Competition allows supermodels of poultry to show off

As he stretched his neck and looked toward the ceiling, men and women alike gazed at his tight body and long, muscled thighs.

"Kind of little to make good eating," one visitor commented.

The Birchen Modern Game bantam cock was one of 1,017 birds entered in the third annual Heartland Poultry Show this weekend at A.C. Brase Arena.

Show organizer Kirk Keene said that the petite but long-limbed game bird is one of the supermodels of poultry.

He held his hand above the bird's pen. The young cock obediently stretched its head up to the top of the cage, hoping for a treat to drop through.

"See how it's been trained to pose?" Keene asked.

Keene raises Plymouth Rock bantam chickens, a classic bird with snowy plumage, a red comb and yellow beak.

Keene, who owns Keene's Feather Farm in Anna, Ill., said the competition is fierce in poultry shows, but the people are easygoing and friendly.

In addition to being raised for their looks, the birds are raised to be gentle and easy to handle.

"If they're ornery or mean, we just eat 'em," he said.

People from about 12 different states brought their birds for judging in the poultry competition. More than 200 breeds of chicken, geese and ducks are represented.

Two judges, Phil Bartz from Jacksonville, Ill., and Glen Cryer from Alabama, looked over all the birds Saturday and will be doing their final judging this morning, using standards adopted by the American Poultry Association.

Each bird is judged according to the standards of their breed, including eye color, head shape, comb quality, beak color, wing feathers and other plumage, feet, legs and tail.

Birchen owner Gordon Hill said he's been raising the sleek game birds for several years.

The Washington, Ind., man has won first place in breed for the past two years.

"They're kind of a novelty bird. I like them because they're different," he said.

Hill demonstrated one of his bird's posing ability. The bird obediently perched on his hand and preened, turning its head from one side to the other, black feathers tight against its body.

In addition to treat-training, Keene said there's a whole bag of tricks poultry lovers use to give their birds an edge.

Feathers are shampooed and conditioned. Sometimes a little hot oil treatment is added for extra sheen.

Keene said he uses a shampoo designed for white dogs to keep his birds extra bright.

"Sometimes in the hotel you can hear blow dryers running at 1 a.m., and you know the guys in the next room are fluffing their birds," he said.

Rick Thornburg said he started raising poultry a few years ago with his son and grandsons. A county commissioner in Randolph County, Mo., he said raising poultry is an addictive hobby.

"I never dreamed it would be this much fun," he said.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

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