Brian Glassey of Ashburton took part in his first bird show at aged 18.
Today the 75-year-old is readying 35 birds for the two-day New Zealand National Poultry Show in Ashburton from tomorrow.
It is hosted by Ashburton Fanciers’ Society in the Sports Hall, Tancred St.
More than 1600 bird entries from throughout the country have been entered across 12 sections.
Brian, who is secretary/treasurer of the society, said he enjoyed connecting with other breeders who came from all over to attend.
‘‘We’ve got four Australian judges coming over to judge; all the others are from within New Zealand; there are about 12.’’
In his time, Brian has travelled throughout the country to compete and won countless titles, ribbons and rosettes.
Among his entries this week are six bantams, two anconas, five barred rocks, five wyandottes, four Australorps, two Colombian rock and five silkies including a nine-month-old male he was hopeful of winning.
‘‘He’s okay, he’s got wee faults, but they all have because in New Zealand we can’t get birds from anywhere else.
‘‘In Australia they have quite good, some of the breeds. But we can’t get them because of the regulations. You can’t import live birds, you can’t even get eggs.’’
Brian said the gene pool of the birds was getting smaller with less people breeding.
‘‘Our gene pool is getting smaller with less people doing it because you’ve got to live out in the country somewhere; you know what happens when people live in town with roosters.’’
Brian, who was one of the standout personalities in the 2017 Kiwi feel-good documentary ‘Pecking Order’ still gets recognised for his role.
The film, by director Slavko Martinov, tells the story of simmering rivalries at the Christchurch Poultry, Bantam and Pigeon Club and followed the birds from chicks through to their appearance in front of judges.
Brian said at the recent show in Rangiora he had a man come up to him and ask to take a selfie with him.
The movie is still playing on Apple TV.
Brian showed his first Barred Rock bred fowl at Waimate in 1968.
‘‘We always had fowls at home, well, like everybody did, and we always got jobs – there were three of us boys – my job was to feed the fowls.
‘‘Then when I was about 12, the old fella who had a poultry farm down the road, at Carters Terrace, he came in and said to mum, ‘have you got any boys who will come and do after school work?’’’
His mother volunteered Brian, as he had experience with the birds.
The neighbour, the late Lou Bolm, took one look at Brian’s tiny stature and said, ‘Christ what have I done here.’
‘‘I didn’t grow much at school,’’ Brian said.
‘‘I grew a lot after I started work.’’
Brian said the experience at Bolm’s ended up being invaluable and set him on track for breeding and future shows.
‘‘He taught me everything I damn near know, I think,’’ Brian said.
‘‘That’s how I got into showing; I went along to the shows and looked at the birds, and met the some of the people and I met an old fella who used to sex the chickens at Lou Bolm’s.
‘‘I got talking to him and he said, ‘I’ll bring you some eggs’. And that’s what he did.
‘‘I sat them and got three pullets and two cockerels – and one of them I showed.’’
‘‘I’ve been doing it ever since.’’
■ The New Zealand National Poultry Show, hosted by the Ashburton Fanciers’ Society at the Sports Hall, Tancred St, Ashburton. Doors open on Friday from 2pm to 6pm, and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Spectators cost $5, children free.
