Forrester Park this Saturday and Sunday, May 27-28, ready to showcase more than 600 birds, from chickens and ducks to pigeons and budgies. The 47th annual Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird Club show combines competition elements with a sale of birds, and will be open to the public from 1pm-5.30pm on Saturday, and 10.30am-2pm on Sunday.
Among those vying for top honours at the show will be Allanton-based poultry enthusiast Lisa Terry, present holder of the Hudson Cup for Best Heavy Breed, who plans to show seven of her Orpingtons in the competition.
A British breed, Orpingtons are among the largest breeds, and have a gentle nature that makes them ideal for showing. Preparing the birds involves bathing and blow-drying them — a process they seem to enjoy.
"They love getting blow dried, and it makes a real difference to how they look and feel — they come out nice and fluffy," Ms Terry said.
Club committee member Charlie Wilson said the Hudson Cup, which would be at stake again this weekend, had a fascinating history that revealed a long-standing connection between the Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird Club and two of the city’s well-known businesses — Hudson’s biscuit factory (later Cadbury’s) and Harraways.
Chocolate-maker Ambrose Hudson, a keen poultry enthusiast and member of local poultry clubs, used the eggs from his own hens in the making of biscuits at the factory. He initially donated the Hudson Cup to the Kaikorai-Wakari Poultry and Pigeon Club, which later combined with the Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird Club.
The Hudson family’s ownership of Harraways continues to this day, and the oats and breakfast cereals company is supporting the poultry show with food for the birds and materials for cage linings.
Mr Wilson, who has won many prizes for his Pekin bantams and other chickens over the years, plans to show some of his favourite birds at this weekend’s show.
The proud owner of about 50 Pekin bantams, Mr Wilson said the birds had a lovely nature and made excellent pets.
"They are very sweet and friendly, and really like human company," he said.
