Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-04

feel that your fowls are of high quallty.
DO not be afraid of defeat; 1t is only by
exhibiting your birds in competition WITH
those Of other fanciers that you VIII be
able to learn definitely where they are
weak and study how to improve them
Frequently amateurs who have never ex-
hibited before carry away high honors in
some of the largest exhibitions but gen.
orally it is good rule for the novice to
exhibit first at the smaller winter shows.
Then when he has had experience in ex-
hlbiting, and has learned to know his
breed thoroughly. he will be safe in send
ing his choicest specimens to the larger
shows.
The successful exhibitor does not wait
until the time OF the show before he
selects his birds. From chickhood up he
Is constantly watching them They are
fed carefully and regularly. They are
properly sheltered and cared for and no
labor is saved that will give them good,
healthy development The growth is
STEADY. There must be vigor and stam-
ina to grow healthy stock
AS the birds grow, culing must he done
repeatedly. Take out of the flock chicks
that have crooked spine crooked breas'
bone, missing rump wry tail, crossed
beak, defective featherng or any other
disqualification. Keep only the hest-those
that give promise of making good show
ing under the standard rules This will
give room for the selected ones. and there
will be no danger Of overcrowding,
CONDITIONING is MOST IMPORTANT.
The main thing in showing is to have
the fowls in the proper condition when
IN ho hnu ba do
rs gentle possible that they may
be handled properly and not be fright
ened while in the cages. Many a good
bird has lost n prize for no other rea-
son than that it was wild and excitable
For two weeks before the exhibition
the birds should be placed in a cage so
that they may learn to be quiet and not
startled when any one approaches them.
The value Of this fact Is illustrated by
Judge ]. H. Drevenstedt. in the book
Poultry Secrets" Mr.. Drevenstedt says
prominent exhibitor at the New York
show had imported fine Black Red Game
cockerel from England, took it from the
steamer direct. and placed 1t in a cage;
variety In a cage close by. When the
the English bird was, the latter would
try to fly the coop" In other words, it
would not pose nor stand while being
examined. The American bred bird, when
touched by the judging stick, knew it's
business and showed it's training by pos
ing nicely, and won the prize Yet tn,
foreign cockerel was intrinsically by far
the better bird; 1t simply was not in
tic erio
points when the Judge came around
HAVE THE BIRDS CLEAN, WHEN
SHOWN.
White birds. 1t is held, are the hardest
Glasses to Judge or exhibit, so condition.
fng is very important factor. If the
poultryman keeps his premises clean and
the floors Of the houses we'll covered with
clean straw. there will be little If any
heccssity for washing the fowls before
they are placed on exhibition. A thorough
rubbing Of the feathers with a soft cloth
70 remove any dust that may be on them;
the legs carefully oiled and rubbed with
sweet Oil; and a little vaseline rubbed
on the comb and wattes, will be about
all that will be necessary
Birds reserved for exhibition shouIJ
now be placed In different quarters. AMI
the sexes separated to avoid breaking Of
Feathers. Any broken or off-colored
Feathers can be plucked, and if done Mt
once the possibility is that they will grow
out properly In time for the show. False
or off-colored feathers are not necessarily
sign Of impurity. In many cases thew
are caused by bruise Or injury to the
feather when growing
Another important matter to attend TO
1c to examine the bird carefully to as
certain if there Is any vermin present
"A thorough busting with a reliable in
sect powder (such as coal tar producU
IS good precaution, even II no vermin
hre seen Lice are sly and often hard
to detect. so that the busting will be
advisable.
I do not think that 1t is Just the right
thing to wash birds If every exhibitor
would exercise great care to keep his
fowls clean. and then enter them In their
natural condition. 1t would give better
satisfaction all around. If ] was a poul-
try Judge and found two birds equal in
quality. the one naturally white and the
other washed. should surely give the
award to the former.
HOW TO WASH THE FOWLS.
But where good birds show dirt on their
plumage. washing is the only alternative.
For this purpose CASTLE or other white
soap and warm water are used The work
must be done In a warm room so the
bird may not catch cold. and after 1t is
Through with the operation the fowl should
be placed In roomy coop near a good
fire. In a temperature of about 50 Or 90
degrees In few hours the bird will
start to plume itself and be perfectly dry.
In washing the fowl two tubs are filed
hAlf.fu!l with Wator lust hot anou1h Tor