The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-02-18

From Weekly News Letter. United
States Department of Agriculture.)
Every fowl, whether young or ma
ture, should be in first-class show con-
dition 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 the
required size. The specimen should
appear in handsome dress, good physi-
cal condition, and trained to exhibit
bis good qualities to advantage. Care
full training imparts to bird sufficient
confidence to assume and hold desired
poses under showroom conditions.
If possible, obtain exhibition coops
similar to those used at the show you
will attend. Cover the floor with short
straw or a mixture of bran and straw
for feathered-leg breeds. Two months
before the show place the birds you
intend to exhibit in the coops at night.
Visit the coops as frequently as you
can and handle the birds often. Car
ry them around under the arm, open
their wings and examine tie under
color. and accustom them to every
movement of the Judge. 1t is not ad-
visable 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 house for
two or three days and outdoor exer-
else if seasonable.
1t is necessary to examine show
birds carefully at least ten weeks
before the show Remove all imper-
feet feathers, in the hope that they
will be replaced by feathers of stand
ard color. frequently a colored
feather showing a little white along
the edge of the web will mott out
perfectly when the fowl is well fed
on sour milk mash, meat, and grain.
| Never pluck a new feather-one in
which the quill is filled with fluid
as it will invariably return partially
white. A few days before the exhibit
ton examine your birds again and
pluck the imperfect feathers. 1t is
quite a problem to determine the best
procedure when there is foreign color
In some of the large feathers on the
wings or tail. If the color is cause
for disqualification, there is no justific-
alton for shipping the bird to the
show. What is best to do will depend
upon the quality of the specimen in
other sections and upon the amount
of defective color in the wings. Usual
ly these defects occur in similar
feathers in both wings.
All white fowls must be washed, and
most fowls of other eolors can be i'm
proved in appearance by washing, fluff
fing. and grooming before the show.
For white birds have three tubs filled
With ID warm. soft or rain water;
| (2l warm. soft or rain water; 90
warm, soft, or rain water cclored the
proper shade to rinse the blue white
goods. Use a bar of good white or
CASTLE soap and a large sponge and
nail brush. Have the temperature OF
The room so degrees or S5 degrees and
bring the birds in clean exhibition
coops, the floors of which should be
covered with fresh, dry shavings.
Wash the males first. Clean the
shanks and feet with the nail bush,
soap, and water. Insert the bird in
tub "a and push it down under the
water several times until the plumage
is wet through; make heavy lather
with the sponge and soap, and thor
oughly wash the plumage with the
sponge; open the wings and sponge
them in the direction of the feathers
Tin fact. always wash the length OF
the feather, from the quill to the tiI
and not across IT'D Keep the birds
head out of the soapy water if pos
sible; sponge the soap of the bird
and remove to tub (2). Press it un.
der the water several times, allow Il