214 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



subject. It is perhaps rather debatable ground, 

 which we must leave to each to decide for him- 

 self; but we certainly think such cases differ 

 radically from attempts to imitate fancy points, 

 which present real difficulty in breeding them to 

 the required standard. Nothing should be done 

 till the tail is grown, as sometimes it will appear 

 awry when only partly grown, but be all right 

 when fully out. Then if it still persists, in 

 slight cases it is often enough to make a small 

 scar or eschar at « or ^ (Fig. 82) 

 1 / on the side of the neck of the tail 



joint, commonly called the " par- 

 son's nose." A scar is made by 

 snipping out a bit of the skin half 

 an inch long by almost a quarter 

 of an inch wide, the longer diameter 

 Fig. S2. being downwards ; an eschar by 



well rubbing wetted lunar caustic 

 over a space the same size, and it should be 

 done on the side opposite that towards which 

 the tail is carried. The scar or eschar will tend 

 to slightly contract, and as if stretched it will feel 

 a little sore, to avoid this the bird will ease his 

 tail more to the desired side, and often the end 

 will be attained. If this is not effectual, when 

 the tail is strongly bent away from its undesired 

 position, very often a tight cord or tendon will be 

 felt, rising as it were against the finger, and if 

 this be cut (the same applying to the top of the 

 joint in some sudden cases of acquired squirrel, 

 tail ; chronic cases are not fit subjects for 

 treatment) a cure probably follows. The cut 

 should not be made from the surface, but a very 

 narrow sharp knife (called by surgeons a 

 bistoury) dipped in diluted carbolic acid should 

 be inserted under the cord, and the cut made 

 with a sawing motion from beneath, but without 

 cutting through the skin above. After either 

 operation the tail should be worked a little 

 daily, till it sets in the proper position. 



At last the birds for exhibition at a given date 

 have to be finally selected. The usual error 

 is to send too many, which an experienced 

 exhibitor never does unless he wants 

 Selecting them on the spot for the probability 



Specimens ^j- ^^yy^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^ 



Exhibition. team he has, or because, knowing 

 he is stronger than usual, he wants 

 for some reason to make a grand cojtp, as was 

 the case amongst the Dark Brahma chickens 

 at the Crystal Palace Show of 1899. Here 

 one exhibitor carried off the challenge cup, 

 third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth 

 prizes in the cockerels ; and another the cup, 

 second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and 

 ninth in the pullets. But such cases are rare, 

 and the beginner had better make up his mind 



that only his very best have a real chance o\ 

 winning, and that more will be waste of money 

 in entry fees. He may have more, really good 

 and worth money ; but a good show collects the 

 best, and his own best will make the best record 

 for him. These he should carefully select and 

 compare ?«/^«i', with a set of which, greater or 

 less in number, every sensible exhibitor provides 

 his establishment, being highly necessary for the 

 training of the birds as well as the selection of 

 them. We think it much better to have larger 

 pens than are used for exhibition, as the speci- 

 mens are equally well seen, and stand the con- 

 finement better; for our own Brahmas we adopted 

 three feet square. In such wired pens all the 

 possible candidates are closely scrutinised, and it 

 will often be found that those which look best 

 as they run do not appear so when in the pen, 

 for some reason or other.* 



But all are better for some training in a 

 pen before showing, and the same proceeding 

 has further uses in promoting cleanliness and 



condition. A fowl just picked up 

 Pen off a run, and penned up at a show 



Training. foj- the first time, is wild and 



frightened, and will never catch a 

 judge's eye ; want of symmetry alone would 

 throw it out. A week before the show will be 

 suflicient, tind before being placed in the pen the 

 bird should have its legs and feet washed clean, 

 using soap and a nail brush if necessary ; and 

 also the head, for which a softer tooth brush is 

 more convenient. The pen should be first 

 sprinkled with good grit, over which is thrown 

 straw chaff; this chaff will keep them clean, and 

 is most important, the grit for digestion being 

 equally so. As often as possible the birds 

 should be visited, and if unusually wild, first a 

 little stai-ved, in order that they may welcome 

 the feeder with food. But as much as possible 

 of passing and repassing, standing in front of 

 them, stroking them down the back with 

 the end of a stick, and occasional throwing of 

 a grain or two of hempseed, will soon quiet 

 them, till they will let themselves be turned 

 about with a cane into all different positions 

 without making a fuss, and stand composedly 

 to be looked at, and come to the front of 

 the pen. The object is then attained, and the 



* We recollect upon one occasion possessing two cockerels 

 clearly ahead of the others, one of which we had almost deter- 

 mined upon for the Crystal Palace Show. We had, however, 

 both placed in pens, being too ill to do more at the moment than 

 wipe their heads and feet. We were confined to bed for the 

 next few days, but they were carefully fed, and on the day be- 

 fore sending off, we were able to get down to look at them, 

 wrapped up in shawls. We instantly reversed our former con- 

 clusion, selecting the other bird, which won the cup of the year, 

 as we feel sure our first choice would not have done, though in- 

 other hands he won at Edinburgh afterwards. 



