September 24th 2009

Lights are on 11.5 hours a day, gradually being reduced and brought in line with the darker evenings. The birds are coming through the moult rather slowly. The shows start next weekend and we're struggling to have birds ready.

AviCulture probiotic in the water.

Cuttlefish bone present always.

Grit - mixed grits present always.

Seed mixture - mixed canary seed + condition/wild seeds.

Small amounts of greenfood & fruit are offered as they become available.

The rearing food mainly comprises eggfood, sprouted seeds, peas and Aviculture, & is fed twice a day.

The Show Season:-

A trophy, 'The Stoakes Flyer' (in memory of my dad), is awarded for the most points scored in the champion section at the Humberside Show. The aim was to award exhibitors for staging good consistent show teams rather than an outstanding individual bird. Additionally, it was hoped that it would encourage exhibitors to enter lots of birds at a show which already attracts 5 or 6 hundred top quality Glosters. The roll of honour is as follows:-

2004   Saunders & Spring (Nottingham)

2005   Kev Stoakes (Scunthorpe)

2006   Steven Gash (Mansfield)

2007   Not Awarded (show cancelled due to avian flu scare)

2008   Dave Rands (Gilberdyke)

2009   Could this be you? Join Humberside Gloster Association and enjoy the friendly atmosphere & competition at this year's show on 22nd November.

Why 'The Stoakes Flyer'? Well, the name comes from my childhood when my father had a fishing rod made and that was the name which was embossed on it. The year that my bird won the English National was the same year that my dad died. I wanted to do something beneficial for the hobby, attract members to the club and exhibits to the show, whilst also remembering my dad. So I had this silver trophy made and donated it to the Humberside Gloster Association.

Good Luck! I hope you win it and look after it for the next 12 months.