Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-04
HOW TO CHOOSE BIRDS
AND FIT THEM FOR SHOW
Preparations Include Early Feeding
and Special Management for
Best Of Flock.
UTMOST CARE NECESSARY
suggestions for Making Up Pens.
Washing Specimens and Good
Methods Of Shipping-Hints to Up.
to-Datc Chicken Husbandmen.
Bi PROFESSOR JAMES b. NORMAN,
Former Expert fer the United states

Department OF Agriculture.
Poultry keepers who send fowls to
exhibitions do SO to win recognition.
In order to win. tho fowls should DO
properly conditioned. Conditioning In
cludes earlier feeding. Systematic care,
preparation for exhibition. shipping the
birds. and subsequent management.
This article Will briefly describe these
preparations.
Chickens are seldom fit for the show
room until they are six months OF ago.
Pul!ets should he separated from the
cockcrels as early as possible. Stimu-
lating food may be given TO cockcrcls
longer than to pullcts when the latter
are intended for exhibition. The fan
cier and the utility poultry keeper pro-
coed along different lines after pullets
have reached the age OF about six
months The latter aims TO get his
pullcts laying as soon az possible.
while the former should delay laying
in order TO put his birds in prime con-
dillon for the showroom.
Ba.i. OF Good Condition.
For the preparation Of pullets or
hons. stimulating food should be re-
duced to retard the biological process
OF reproduction. When laying COM
rnences. tho pullet's growth practically
stops. Where chickens have been
properly fed after being Matched. they
VIII be in as good condition for show
ing as they ought to DO without tho
need OF stimulating food. Cockcrels
may be fed rich wet mach once or
twice day 10 render them plump and
Heshy: but this would be ruinous to
puilets. especially II they were to be
used for breeding purposes after hav-
ing been exhibited. If pullets are over
fat, fe'~ chickens will be Matched from
their eggs. and those few Will be
likely TO inherit low vitality. There
fore. when buying eggs from prize
winning fowls. a knowledge Of the con-
dition OF the layers az TO this point Is
very important. This Is the conv!c-
ton or the best breeders and Judges
as II bears on fccundity and vitality
really good condition OF hens or
pullcts FOR the showroom Is an amount
OF flesh consistent with perfect health
and clean. appearing plumase
The fancic- must bring about these
conditions II he expects to carry of
blue ribbons. For tho plumage moth
ing is better than a good grass run
Fowls always look clean and neat
when SO kept. They seldom need any
further preparation than that OF wash
Ing the legs and feet
Selecting the Show birds.
Where enc has "a large number OF
birds from which 10 choose, there ought
TO be little difficulty in selecting show
pens even for such shows as New York
and Chicago. The breeder. OF course.
knows the perfection points OF his
breed az recognized by poultry judges
Tho STANDARD Of Perfection" sets
forth these points and one should be
familiar with them.
Let II first be seen that the color Of
the legs. eyes and plumage are UP to
standard. Next see that combs. wat
ties. beak and general proportion arc
alike, so that the birds will be fairly
uniform. Then let every par, OF each