PHOTO
John Davies was hoping not to encounter any bad eggs yesterday.
Mr Davies was judging the newly introduced egg section at the 88th annual Waimate Winter Show.
The show, which has attracted about 800 entries of poultry, pigeons, avicultural birds, home industries, produce, crafts, rabbits and cats, continues today at the Waimate Stadium.
Egg sections were a common feature of North Island poultry shows but less so in the South Island, something Mr Davies, a long-time poultry enthusiast, hoped would change.
He hoped it would lead to breeders becoming more conscious of egg production from birds, as that had "gone by the wayside in a drastic manner" in the past few years.
While there were many "pretty birds" on the show bench, laying ability had greatly diminished.
With a ribbon and $20 at stake, the egg section attracted seven entries, each comprising four eggs, two of which Mr Davies cracked into a saucer to inspect.