Feathered friends flock to show
Organisers hope event’s success will boost membership at local bird club
TThis is a dream come true. It took a whole week to set it all up. Sofianna Kuiti, event organising committee
he Central Districts Poultry and Pigeon Show, incorporating a national event for the first time, was a dream come true for the local club. The event, held at the AP&I Showgrounds in Levin last weekend, attracted 1300 entries and filled the main hall with pigeons, chickens, ducks as well as a few rabbits, from across the country.
“It is a good catch up about what is going on elsewhere and at the various clubs,” said Mark from Rolleston in the South Island.
He brought a car and a trailer carrying at least 70 birds to the show.
He started his adventure in chicken breeding almost by accident.
“We had a lifestyle block and bought a few chickens, which we took to the local AP show. To our surprise they won some ribbons and that was it. We never looked back.
“This is a really good show at a great facility. It is great there is plenty of space,” he said.
He was one of 12 breeders who made the trip across the Cook Strait.
He said most breeders have a lot of birds, not just a handful.
Mark is a main character in the 2015 reality doco Pecking Order.
Sofianna Kuiti headed up the local organising committee for the event.
She said the annual national show alternates between the North and South Islands and the club had been working for years to get the national event to Levin.
“This is a dream come true.
“It took a whole week to set it all up. It began on Tuesday, the birds arrived on Thursday and the judging took place at Friday.
“By 11am on Sunday everyone was ready to go home.”
The main hall at the event centre was a cacophony of quacking, clucking, cooing, and crowing for days. Birds of all shapes and sizes had made themselves home in their assigned cages, row after row strutting their stuff to visitors.
More than a few had fancy plumage and the variety of birds ranged from newer breeds to plenty that go way back. Judging was based on a voluminous book of standards: NZ Poultry Standard.
Sofianna is a duck breeder, with at least one of her birds making national champion in its category.
She said she hoped the show would boost the club membership. “There has been a steady flow of visitors over the weekend. Poultry clubs are great levellers,” she said.
“People from all walks of life and incomes breed birds and are happy to share experiences and knowledge.”
The national show incorporated a dinner as well as seminars and lectures.
The Central Districts Poultry and Pigeon Club club has about 40 active members and holds regular meetings.
Membership is only $10 a year. It meets at the showgrounds, though the recent tornado did away with its club rooms and the chicken pens.
For more information: https:/ /www.centraldistrictspoultry. com/