Show rf reparation A OF FOWLS FOR exhibition i va f wf Wy V y w A 0 10 ll 11 11 i X 1 VIA 6 16 4 dick tho valuable rooster who for fop the past three years has won farst prize at poultry shows held in various cities of the united states prom from weekly news letter latter united states department of agriculture every owl fowl whether young or maturo mature should bo be in first class show condition when it enters the exhibition hall the plumage should be the standard length for the breed lustrous and plentiful the head bright red in color and the comb developed to tho the required size the specimen should appear in handsome dress good physical condition and trained to exhibit bisgood his good qualities to advantage careful training imparts acko a bird suMe tent to assume and hold desired poses under showroom show room conditions it if possible obtain exhibition coops similar to those used at the show you will attend cover the tho floor with short straw or a mixture of bran and straw for feathered log leg breeds two months before the show place the birds you intend to exhibit in the coops st at night visit the coops as aa frequently as you can and handle the birds often carry them around under the arm open their wings and examine the inder and accustom them to every movement of the judge it Is not advisable or necessary to keep the show birds confined in the training coops A day at a time is sufficient then allow them the run of the hou bouso bo for two or three days and outdoor exercise if seasonable it is necessary to examine show birds carefully at least ten weeks before the show remove all imperfect outliers feathers in the hope that they will bo be replaced by feathers of standard color frequently a color colored ot feather showing a little white along the edge of the web will molt out perfectly when the fowl is well tod fed on sour milk mash moat meat and grain nevor never pluck a now new feather one in which the quill is filled with fluid as it will invariably return partially white A tow few days before the exhibition examine your birds again and pluck the imperfect feathers it Is a quite a problem to determine the best procedure when there is foreign color in some of the large feathers on tho the wings or tall tail it if the color is a cause causa for disqualification ial cation there is no justification for shipping tho the bird to the show ahat la Is best beet to do will depend upon the quality of the specimen la in other sections and upon the amount of defective color in tho the wings usually these defects occur tn in similar feathers in both wings all white fowls must be washed and most fowls of other colors can be improved prove d in appearance by washing 9 nut luf ling fing and grooming before tho the s show 1 low for white birds hove have throe three tubs tuba filled with 1 warm soft or rain water 2 warm soft or rain water 3 2 warm soft or rain water colored the proper abade tu to rinse the blue white walto goods gooda use a bar of good white cr castilo soap and a largo large sponge and a nail brush alavo the temperature of tho the room 80 degrees or 85 degrees and bring the birds in clean exhibition coops the floors of which should be ba covered with fresh dry shavings wash the males first clean the shanks and feet with the nail bush soap and insert the bird in tub 1 and push it down under the water several times almea until the plumage in ig wet through make a heavy lather with the sponge and soup and thoroughly wash tho the plumage with tho the sponge open tho the wings and sponge them in tho the direction of the feathers in fact always wash the ho length of the feather from the quilt to the tip and not acro it keep the birds head out oat of the soapy water it possible s sponge tho the soap ol of the bird and remove to tub 2 press it under the water several times allow it 4 to stand and drip tor for a few seconds and then dip it twice in tub 3 containing tho the bluing water remove tho the bird from the water hold its legs firmly and raise it up and down quickly so that it will nap flap and expand its wings and tall and B shako hake out the water do not uso use a towel to dry a a white bird move alove the exhibition coop near the me fire or some heat so that the bird will dry lifting up the plumage ot the breast and opening the feathers atthe null fluff while drying has haas a tendency to increase the apparent size elze of those these sections it Is necessary to examine the white birds frequently if the coops are near a stove to guard against overheating them or scorching ingbor i or curling their feathers the shanks and feet of exhibition fowls must be absolutely clean and well polished to overcome rough scales rub the logs logo twice dally daily with a cloth dipped in kerosene and a ill short hort time before the show wash them thoroughly use a good scouring soap woolen cloth and warm rainwater remove any old or rough scales and also the dirt between the scales the latter can bo be taken out with toothpicks dry the shanks and apply a solution of equal parts of sweet oil and alcohol then warm a woolen cloth and scrape a little beeswax on it the warmth will melt the wax and the shanks should then bo be polished with the waxed cloth before shipping the birds to the exhibition hibi hibit tion lon apply the sweet oil and alcohol solution toche face an and d comb it if you are showing white birds fill their plumage after washing and when thoroughly dry with equal parts ot of bran and rice flour some exhibitors use cornstarch which to la equally satisfactory this prevents tho the plumage becoming soiled and when the starch to Is shaken out at the show and the fowls are groomed they apparently take a higher polish however the coops must have wooden or muslin tops and sides bides to prevent rain coming in contact with the starched plumage the final grooming is accomplished with a silk handkerchief rubbing and polishing tho the feathers until the plumage has baa a high luster |