Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-08-28
HOW TO PREPARE FOR TIE
SHOWS.
Some of the Things You Should do to
Get Your Birds in Condition.

Get Your Birds in Condition.
The poultryman who has never ex-
hibited, has usually a hard schooling
before him. Many an exhibitor, (for
the first time) has seen birds with
which he felt sure of winning, passed
entirely unnoticed by the judges.
Well it is for the exhibitor, if he can
,philosophically accept the verdict, and
then find out lust why" Often it is
some little matter that, with know
ledge and care. could have been recti-
fed before sending the bird to the
show.
ia win on poultry in even some
minor shows, two things are requisite.
ID the fowls must each, individually
possess real merit and, (2) they must
have been groomed. fitted, or as poul-
try men have it. Conditioned for the
show. This process of conditioning
requires some skill, and much patti
,ence and effort.
Let the breeder at the start under
stand clearly that no fowl can posi-
bly, win if exhibited in natural condi-
ton" Natural condition in most
cases means some broken, twisted, or
off-colored feathers, combs and wat
ties rough and dirty, legs ditto, and
especially among white or light-col-
ored breeds, stained aud dirty plum
age. These things don't win.
AS the shows are all held after the
acoulting season is over, a missing
feather-if noticed at all by the
judges-passes as dropped in the
moult." Breeders. of experience IN
sderstand this and never hesitate to
FULL out, at the beginning of condi-
.tioning, every badly broken or off,
rcolored feather. The other draw
backs are mostly cured by condition
ing.
Early in the season go over your
whole flock, using your best judg-
.pent following the Stanard of Perfec-
ton as a guide, and pen twice as MANY
males, three times as many females,
'es you expect to exhibit, as some of
YOUR birds, as first judged, may go
wrong or develop poorly, and yon can
Later Gull out inferior birds.
Right here 1 would suggest, it will
ray you to secure the services of an
expert-a judge-to go over your
fock-and especially your pick of the
flock for show birds, and cor them
by the Hale score-card. You will
jearn a lot, and likely save some use
less outlay, and some modification.
As soon as selections are made.
separate males from females, and put
six or old, or eight of young birds in
houses Sx10 feet in size, absolutely
clear Of vermin, with dry floor, COW
cred with six or eight inches of clean
bright straw.
The morning grain feed. dropped in
tie straw gives the fowls exercise.
and the straw keeps legs and plumage
clean. "rH
In the ease Of grown fowl, to secure
a uniform moult, let them go four to
six days with practically no feed, but
plenty Of cool, fresh water. Then
give plenty of feed in good variety
and the moulting will be rapid and
uniform. The pulling of partly or Off
c0lored feathers or helping the
moult," can be- done at that time.
Have we'll grassed. runs for them and
shade, so that the fowl, whites especi-
ally, will not get brassy Or creamy.
Lacking good grassy runs, a regu-
lar use of sprouted oats will cover
the deficiency. Give some every day.
Feed sound wheat, oats, a little old
dry corn, white if for white breeds,
yellow will do for reds and bufS) and
sunffower seed for morning and might
feeds. Keep sound bran, from country
mills is best-at all times in hoppers.
For other than whites a little linseed
oil meal in the bran will add gloss to
the plumage. Add also a little salt to
dty mash. Keep grit, charcoal, shell
snd the best grade of beef scrap In
tie hoppers all the time. At noon
sEiVe dry bread soaked in separated
milk, what they will clean up. Use
lnsectiside regularly on fowls n
buildings. Avoid pitch pine for roost-
Ing poles, as the oozing rosin will In
sDre plunage. The roosts should be
far enough from the back wall that
the birds tails cannot touch it, and
not over three feet from floor with
dropping board below.
From the start go among your
fowls quietly, never startling them, to
get them accustomed to your pres
ence and to being handled. This last
is best done by going into the houses
BY lantern light, and gently taking d
bird at a time. You can also by this
Judge of their condition. They should
get in good flesh, but not fat.
Two or three weeks before the show
you should coop them. The males, I'M
less it puts them of their feed,
should be in single Slated ecoops,
lined inside with muslin to- preserve
The feathers from being caught in
Stats and breaking. They should give
the bird ample room, especially over
head. Use clean straw litter changed
regularly. The females may be put
lour or five together in a coop of same
character, but proportionate size.
Dark fowl, solid or parti-colored,
VIII require no washing. Begin early
oy taking them daily in your lap and
gently rub the feathers down from
mead to tail with a clean cloth. 1t
VIII put a beautiful gloss on. A day
VT two before shipping, with a small
sponge wash the comb, face, and a
ues with a mixture of sweet oil and
TTicohol, or brandy. A very little di-
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