The Country Smallholder reports from Craven Feather Auction; a show and sale where quality and prices were high…

A flying start was achieved as CCM Skipton Auction Mart welcomed the return of its first Craven Feather Auction show and sale of poultry and waterfowl since the removal of restrictions.

Game birds were top of the game and taking principal honours on his first-ever appearance at a poultry show was Calderdale’s Ethan Healey, High Lees Farm, Halifax, with the first prize pen of large fowl, a trio of Welsummer, a cockerel and two females. Ethan, who has been breeding poultry for some 15 years and now maintains a 30-strong flock of differing breeds, saw his victors – they are a Dutch breed of domestic chicken – go on to sell for £80 to D Deakin, Harrogate.

Show judge, William Gregson, Lytham, remained with the game birds for his chosen reserve champions, the first prize small fowl pen, a trio of 2023 Wheaten Modern Game bantams from Andrew Addison, Mickleton, Barnard Castle, again a cockerel and two females. They are a British breed of ornamental chicken which originated in England between 1850 and 1900.

Andrew is an accomplished showman. As well as being a former Skipton poultry champion, then with White Wyandottes, he has also won the Carlisle Game Show with Old English Bantams, along with other show successes across the UK and Ireland. The reserve champions made £115, the same vendor also standing third in same show class with a pair of 2024 Old English Game bantams sold at £60, another at £55, all going to AJ Coates, Garstang, one of the principal purchasers on the day.

Top of the pecking order on price at £170 was a brace of six-month-old peahens, though a non-breeding pair, from AJ&HC Clark, Sedbergh, again plucked out by D Deakin, while also hitting three figures were two Light Sussex trios at £145 from J Falshaw, Gisburn, and £120 from Richard Shepherd, Bewerley, Pateley Bridge, both claimed by AP Percival, Haworth.

Picture caption: Ethan Healey, left, with his Craven Feather Auction Welsummer champions, joined by judge William Gregson.

This article extract was taken from Practical Poultry in the August 2024 edition of The Country Smallholder. To read the article in full, you can buy the issue here.

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Upcoming poultry shows 2024:

August

September

  • 7 Wolsingham, Dave Richardson 07879990467
  • 8 Southport & Ormskirk Autumn Show, 07917669184, so.bantams@gmail.com
  • 14 Penistone Show (birds and eggs),Orpington regional, lots of children’s classes fionawowra@hotmail.com
  • 14 Stanhope, Dave Richardson 07879990467
  • 21 Eggleston, John Rogers 07510654694
  • 21 & 22 Federation Poultry Show, Staffordshire Showground www.federationpoultryshow.weebly.com
  • 28 Glossop & District Poultry Show, Sharon Kershaw 07852 571291

October

November

Disclaimer: The Country Smallholder / Kelsey Publishing cannot be held responsible for incorrect show dates, contacts or venues. The above listing is a guide only, please confirm the event, date, contact, time and location before making plans.