The log cabin Democrat., 1916-02-11

(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 his good qualities to advantage. Care full training imparts to bird sufficient confidence to assume and hold desired poses under showroom conditions.
 Ii possible, obtain exhibition GOODS similar to those used at the show you will attend. Cover the floor with short for feathered-leg breeds. Two months before the show place the birds you intend to exhibit in the GOODS at night. Visit the GOODS as frequently as you can and handle the birds often. Car ry them around under the arm, open their wings and examine the under color, and acccstom them to every movement of the judge. It is not ad- visable or necessary to keep the show birds confined in the training GOODS. day at time is sufficient. Then, allow them the run of the house for two or three days and outdoor exer- else if seasonable.
 ;- ,bo 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 little white along perfectly when the fowl is well fed on sour milk mash, meat, and grain. Never pluck new feather-one in which the quill is filled with fluid as it will invariably return partially white. A few days before the exhibi- pluck the imperfect feathers. It 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 a cause for disqualification, there is no justific- ation 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 colors can be i'm proved in appearance by washing, fluff fing and grooming before the show. For white birds have three tubs filled with CD warm, soft or rain water; (2) warm, soft or rain water; (3) warm, soft, or rain water colored the proper shade to rinse the blue white goods. Use a bar of good white or castillo soap and 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. NaSn the mdleS LrSI. Ilean tne shanks and feet with the nail bush, soap, and water. Insert the bird in tub CD and push it down under the water several times until the plumage is wet through; make a 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.
 Qn fact, always wash the length of the feather, from the quill to the tip and not across it) Keep the birds head out of the soapy water if pos
 sible; sponge the soap off the bird, and remove to tub CD. Press it un- der the water several times. allow 1t