Highlights from the first day of the New Zealand Agricultural Show in Christchurch.

Tucked amongst rows of prestige chickens vying for best-in-class titles at one of the country's oldest bird-showing events was a cage drawing a flock far larger than others.

In lot 66, near some of the day's biggest winners, was Adam White's tongue-in-cheek entry in the hotly-contested poultry division at Wednesday's New Zealand Agricultural Show – an empty bucket of KFC.

He believed the competition had become too "full on".

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Lot 66 at the annual New Zealand Agricultural Show on Wednesday was a bucket of KFC.

"We'll do almost anything, except sleep with them, to protect our birds and keep them safe, but it's just all getting too serious. We need to bring it back a notch," the Canterbury poultry breeder said.

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It is the second year in a row the poultry scene has been shaken up by an unusual contender, with 2-year-old appleyard Indian runner crossbreed Jorge Bhuja winning the duck category last year to the ire of purists.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Supreme Champion Heather McCormick with her unnamed prized chicken.

White works as a farrier and lives on a lifestyle block in Eyrewell Forest. He had a history of showing and racing horses, but had no previous experience with birds when he purchased four bantam chickens about two years ago and took them to the local poultry club for inspection.

His poultry empire has now grown to more than 400 birds and shows at about dozen events annually across the South Island – occasionally venturing further north if he believes his bird is a winner.

A bird White hoped to enter in Christchurch was pulled at the last minute, prompting him to enter the KFC bucket in its place as "a bit of banter".

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Thousands of Cantabrian's attended the first day of The New Zealand Agricultural Show, with many stopping in to view the birds on show.

"It's a bit of a laugh ... I've seen hundreds of people taking pictures of it so that makes it a winner, I reckon."

Children and adults alike gathered outside White's lot, many breaking out in fits of laughter when they spotted the unusual entry.

The Christchurch Poultry, Bantam and Pigeon Club member said the vibe at the 150-year old organisation wasn't "far off" its portrayal in the movie Pecking Order, but he preferred to take a more relaxed approach to showing.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Jules Baird, with her 1-year-old-son Sailor, enjoyed the fluffy and furry animals on show.

Organisers were reluctant to comment on his entry, but said people "all know what happens [to the chickens] at the end of the day".

Kaiapoi's Heather McCormick took the competition significantly more seriously, winning a raft of titles across her nine chickens and single duck entry. Her prized fowl, a heritage-breed Light Sussex Pullet with a huge white plumage and black cape, was the best of the 116 birds on show, winning both the Supreme Champion and Best of the Heavy Breeds title.

Preparing a chicken for show was a multi-day event, including washing, drying and preening the bird, she said.

Junior Best of Group runner-up Rhys Lilley, 16, said he started by bringing each bird into the house, washing them in his laundry tub with specialised soap, cooling them off with a hair dryer then sitting them in front of the fire. Their legs needed to be scrubbed, feet cleaned and feathers smoothed before judging.

Jules Baird and her 1-year-old son Sailor preferred barnyard animals without beaks, searching for "less intimidating" animals such as playful piglets as they roamed the showgrounds. A crowd of about 100,000 is expected through the gates over the three days from Wednesday to Friday at Canterbury Agricultural Park.

Baird said her family showed cattle every year, but because they did not have pets in the house it was a good opportunity for Sailor to meet animals he would not usually come across.