FORGET Queensland's Fittest Man on the Land.
It's Australia's Fittest and Healthiest Chook competition that has given Hervey Bay's Matthew and Susan Smith something to crow about.
Their three-year-old Araucana rooster, who goes by the name Mel Gibson, has taken home the top honours in animal health supplement company Sustenhance's competition.
Matthew and Susan were ecstatic with the win after buying Mel two years ago.
The couple and their five children said he was the most special, placid chook and had adapted quickly to living with a bevy of banties.
The rooster is in a class of his own and has formed a special bond with the family's Shetland pony Scarlett, with the inquisitive rooster hitching a ride during feeding time.
The Smith family are animal lovers through and through, also owning 10 hens, guinea pigs, a dog and ducks, with the latest addition a giant earthworm measuring 60cm which the children have dubbed Fluffy.
In the competition entry, Matthew said Mel was awfully fussy at mealtime, with the family only ever feeding the top chook Sustenhance.
"Since we fed him Sustenhance, it's hi ho silver all the way," he said.
Australian-owned Sustenhance, a leading manufacturer of nutritional supplements for animals, staged the month-long competition to recognise and reward chicken owners who took special care of their feathered friends and to highlight the importance of proper nutrition for chickens, ensuring they enjoyed longer, happier lives - and delivered great-tasting eggs.
The competition struck a chord with chicken owners across the country, reflecting the fact that poultry fancying was fast becoming a national pastime, with 345,267 Australian households now owning egg-laying hens and 9.8 per cent of all egg production now happening in backyards.
The Smith family was also pleased to find one of their chickens had also made it into the top 12, with expert worm hunter Dotty making it through to the finals.
After the month of Facebook frenzy, general manager Adam Williams was pleased to announce the winner and 11 finalists in the competition that fired the imagination of chicken fanciers across the country, from big cities to the tiniest of towns.
Mr Williams said the competition had confirmed Aussies were devoted to their feathered friends, with scores of entries visibly demonstrating the genuine affection and care that owners took to ensure their chooks lived happy, healthy lives.
Mr Williams said Sustenhance was equally dedicated to the health of the nation's chooks, and had created its Perfect Poultry supplement to optimise bird health and vitality, and deliver better quality eggs.
"The judging was certainly tough, given the high calibre of entries, but the Sustenhance panel managed to agree on a clear winner without ruffling too many feathers.
"Our winner is a rather handsome Araucana rooster who has a talent for riding Shetland ponies.
"It was very difficult to go past a name like that, or a skill. This is a chicken with a spirit of adventure."
As the outright winner, Mel Gibson will receive a year's supply of Sustenhance Perfect Poultry and a Sustenhance prize hamper.
The winner and 11 finalists will also be featured in the official 2015 Sustenhance Perfect Poultry Calendar.
