Pecking order: rare birds on show

22 August 2009

Some of Australia's finest poultry are strutting their stuff in Hobart.

671 birds are entered in the Tasmanian Rare Breeds Poultry Club show at the Royal Agricultural Society grounds.

Dozens of breeds of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys have been plucked and preened to perfection.

Publicity officer Brent Lance says some odd breeds such as the Scots Grey are being shown for the first time in more than half a century.

"We've got the Marans, which are an egg-laying breed from France, and they lay a beautiful chocolate coloured egg."

Mr Lance says there is renewed interest in traditional breeds.

"Older people are reminiscing about the chooks they used to have when they were kids, 60 or 70 years ago," he said.

Judge Val Bragg says award winning chooks have the right eye and comb colour, and no broken feathers.

"You open the wings to make sure theres no broken feathers and that the colour is all black."

Poultry Club President Richard Poke says one of the rarest breeds on show is the Phoenix, which is renowned for its long tail feathers.

"They continue to grow for their entire life and end up about two metres long, perhaps three if you're lucky," Mr Poke said.

Merv Hut breeds Transylvanian Naked Neck chickens which, he concedes, are not the prettiest of birds.

"But I fell in love with them because they are so friendly," he crowed.