Thousands attend National Poultry Show in Telford - with pictures and video

Anyone who thought chickens were chickens and ducks were ducks can think again.

For there were no less than 100 different breeds of birds on display at the National Poultry Show. There were tiny bantams and the enormous ChineseVisio Cochins, big friendly balls of fluff and feathers, even the five-toed Lincolnshire buffs. There were the flighty Leghorns and the tamer Rhode Island Red, tiny ducks and geese so big they were housed in cages normally used by dog owners.

As for the turkeys, they looked so stunning, no-one surely could consider having them on their Christmas dinner plate.

Some of the birds had spectacular plumage, some with hairstyles that many women would envy. All had been preened and pampered by their obsessive owners, determined to ensure that the bird looked its best for the judges.

Competitor Elaine Oliver said: "I usually give mine a bath about a week before the event and them keeping them indoors after that to ensure they say clean.

The National Poultry Show brought competitors and visitors not only from all over the United Kingdom but from across the world to Shropshire.

Denise Jones, from the Cochin Club of Great Britain, said the interest in keeping chickens has soared over recent years. "By keeping chickens you can be a farmer in your own back garden," she said.

Mrs Jones, from Caernarfon, said her daughter lived in an urban two-bedroom house in Tadcaster yet had three hens which gave her eggs each day.

Friends Peter Hamill and Geoffrey Weir travelled from Northern Ireland with their chickens.

From even further afield were Doron and Raphaela Golan who travelled from Israel just for the show. Mr Golan said: "I have about 20 birds but in Israel we do not have shows like this. This is wonderful. We are also visiting friends while we are here."