Part 3

POULTRY & WATERFOWL

at the 2007

Text: Elly Vogelaar Photos: Dick Hamer & Aviculture Europe In 2007 the AVICORNI SHOW was held for the first time in the Utrecht Veemarkt Halls, something that turned out to be a great success. Another step forward in upgrading this Show to the perfect (inter)national happening with superb accommodation for the Dutch Fancy Pigeon Union to house their annual National Show. Being the National Show of the Pigeon Union, of course the majority of the animals entered were fancy pigeons. However, Poultry had again more numbers than last year; a positive development, showing that the poultry fanciers are kindly disposed to the new design of this collective exhibition. Although the numbers didn’t yet exceed 1000 (as we hoped for), the quality was high and in a great

diversity. The first being important for the connoisseurs that always long to take part in this exhibition – as a participant or as a visitor; the second is of great importance for the numerous visitors, for learning and pleasure. A lot of visitors came to see the dogs and cats e.g. and knew nothing about poultry and poultry breeds. So this was a good opportunity to promote our hobby and plans are already made to make a more prominent use of this opportunity. Here follows a short impression of the Large Fowl and Bantams at this Show. Left: J.G. Steenberg with his Malay cockerel that won Best Cockerel in Show. Silhouette photo: Dick Hamer. Large Fowl As usual, the first rows of cages were for the Dutch Breeds, this time with a number of Hamburgs by Gerrit Markvoort, which were really perfect. This breeder also showed some outstanding Friesian Hoen in yellow white pencilled. As usual Wim Oliehoek entered his Dutch Owlbeards, with the very rare variety ‘moorkop’ (white body, black head) as a true attraction. Also some Chaam Hoen were present, directly followed by a number of Brakel, thus giving you the opportunity to finally figure out what is the difference between these two breeds! The Dutch breeders of French Poultry Breeds had their

Clubshow here and for judging these rather rare fowl, the Belgian Judge and specialist Raymond Ruyters was invited. The black La Flêche cockerel from Jack van Dijk was very much to his liking and scored ‘Outstanding’- 96 points. The greater part of the cages was occupied by the ‘heavy breeds’ such as Orpington, which were present in many colour varieties. Best of Breed was a buff cockerel by M. Reker. Best of Plymouth Rock was a barred pullet by Auke van der Does. Only 2 Wyandottes were entered; one of them however – a white hen by Combination Wargerink - succeeded in taking the highest prize of the day, the ‘Giesbers prize’ for Best Hen in Show. Next came a breed that is not

often exhibited in the Netherlands: the black Jersey Giants, with an outstanding cockerel by Kenneth Broekman being Best of Breed. Left: B. Wargerink with his white Wyandotte that won Best Hen in Show. Silhouette photo: Dick Hamer. Also the Brahmas could be admired in many colour varieties. The best were found in the silver partridge class, with a silver partridge cockerel from Beekhuis and a pullet from Cuypers competing for the highest honour. The judge decided the cockerel from Berend Beekhuis to be the winner. After all these heavy breeds we had something completely different: first a large class of Silkies - winning bird a white pullet from H. van Bemmelen, also winning ‘Grote Prijs van Nederland’ for the Best Pullet in Show. Next we had the rare Yokohama with their long tails and then the imposing Game breeds, where we found the Best Cockerel in Show: a black-red Malay from J.G. Steenberg, winning the ‘Grote Prijs van Nederland’ and the ‘Giesbers prize’.

Left: White Silky pullet by H. van Bemmelen. Photo: Dick Hamer. Below right: Gold partridge Dutch Bantam cockerel by Gerda Bouwmeester. Photo: Dick Hamer.

Bantams Being the District Show of the Dutch bantam Club, there was a lot of competition in these bantams that were present in many colours. Best Dutch Best Dutch Bantam was the gold partridge cockerel from Gerda Bouwmeester. The beautiful bird was awarded Excellent-97 points and chosen Best bantam cockerel in Show, also winning the ‘Grote Prijs van Nederland’. It was a nice surprise to see such a large class of Twents Hoen (Kraienkoppe) bantams, in all recognised colour varieties. Nederrijner and Brakel bantams are also not often seen at our exhibitions and the collection of various French bantam breeds was a unique experience! So as you see, there was enough variation and this is always attractive to the public, although the fanciers had

hoped for more ‘competition’. Especially in the popular Wyandotte bantams and Brahma bantams we had hoped for more birds to be entered. An outstanding Antwerp bearded bantam was unanimously chosen by the judges as Best Bantam Pullet in Show, thus winning the ‘Grote Prijs van Nederland’ and the ‘Giesbers prize’. Left: A white Antwerp Bearded bantam by H. Pauwels. Photo: Dick Hamer. The Mirror of the Fancy My tour around the Poultry cages was concluded with the birds exposed in the ‘Mirror of the Fancy’. This is where the fanciers can show their ‘new’ creations, which can be totally ‘new’ breeds or new colours, the latter almost always in the rich feathered, tame bantam breeds. By choosing breeds like these for their ‘experiments’ the fanciers are always sure to find a good home for the chickens that don’t fit in the breeding pen. Thus no wonder that we could admire a lot of amazingly coloured Silkies and Brahma bantam! Even the rare Burmas were shown here in several new colours i.e. ‘khaki’. By the way, the ones that breed these new varieties are often renowned breeders that also show top chickens in the regular classes. In our October issue we will tell you more on the animals entered in the ‘Mirror of the Fancy’. In the Mirror of the Fancy: Khaki Burmah by J. Ringnalda (left) and Blue cream Dutch Bantam by H. de Ruiter (below right).

