Stroud Show 1999
July was an exciting month for Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma. Earlier in the year I had sent off her entry form for Stroud Show, which would be held on 3rd July 1999. I had also entered the Egg and Decorated Egg classes.
Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma would have to compete against lots of other birds at the Show. As this was my (and the Brahma's !) first ever Show, and I had no idea what the standard would be, so I decided to prepare for the highest standard possible.
On the day before the Show, I gave the Brahma a bath. She had been dustbathing a lot, and was absolutely filthy, and she needed to be rinsed twice! I also cleaned in between all the scales on her legs, and I cleaned in between all the wrinkles on her comb, face and wattles with a wet cotton bud. Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma did not seem to particularly mind all this attention, and put up with it extremely well.
Above: Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma covered in foamy shampoo suds, about to be rinsed.
Above: Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma standing in the bath
After being gently and thoroughly washed, the Brahma was dried, using lukewarm air from an electric fan heater. She enjoyed being dried, and preened the water from her feathers as she stood in the path of the warm air. The Brahma stayed in the house for the rest of the evening so that she would not get dirty by being with the rest of the flock.
While Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma ate her dinner, I prepared my exhibits for the Egg class. I had been collecting eggs from Biscuit and Roadkill for the past four weeks, and I selected the cleanest and most properly shaped ones to enter for the Show.
We arrived at the Show early in the morning, as everything had to be set up by 9.30 am. There were 34 large fowl and bantams, 15 ducks, 3 turkeys and a goose to compete with in the Poultry and Waterfowl Show; 37 eggs to compete with in the Egg Show; and only 3 Eggs to compete with in the Egg Decorated by an Adult class. After setting up, we left before the judging commenced, and returned in the afternoon.
After feeding the fowl at home, we returned to the Show and found Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma's cage was resplendent with rosettes! (Pictured Below:)
The Brahma had won her class (Female Large Fowl Heavy Breed), the award for Best Female, and the Best in Show award ! I couldn't believe it, and was surprised to find out that I had won first prize for my entry in the 3 White Bantam Eggs class, and second and third prize for the two eggs I had put in the Single White Bantam Egg class.
Above: Eggs at the Egg Show
After recovering from the shock of winning so many prizes, and congratulating Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma, we went to look at more of the Show...
Above: The winner of the Male Large Fowl Heavy Breed class, and Best Male award. He is an absolutely huge and magnificent Dark Brahma.
Above: Two Gloucester cattle
Above: on the left is a Middle White pig, on the right is Colin
At 4:30 pm we were allowed to leave the Showground. By this time all the poultry were absolutely fed up with being cooped up in cages all day, and were protesting loudly. The collective noise of 35 large fowl and bantams, 15 ducks, 3 turkeys and a goose was almost unbearable ! Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma was extremely glad to get out and get home. When she did, she set to work building herself a large, deep dustbath, and thouroughly dirt-bathed herself in it !
Delighted with our Show results this year, we have decided to enter other Shows. We plan to get some more pure bred hens, and hopefully will Show White Tara and Ernie next year if they are looking smart enough.
Painswick Show August 1999
At Painswick Show, on 15th August 1999, we won the following prizes:
* Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma won 2nd prize in the Large Fowl Heavy Breed Female Class
* 2nd prize for One White Egg
* First prize for Three White Eggs
* Champion Egg Award for Three White Eggs
* 2nd and 4th prize for Decorated Eggs
Show Results 2000 can be found via Flock Diary Page...
To Flock Diary 2001 - January, February and March 2001 / April and May 2001
To Flock Diary 2000 - January 2000 / February, March, April 2000 / May 2000 / June 2000 / Stroud Show 1st July 2000 / July 2000 / August 2000 / Painswick Show 13th August 2000 / September 2000 / October, November & December 2000
To Flock Diary 1999 - January 1999 / February 1999 / March , April 1999 / May , June 1999 / Stroud Show 1999 / July 1999 / August 1999 / September 1999 / October 1999 / November 1999 / December 1999
To Flock Diary 1997 & 1998 - August to December 1997 / January, February and March 1998 / April 1998 / May 1998 / June 1998 / July 1998 / August 1998 / September 1998 / October 1998 - Part One / October 1998 - Part Two / November 1998 - Part One / November 1998 - Part Two / December 1998