BANTAM chickens are clucking and crowing with pride at their success in a big agricultural show competition.
Retired IT consultant Jane Freeman of Hurst won runner-up show champion at Berkshire County Show on Saturday, 21 September with her Croad Langshan bantam hen.
The hen beat over 300 chicken, bantam (small chicken), duck and egg entries despite being a rarer breed.
“Judges tend to choose more popular breeds where they’re more familiar with what they should be like.
“I had hoped she would do well, she was looking really nice,” said Ms Freeman.
Her black and buff Vorwerk cockerel was the champion rare breed bantam.
Ms Freeman, who has about 100 bantams, has done well this summer. In May she won reserve show champion at the Bath and West Show. At Henley Show, in early September, her Sumtaler hen was the best rare breed despite being five years old – elderly in showing circles.
She hopes for continued success in shows from October until February which are aimed less at a public audience.
Entering a show about every two weeks, she hopes her poultry will stay in great condition.
“If they break a wing feather, that’s them out for the season,” she said.
