PAUL Woodward is an enthusiastic breeder and exhibitor of old variety canaries and took best of breed at this year’s National Exhibition with a fine Lancashire coppy.
Birdkeeping is in the blood: Paul grew up in a family of poultry breeders and exhibitors. From an early age he would be pushed in his pram out into the garden where he would watch the bantams pecking around.
An early photo in the Woodward family album captures a three-week-old Paul, joined in the pram by a dozen bantams perched on the pram edge and handle alongside him.
It was only natural that Paul followed in the family tradition and became a breeder and exhibitor of poultry in his own right, specialising in white Leghorn bantams and large black Leghorns. These were regularly shown at Stafford – not the National, familiar to cage bird exhibitors, but the large Federation Championship Show, a huge poultry event that is held each December.
Canaries came into Paul’s life about eight years ago, when he downsized his home and there was no longer room for poultry. He needed another livestock hobby and after some research discovered old variety canaries and the Lancashire in particular. Paul highlighted that canaries are actually a lot easier to look after when you are working full time. Mucking out chicken coops can be very timeconsuming. But the skills learned with poultry have transferred over; they share many of the same problems, such as the threat of mite, and many of the illnesses and treatments are similar, just on smaller scale.
Dave Brown: Why Lancs?
Denne historien er fra November 27, 2019-utgaven av Cage & Aviary Birds.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 27, 2019-utgaven av Cage & Aviary Birds.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The World's Best-Known Hummingbird?
Intensively studied, the gem-like Anna’s hummingbird is a welcome visitor to the gardens of America’s most populous state: California. Bill Naylor investigates its life history
The charm of the English Cinnamon
Despite its long and complicated history, the true Cinnamon canary is still with us – in the hands of a tiny group of breeders. DONALD SKINNER-REID reckons it deserves wider appreciation
Spangles: a personal overview
FRED WRIGHT relates a budgie story of over-exploitation, consequent problems and abundant potential for the future
New converts to old breeds
Old and rare canaries have a reputation for adding fresh interest and challenge to the hobby. PETE HOOK and NICK JOY agree, and explain the birds’ charm to Dave Brown
Themed aviaries are a hit with the public at annual Stafford show
DECORATIVE AVIARY DISPLAYS from a CBS and an online bird keeping advice group were voted in the top three by visitors for the inaugural Stafford Aviary Competition.
Pieds with potential
More than just a lesser variety, the dominant pied will introduce challenge and change into most studs, reckons CLIVE WAKEMAN. Here he discusses pairings to try and others to avoid
Club News
Welcome to the club and show pages – the bit that’s all about you Results: convention, specialist & rare and Breeder of the Year
Canaries Month by Month:
With Christmas around the corner, BRIAN KEENAN is well into his winter programme, and reckons he might deserve a nice outcross
Smart Choice, Docile Nature
Dave Brown welcomes the masked grassfinch to his birdroom and shares advice on this lovely Australian species
The truth about the ‘flying toad'
Odd local names and weird superstitions can’t hide the beauty and elegance of the nightjar, a species that has made a fascinating subject in a few zoo collections, reveals BILL NAYLOR