Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-03-02

Frank j Synnott. the white Plymouth
Rock, breeder and faneier, has exhibited
his birds at four of the leading poultry
shows in the Northwest, this winter,
ending up LIE circuit at Duluth last
week. His birds have been consistent
winners everywhere, against the
strongest of competition, many of his
competitors being breeders with years
of experience.
1t may interest our readers to know
the preparations necessary to fit birds
for an up-to-date poultry show and
with this knowledge they can appre-
ciate what it means to win at first
class show.
The work of preparation begins with
the mating of the breeding pens, full
year before the show. AS like produces
like, great skill must be show1 in this
work, to secure birds showing nearly
breed perfection. The young chicks
should hatch out in February or March,
in order to be of standard weight for
the winter shows. Then comes proper
feeding and care to secure full devel-
opment, then in the fall the best speci-
mems should be selected and separated.
AS winter comes on, hens and pullets
must be often moved into new pens to
keep them from laying, as laying hen
is apt to lose in form or conformation
N<xI Intn lfrvy yyn
not come into vogue. Then the birds
must be constantly handled, so that
thay will not show fear, when handled
by strange judges. as a frightened bird
does not show her plumage to advan-
tage. After the show birds are finally
selected, they must be washed, as a
dirty bird is absolutely disqualified;
this means washing with soap and
water, two tubs of water, being re-
quired, then follows two tubs of rinse
ing water to get rid of the soap, then
final tub of bluing to bring out snow
white plumage.
Mr.. Synnotts first show was at
Oconomowoc, the last of December,
where he won first and second hen,
fourth pullet, second cock and first pen.
Pens mean two hens, two pullets and
one cock or cockerel. He also won the
$500 silver cup for White Rocks.
At the January show at Milwaukee in
a class of 142 White Rocks, Synnott's
birds won End pen. This was hot
class, with birds from all over the
country, Synnotts best hen scored 959
points, the first prize bird winning with
954, he was also nozed out on cockerel
scoring 943 while the blue went to a
bird scoring95. A broken wing feather
cost the Wausau bird full point and
the blue ribbon.
The next show was at Oshkosh the
week following, here the owner got lots
of experience and few ribbons. The
birds shown at Milwaukee were dirty
and overweight from close confinement
and only won 3rd pen.
At Duluth show only young birds
were entered, winning first and third
cockerel and first pullet in hot class.
The bird shown in the cut was first
cockerel at the great st. Paul show last
winter; he is beauty and was expected
to win as cock at all the shows this
winter. but by some accident the flight
feathers in one wing were broken. A
similar accident happened to the hen
that was lst pullet last winter at ST.
Paul.
AS result of his uniform success al
shows, Mr.. Synnott has been receiving
orders from several states for breeding
stock, but is only selling few male
birds. The pick of the flock are mated
up and the eggs bring from 81 80 to
s5.O 90 per setting of Is eggs.
A visit to MIR. Synnott's poultry
house including brooding houses and
incubator cellars, 93l Grand, Ave, will
interest any poultry fancier.