South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-03

Poultry keepers who send fowls
10 exhibitions do so 20 win recoe-
milton In order 70 win the fowls
should be properly conditioned.
CONDITIONING includes earlier feed
ing, systematic care. preparation for
exhibition. shipping the birds. and
subsequent management This arti-
Gle viii briefly describe these prep
aration.
Chickens are seldom 1T for the
show room until thay are six months
OF axe. PuIlets should be separated
from the cOckerels az early as pos
sible. stimulating food may be
given 10 cOckerels longer than 20
pu!lets when the latter are intend
ed for exhibition. The fancier and
the utility poultry keeper proceed
along different lines after pullets
nave reached the axe OF about six
months. The latter aims 20 get his
pullets laying as soon as possible,
While the former should delay lay
ing in order TO put his birds in
prime condition for the show room.
Basis of Good Condition.
For the preparation Of pullets or
hens stimulating food should be re-
duced TO retard the biological pro-
cess OF reproduction When laying
commences, the pullet's growth
practically stops. When chickens
have been properly fed after beins
Matched. they will he in as good
condition for showing as they ought
to be without the need or stimu-
lating food. COckerels may be fed
rich. wet mash once or twice "A
day 20 render them plump and
ileshy. but this would be ruinous
20 pullets, especially If they were
10 be used for breeding purposes
after having been exhibited. If
pullets are over-fat, few chickens
viii be Matched from their eggs.
and those few viii be likely 10 in
herit low vitality Therefore. when
buying eggs from prize-winning
fowls. q knowledge OF the condition
of the layers as 10 this point is
very important. This is the con-
viction of the best breeders and
Judges as IL bears on fecundity and
vitality
\ really good condition OF hens
OF bullets for the show room is an
cmount OF flesh consistent With
perfect health and clean. well-ap-
pearing plumage. The fancier must
bring about these conditions if he
expects &c carry of blue ribbons.
For the plumage nothing is better
than Il good grass run. Fowls al
ways look clean and neat when so
kept. rhey seldom need any fur
Their preparation than OF washing
the leEs and feet.
selecting the show Birds.
When one has a large number OF
birds from which 10 choose. there
ought % be little difficulty in Sc
Iecting show pens even for such
shows as New York and Chicago.
Tile breeder, of course. knows the
perfection points OF his breed as
recognized by poultry judges. The
STANDARD OF Perfection sets forth
these points and one should be
familiar with them.
Let 10 first be seen that the color
of the legs. eyes and pIummase are
up 10 standard. Next see that
combs. wattles beak and general
proportion are alike, SO that the
birds will be fairly uniform. Then
let every part of each bird be &c
amned I'm detail. See that the
neck. hacIIe. back and tail are the
same i'm color. marking and car
riage. also the breast and wings.
These rules apply even where in
dividual male or female birds are
selected for nibiuOu.
The fancie. should not be too
critical Experience proves that
Few birds are absolutely perfect.
one of the chief characteristics Of
breeding is variation, and this
good Judge knows While the breed
or may thus recognize some de
tects in his own birds impartial
Judges have 10 weigh other hlem-
shes in birds of competing pens.
one may therefore win where birds
are known not @ be up 10 standard
in every particular. Birds with slar-
tnr defects should not be exhibited
fancier should not hesitate %
show even II the birds do not al
WAYS meet his own standard Of
perfection.
Making Up Pen.
had selection is fatal 20 prize
winning. Likewise delay in gettins
the fowls together may Danish the
farcier-s hopes OF success Where
birds unaccustomed 20 each other
are matched. this should be- done
IN least ten days before tie time OF
avhibition. The object is 10 have
the birds familiar with each other.
some fowls will try 20 dominate the
Dcn This is bad. II may cause
1ghting on the road or during the
exhibition. causing damage TO the
Dlummage. and perhaps serious in
luries such condition might
we'll kill ones hopes of winning "a
prize.
A good practice in matching is
Us follows: About a week or ten
DAYS before the pen Is 10 be ship
bed. prepare a nice dry room for
the fowls. Cover the floor thickly
sv,th clean straw. Place the birds
f .ba room and throw small