He’s been in the business of showing chooks for more than 50 years and still finds the time to appreciate the finer details of a well-loved and show-worthy fowl.

With a beautifully crafted cow-horn poker, Sid taps at every cage ensuring he has the bird’s attention before carefully taking them into his hands for a close inspection. He is looking for wide shoulders and heart or cone shaped bodies, thin tails and flat backs. All of these qualities will put a prize bird at the front of the pack.

A champion exhibitor himself, Sid has quite the name in chook judging circles. He has more than just a keen eye for the feathered finest – he spends most of his days on a fishing trawler when not preparing his own winning show entrants. And he doesn’t mind sharing a tune while strumming away at the guitar.

The Wauchope Poultry Show’s annual competition has been hailed a success. It cost just $1.50 to enter and on Sunday, June 25, more than 630 birds were on show.

Judge Bob Fowler (yes you read that right), hails from the Lismore region and joined a contingent of experts from across the Mid North Coast to choose the grand champion and reserve champion bird of the show.

Mid North Coast breeders are renowned as some of the best in the country with many enjoying success at this year’s Royal Easter Show.

Lake Cathie breeder Steve Lulham was recently named a life member of the Silkie Club of Australia.

New to show circles is young Dustin Green of Wingham.

Proud of his prized modern game chook, Dustin scored several wins and placings at this year’s Wauchope event and is keen to make his mark in chook circles.

“He is a very kind bird,” Dustin said about his winning fowl.

The winners were – Bird of Show, L. Emms with  an Old English Game Black-Red; Reserve Bird of Show went to Bob Forrest with an Langshan.