Did you miss the Show? Well, you have another chance next December, as Avicultura and Ornithophilia will continue in the same way and organise the next AVICORNI Show on the 19th, 20th and 21st December 2008. The exhibition Board hopes all loyal fanciers and maybe many new ones to exhibit some birds at the next show in Utrecht. There is a new prize scheme which will be quite an improvement. In the coming months more news on the Show can be read in Aviculture Europe. In the next pages we give you more photos of the poultry and waterfowl at Avicorni 2007.

Clockwise, starting above left: Barred Plymouth Rock pullet, by A. v.d. Does. Black white crested Polish, by C.J. de Nekker. Photo: Dick Hamer. Silver Millefleur Booted bantam cockerel and pullet, by P.A. van Herwijnen. Buff black columbia Dutch Bantam pullet, by Jan Oostwouder.

Above left: Pile Twents Hoen (Kraienkoppe) bantam cockerel, by Fam. R. Hoornstra. Above right: Porcelain D’Uccle bearded bantam pullet, by B. Verhoork.

Left: Gold partridge Twents Hoen bantam cockerel, by R. Hoornstra.

Left: Black Antwerp Bearded bantam cockerel, by R.S. Gatti. Right: Black red Ko Shamo cockerel, by E. Burgers.

Left and below: Silver Sussex bantam cockerel and pullet, by T.v.d. Gulik.

Left: Black Jersey Giant, cockerel, by K.Broekman. Right: German Pekin, by M. Straver. Below left: Aylesburry. Below right: Rouan. Owner of both ducks: H. Gerritsen.

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25th Anniversary of the Dutch

FRENCH BREEDS CLUB

By: Elly Vogelaar, club member Photos: Aviculture Europe

Left: The invitations to this festive Club Day were delivered with a specially designed stamp. Below: One of the decorated cakes. The 25th Jubilee of the French Breed’s Club in Holland (FHC) was celebrated in style. The engaging board members succeeded in arranging a perfect day, from the invitation with the special developed stamp to the BBQ where all members and guests could mingle, talk and refresh old memories with long time - not seen members.

Almost all ‘abroad’ quests complied with the invitation to join us on this special day. The chairman had a hearty word of welcome – in the appropriate language! – for the delegates of the Belgian and French Marans Club and English Faverolles Club. Right: Ad Taks presenting a Bresse hen. On behalf of the Dutch Poultry Union NHDB, Ad Taks presented these foreign clubs with the fine NHDB Plaquette. And as a special present for the FHC he

donated a white Bresse hen (an original one from France!) which will be housed at the Farm (Care Centre for Children with Autism Disorders) where all the FHC activities have been taking place for two years. Undoubtedly the high point of this day was Co Tersteeg being appointed honourable chairman. Co was one of the founders of the FHC and a stimulating and skilled breeder of the French Poultry breeds. Left: Co was presented an engraved chairman’s hammer.

In his speech, Co mentioned some of the good and bad things that happened with the club during these 25 years, although most of his speech concerned the positive things, especially gripping the audience with his hilarious reports of the trips to the French exhibitions in the early years of the club. We all are glad to know Co will stay around and help out in word and deed when questions arise in breeding the French breeds. The Club honoured him with an engraved Chairman’s hammer, which was presented to him by Sue Bruton, secretary of the British Faverolles Club and committed to the Dutch FHC since the start. Right: Co Tersteeg and Sue Bruton from the British Faverolles Club.

Left: The meeting was closed by a toast with a glass of Pineau, a distinct drink from the region of Marans in France. Left to right: Dirk de Jong, secretary; Co Tersteeg and Fred Broekhuizen, Chair-man. For the ones interested there was a tour around the farm, while others prepared the BBQ. We were blessed with warm, sunny weather which certainly contributed to this festive day. Later in the afternoon we discussed the chickens that were brought by several club members and that were housed during the day in the large cool barn. Co

Tersteeg took the lead, making it a very interesting and educative tour around the various breeds. Today’s large attendance showed that the FHC is still alive and kicking and board and members are looking forward to another 25 pleasant years! Below: The Belgian poultry judge Rudi Theylaert (l) and Ad Taks (r) shaking hands. Rudi is a club member of the FHC since the very first beginning, and helped a lot with translating the original French Standards. Right: Deputies of the Belgian Marans Club.

Above: The guests from the Marans Club France, Mr. Albert Eckstein and his sons Patrick and Philippe, took care of the BBQ. Photos: Peter Goes and Dirk de Jong. Below: Discussing the young birds. Right: Cuckoo La Flêche. Copyright ©2008 Aviculture-Europe. All rights reserved by VBC