Poultry Competitions have been part of the Show since its inception in 1823.The 1858 Prize Schedule contains a well developed program for poultry with classes including:

• Black Spanish Fowls – best cock and two hens
• Cochin China – best cock and two hens
• Polish – best cock and two hens
• Dorking – best cock and two hens
• Ducks – best drake and two ducks
• Geese – best gander and one goose
• Turkeys – best cock and one hen

Cage Birds had combined with poultry by 1869 with ducks, geese and chickens consistently shown in the poultry section from this time.Turkeys were also a regular feature in most years up until 1895.They became a consistent part of the Show the following year.

The Poultry & Pigeon Section awards two Perpetual Trophies, both introduced in 2007.The Peter Smith Perpetual Trophy Best Bird in Show and the Reg Watson Perpetual Trophy for Best Hard Feathered Large Fowl or Bantam.

Timeline

1870	Emus
1873 -1876	Pheasants
1876-1877	Swans (no entries)
1882-1883	Ostriches (best male & female or collection) – in Dog section
1892	Best collection of dressed poultry
1892-1901	Hen & duck eggs
1896	Dressed poultry (in Food section)
1905	Incubators
1905-1961	Table poultry
1910-1912	Farmers' trio selling classes
1913	Breeding pens introduced
1920	First poultry judging competition
1921-1922	Dressed squabs (pigeon)
1924	Breeding teams introduced
1925-1926	Hen eggs
1926-1929	Poultry farm exhibit – open to farmers with 300+ birds
1927	Commercial egg farmers with 300+ birds open to competition
1948-1952	Pheasants
1971-1973	Poultry & pigeons separate sections from cage birds
1979-1984	Pheasants & quail
1985	Poultry & pigeons separate from cage birds again
1985-1992	Jungle fowl
2003	School poultry classes introduced
2004	School egg classes introduced