Fernbank resident, Valerie Bragg, is celebrating after one of her chooks picked up two prizes at the Gippsland Riviera Poultry and Game Club Show at Maffra on the weekend.

Mrs Bragg’s Australian game hen won Reserve Champion Bird of the Show and Champion Rare Breed of Show.

The 18-month-old hen strutted its stuff rivaling 385 other birds who were entrants in the annual show.

The judges, who had come from Tasmania and South Australia to adjudicate, were clearly impressed.

Mrs Bragg, a breeder, has a family of 120 chooks who live on her Fernbank property.

“I’ve been breeding birds for more than 30 years now and I enjoy it,” she said.

“I just like watching the birds and because I also judge birds, I love looking at each bird and trying to pick out the faults.

“Breeding is what I enjoy.”

Mrs Bragg was struck down with Q Fever a couple of years ago and says her chooks are what really saved her from the debilitating illness, which left her chronically tired.

“They gave me a reason to get up every morning,” she said.

PICTURED: Fernbank resident, Val Bragg, with her prize winning Australian game hen.