The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-11
FIXING POULTRY
FOR EXHIBITION
Chicken Breeders to Have Better
Show at the Great State
Fair.
GETTING BUSY FOR THE.EvENT
A Few Hints About Preparing
Birds to Look Their
Very Best.
GETTING BUSY FOR THEiEvENT
ny wALTER G. soHAAF.

Visitors to the poultry building at
the State Fair will find quite an i'm
provement over former years in the
arrangement OF the tiers OF coops.
Instead of having one solid line from
end to end there will be opening in
between, SO that visitors. II tired. can
go out any of the side exits without
having to go through to the end OF
the aisle as heretofore. In the centre
of the building will be three large
exhibition coops for the use OF fanclers
who wish to place fowls on sale or
exhibition, without entering them in
the prize classes. The whole building
has been turned over to poultry. and
even the busy bees Will have their de-
partment in another building.
Andrew Warren, the superintendent.
informs me that he will not exhibit
this year, so brother breeders who
raise leghorns, get busy. You know
Andrew had the winning habit, and
his stepping out materially increases
your chances for the blue ribbons.
Getting Birds Ready for tho show.
II YOU wish to exhibit solid or partly
colored birds you have comparative.
" easy task Just take little
elycerine and alcohol (vaseline will do
Just as welD and rub comb wattles
and legs. Be particular not to use
too much. for If you do the grease
will get into the feathers and your
specimen look worse than before.
white birds for the show room should,
il possible, be selected several weeks
prior to the show. Separate your
males from the females to prevent
breaking of feathers. II the birds are
very dirty they ought to have an
ordinary washing at this time. On
1ran
To wash white birds right you need
a warm room. soft water, plenty OF
good soap. sponge. several towels,
three washtubs and plenty OF patience,
Eli two tubs half full Of warm water,
Just hot enough that your hands feel
comfortable. Rub the soapsuds thor
oughly into the plumage. rubbing with
the feathers. not against Them Lather
the bird in every section and remove
every particle Of dirt. Begin With the
head. and never leave a section until
assured the dirt Is removed. Rinse
the bird in the second tub, using the
sponge saturated with water freely
until every particle OF soap is re-
moved. Don't forget If you do not
rinse all Of the soap out the pluuage
will come out blotchy and will not
take the blueing water evenly.
The Use of Blueing.
Now, give your bird the last rinsing
in tub OF water No. 8. Have this tub
filled with cold water (cold water will
prevent the specir en- catching cold),
to which small amount of blueing
has been added. Don't use too much
blueing, as 1t will often show In the
quills of the feathers. Use Just about
as much as the women use when they
wash fine piece OF linen. After
dipping and rins!ng the bird thorough
" in this blueing water, squeeze the
water out of the plumage and dry
with the towels Now place your bird
In coop. # possible with clean straw
to lie In. Place the coop near the.
fire, and in few hours the bird VIII
plume itself without your help ana
look as pretty as picture.
'sFnlSins,n SO Called,
paid party several dollars to teach
me the so-called i"art Of bleachlng..l
n N 1Continned on Third Page,l Il,