Buyers bid for festive fare at auction

A wide range of festive birds, including turkeys, geese, chickens and ducks, went under the hammer at Keys’ annual Christmas Poultry Sale in Aylsham today (Friday December 19).

The event at the Aylsham-based auctioneer marked the continuation of a proud tradition stretching back more than seven decades.
The Christmas sale was first held in 1953, when company founder Geoffrey Key organised the inaugural auction shortly after the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Since then, the sale had taken place every year, with the firm maintaining the tradition through challenging periods, including outbreaks of avian flu and the Covid pandemic.

This year’s sale marked the 73rd occasion the festive auction had been held and it brought together Norfolk producers and shoppers looking for quality birds for their festive tables.
Although 2025 had been a difficult year for poultry farmers, with the ongoing threat of avian flu hanging over the industry, the sale still attracted a strong turnout and retained its lively and sociable atmosphere.

The birds on offer were largely reared by small-scale local producers and included Norfolk Black and Bronze turkeys, along with free-range geese and ducks.