Prior to 1998 Cage Birds were consistently shown in the Poultry and Pigeon Section.The first record of Cage Bird Competitions at the Show is as early as 1869 and it is believed they were part of the Show even earlier.
From early on Cage Bird classes were dominated by canaries. Classes between 1869 and1896 also included collections of cage birds of any kind, collections of native birds and white magpies.By 1899 two sub-sections existed within the Poultry and Pigeon section for cage birds, one for canaries and one for other cage birds.Other birds included native or foreign birds, finches, cockatoos, galahs, corellas, parrots, parakeets, rosellas, king parrots, budgerigars, sparrows, love birds, lories, honeyeaters and hybrids.
In 1971 Cage Birds separated from Poultry and Pigeon before amalgamating again in 1974.A reduction in entries was behind the amalgamation of the two sections and by 1985 there were no cage birds at the Show.In 1998 they were once given their own section in the first year at Homebush.
The Cage Bird Show now features classes for African lovebirds, parrots, canaries, finches and budgerigars. Parrots include (but are not limited to) cockatiels, lorikeets, rosellas and cockatoos. Cage birds are currently shown in the Wynn Pavilion, the same pavilion used for cats, rabbits, rats & mice and cavies.
