Winter is here as is my flight though not built yet! The panels are waiting for the builder to arrive. I've been tidying and cleaning today and taking some photos.

These are my new blues - they were in a rather sorry state when they arrived but are settling in and growing new feathers. The one on the right is ok - less certain of the one on the left!

This blue cock was a present to me - he's elderly but I hope will breed with my own stock this year.

2014 white cock bird whose brother did brilliantly at various shows this year. 

2014 white hen with my winning buff hen - this bird won silver at the Gouden Ring show in December in Belgium.

My rosettes for 2014. 

Having won nothing all year, Elizabeth, who now should be called Queen of Kelso, comes out as Best Scots Fancy for the third year running at Kelso OS Show today. I stil think my wee green hen has been overlooked! That is the last show of 2014. It's been a busy ten weeks; hard work; great fun and very successful. Now for a rest! I'll be back in the Spring.

Some new blues to add a new colour variety to my stock.

These pictures courtesy of Richard Lumley of the IOA. The buff won Best in Show at Northern Counties Scots Fancy Club in October and the white Best Novice Current Year Bird at the Carlisle National. I have had a wonderful show season which ends this Saturday at Kelso. Final show but looking forward to the friendly, rural venue.

Now that the birds are home, thanks to Willie McKay and Richard Lumley, I have the catalogue from the Golden Ring, I see I was second out of seven exhibitors. Not bad for a first timer. My birds must be reasonable given they were second out of ten and third out of ten. I am delighted.

Sent from Belgium today - a photo of my second place white bird.

I decided to send five of my unflighted Scots to the Golden Ring show in Belgium really so that I could see if they were any good against European competition. There are around 6,000 birds being exhibited in Belgium this weekend. I was amazed to hear last night that two of them have won, respectively, a Silver and a Bronze medal. I am over the moon.

http://www.goudenring.be

Best Novice Scots Fancy and Best Novice Current Year Bird at Carlisle National. Great weekend. Five birds now off to the Golden Ring show in Belgium.

And a the beginning of November I exhibited at the North East Gloster Club (OVCA North) Club show 

Final show is Kelso on 13 December 2014

Show Season - it's been good for me this year so far.

Blackburn and the Scots Fancy Specialist Club Show started the season. I won Best Novice and the points trophy.

The following day at the Northern Counties Scots Fancy Club I won, unbelievably, Best Scots Fancy in show. Really please. I also won six special prizes for Best Novice Current Year, Best Novice Yellow, Piebald and Green and Clear. A superb day for me. 

And this lovely trophy

The National Exhibition followed at Stafford and while I won Best Novice Scots Fancy, I did not do as well as last year. It remained a great weekend away.

Today was the 150th anniversary show of East Lothian Cage Bird Society and I won Best Scots Fancy. My birds were looking a bit tired - they need more show cage training and to learn to use the top hat drinkers. We have two weeks until the next show so water drinking is the next lesson.

I was over the moon today in Carlisle to win Best in Show at Northern Counties Scots Fancy Canary Club. Very pleased. Special awards for Best Novice, Best Novice Yellow, Piebald, Buff,  and Green and Current Year Bird. Roll on the National next weekend.

The Scots Fancy Specialist Club show today at Blackburn, West Lothian and I was delighted to win Best Novice Unflighted, Best Novice Yellow, Best Novice Clear or Ticked, Best Novice Green and Best Novice Piebald plus the trophy for Best Novice and the Bill Sheridan Memorial Trophy (both of which I hold for a year). Absolutely delighted and the added bonus of a raffle win of a 5kg bag of seed. A great day.

Tomorrow is the Northern Counties Scots Fancy Club annual show. Not sure I can top today!

Short video

Some more show cage training and if I can can, some videos too