Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-02-18

<From Weekly News Letter. United |
States Department Of AgricultuTe1
Every fowl, whether young or ma
fure, 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
mis- 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 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
ny them around under the arm, open
their wings and examine the 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.
II 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 filed 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. 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-
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
Iy 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, fiuf-
fng, and grooming before the show
For white birds have three tubs filed
with ~ warm, soft or rain water
90 warm, soft or rain water; (3)
warm, soft, or rain water colored the
proper shade to rinse the blue white
goods. Use q bar of good white OF
CASTLE soap and large sponge and q
nail brush. Have the temperature Of
the room 80 degrees or IS degrees and
bring the birds in clean exhibition
GOODS, the floors Of which should BIZ
covered with fresh. dry shavings
Wash the males first. Clean the
shanks and feet with the nail bush
moap, and water. Insert the bird II
kub ~ and push II down under tbs
water several times until the plumag,
M wet through; make a heavy lathei
With the sponge and soap. and thor
nnghly wash the plumage with th'
ponge; open the wings and spong'
fhem in the direction Of the feathers
tn fact, always wash the length o
liz feather, from the quill to the til
Ana not across it, Keep the bird
a. out of the soapy water If pos
SO, sponge the soap OF the bird
ina remove to tub (2J. Press it On
ar the water several times. allow /
stand and drip for a few seconds
then dip 1t twice In tub 90 cor
Ining the bluing water. Removl
iht bird from the water, hold its leg
sIy and raise it up and down qufet
*. 20 that it win flap and expand it
inss and tail and shake out the va
IT. Do not use a towel to dry
III Iia bird
"a oFe the exhibition coop near tn
Hrs or some heat, so that the Dir
win dry. Lifting up the plumage {
the breast and opening the feather
ne fun while drying has q ten
ey 70 Increase the apparent size {
-. ~acffona II a necessary 70 q