Competitors came from far and wide to enter their birds in the National Poultry and Pigeon Show in Rangiora this weekend.
More than 1400 birds put their best claw forward to try and impress the judges and take out the best bird in show prize.
"It's just a competition with some of the best exhibits, just to sum up the year's breeding," said North Canterbury Poultry and Pigeon Club president Gary Donald.
Cantabrians flocked to the event, taking their time to admire the birds on display. One eventgoer described the birds as "beautiful" while another was amazed by the ducks.
"I don't think I've ever seen a duck that big, they're huge."
The highly-anticipated show drew competitors from far and wide.
"They've come from Invercargill right through to up from, down from Hamilton," Donald said.
And there are all sorts of birds to see.
"We've got the heavy breeds, and then there's the light breeds, and then there's bantams of each of the heavies and lights and then there's ducks and geese," Donald said.
Birds are assessed by specialist judges.
"Move them around just see how they move and then we take the birds out and go through them individually, so every bird gets inspected," said hard-feather bantam chicken judge Chris Dale.
Some are more friendly than others.
But there can only be one winner - and this year it was a rare silver appleyard duck named Willow.
"It's quite an honour to have her get to champion row, let alone win best in show so very proud of her," Willow's owner Caroline Falkingham said.
And they plan to celebrate with a special treat - "got some snacks in the car for her, might go out and buy a silverbeet for her later," Falkingham said.
A winning dinner for the best in the nest.
