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391 



POULTRY SHOWS.— PREPARING FOR EXHIBITION. 



r,Y " THE HENWIKE. 



THIS being the season for making pre- 

 paration for poultry shows, a Httle ad- 

 vice to those who are about to make their debut 

 in poultry life may be acceptable from one who 

 has " trod the boards," and experienced the 

 anxiety, and frequent disappointment, which 

 attend the footsteps of the exhibitor. This very 

 day I am preparing sixty birds for show, and I 

 cannot do better than relate my own mode of 

 procedure. About the middle of July I selec- 

 ted from the free runs of pullets and cockerels 

 a few of the best of each kind of fowls, and shut 

 them up in the wired-in range of the poultry- 

 yard, where they were well fed and had regular 

 exercise. Three weeks ago I matched a cockerel 

 and three pullets of each kind, returning the re- 

 jected ones to their old homes none the worse 

 for their change of abode and extra feeding. 

 The selected champions of the poultry-)ard 

 were then made the objects of peculiar care 

 and attention. While at exercise they were 

 Avatched to prevent fighting, which is certain 

 destruction to the combs and toes of cocks. 

 Their food consisted of meal mixed with ale 

 or milk, scraps of meat from the table, linseed 

 soaked and mixed with rice or meal, hempseed, 

 groats, and wheat. Nothing is too good for 

 exhibition birds, the expected winners of first 

 I)rizes and silver cups. Having put up three 

 pullets with each cockerel, I have had to select 

 from them the best pair and return one to its 

 plantation run. It is not an easy matter to 

 match a pen of fowls, though only three in 

 number. There are so many points to be 

 considered, and the matching of combs, 

 hackles, breasts, shape, and colour, must be 

 perfect. All other points being equal, I de- 

 termined the final choice by weight, and I 

 have just completed my entries by weighing 

 my beautiful Rouen ducklings, which turned 

 the scale at 1 8 lb. To-day, also, has been de- 

 voted to washing the white Cochins and light 

 Brahmas. Old birds are yellow and shabby 



at this season, and reciuire to be thoroughly 

 cleansed to look at all well. I use a brush, 

 white soap, and hot water, taking care to 

 brush the feathers straight down, and always 

 pouring tepid water over the bird to remove 

 any traces of the soap. Immediately after 

 washing, and drying with soft towels, put the 

 birds into hampers with straw, and keep them 

 under cover till quite dry. I always wash the 

 feet of dorkings carefully before putting them 

 into their exhibition hampers, because the 

 white leg and foot are " points " of excellence ; 

 and it freshens up all birds to have their legs, 

 combs, and faces washed and made tidy before 

 leaving home to be admired of hundreds, and 

 to undergo the scrutiny of keen, quick-sighted 

 judges. It is often so difficult to decide be- 

 tween two cocks of apparently equal merits 

 that I always pen them up in a row, and select 

 the one that shews himself off" to the best ad- 

 vantage. A drooping dull bird is seldom 

 successful ; sprightliness is a sign of health 

 and boldness of mien, indicative of vigour and 

 courage — two essentials in male birds. To- 

 morrow I shall, with the help of many willing 

 assistants (for a poultry show is a great event, 

 and speculation is rife upon the merits of the 

 different birds), put my beauties into their 

 hampers and despatch them to their destina- 

 tion. Their breakfast preparatory tq their 

 journey is entirely of meal, with a little spice 

 (pimento or pepper) in it to give warmth, and 

 I always send along with the birds a bag con- 

 taining food for at least one day. The 

 hampers are best when circular in form, as 

 fowls often creep into corners and destroy 

 their feathers. They must be sufficiently high 

 to enable the birds to stand upright, and in 

 each should be a good bedding of hay. I con- 

 sider a lining imperative for all birds lid geese, 

 ducks, and turkeys, and even for these in cold 

 weather a little straw stitched inside the 

 hampers adds \ery much to their comfort. 



