News
Statement from The Poultry Club Board of Trustees
Friday 15th August 2025
On the evening of Thursday 14th August 2025, the Board of Trustees of The Poultry Club met to review the prospects of holding a National Poultry & Egg Show this year. DEFRA Liaison Officers Lee Grant and Jon Grubb were in discussion with DEFRA officials right up until the start of the meeting, searching for any glimmer of hope that the show might go ahead in its traditional form.
It is with immense frustration and deep sadness that we must report there is no reasonable prospect of being able to hold a poultry-inclusive show in 2025. The recent surge in cases of avian influenza, particularly across England, has further reduced DEFRA's risk appetite. It has become clear there will be no legal pathway for a show that includes live poultry this year.
Although this is a significant disappointment following the optimism and success of the 2024 National Poultry & Egg Show, we are bound by the legislation that DEFRA dictates with regard to gatherings.
National Egg Show - November 2025
In light of this decision, the Board of Trustees can confirm that we will instead host a National Egg Show at the Lincolnshire Showground on Saturday 8th November 2025. The event will take place in the Epic Centre, the same venue that welcomed us for the National Poultry & Egg Show in 2024.
• The hall will be open for egg staging on the Friday evening and Saturday morning
• The show will close on the Saturday evening
• In addition to egg classes, there will be classes for crafts and produce related to poultry
Additional activities and events:
• The Poultry Club AGM will be held during the show
• Breed clubs are encouraged to attend with their club stands. Meeting rooms will be available for club AGMs
• We also plan to host egg judging workshops and egg judging tests to promote skills and education within the fancy
We hope this event will provide a welcome opportunity for members and friends to gather, compete, learn, and enjoy the fellowship of the poultry community, even if live birds cannot be part of the occasion this year.
The Board of Trustees shares the heartbreak of our members in making this decision. Nevertheless, we look forward to welcoming you to the National Egg Show in November and making it a celebration worthy of our shared passion. Further details will be announced in due course.
Friday 15th August 2025
On the evening of Thursday 14th August 2025, the Board of Trustees of The Poultry Club met to review the prospects of holding a National Poultry & Egg Show this year. DEFRA Liaison Officers Lee Grant and Jon Grubb were in discussion with DEFRA officials right up until the start of the meeting, searching for any glimmer of hope that the show might go ahead in its traditional form.
It is with immense frustration and deep sadness that we must report there is no reasonable prospect of being able to hold a poultry-inclusive show in 2025. The recent surge in cases of avian influenza, particularly across England, has further reduced DEFRA's risk appetite. It has become clear there will be no legal pathway for a show that includes live poultry this year.
Although this is a significant disappointment following the optimism and success of the 2024 National Poultry & Egg Show, we are bound by the legislation that DEFRA dictates with regard to gatherings.
National Egg Show - November 2025
In light of this decision, the Board of Trustees can confirm that we will instead host a National Egg Show at the Lincolnshire Showground on Saturday 8th November 2025. The event will take place in the Epic Centre, the same venue that welcomed us for the National Poultry & Egg Show in 2024.
• The hall will be open for egg staging on the Friday evening and Saturday morning
• The show will close on the Saturday evening
• In addition to egg classes, there will be classes for crafts and produce related to poultry
Additional activities and events:
• The Poultry Club AGM will be held during the show
• Breed clubs are encouraged to attend with their club stands. Meeting rooms will be available for club AGMs
• We also plan to host egg judging workshops and egg judging tests to promote skills and education within the fancy
We hope this event will provide a welcome opportunity for members and friends to gather, compete, learn, and enjoy the fellowship of the poultry community, even if live birds cannot be part of the occasion this year.
The Board of Trustees shares the heartbreak of our members in making this decision. Nevertheless, we look forward to welcoming you to the National Egg Show in November and making it a celebration worthy of our shared passion. Further details will be announced in due course.
July 2025 Newsletter
The Rare Poultry Society quarterly newsletter is available to full paying members, you can become a member via the membership page and receive the next newsletter.
Our July Issue covers: Red mite treatment, Census Results, Coccidiosis, a members article on Sicilian Buttercups and Show Results.
Our July Issue covers: Red mite treatment, Census Results, Coccidiosis, a members article on Sicilian Buttercups and Show Results.
