MOULTING OF PRIZE POULTRY. 



217 



lining; in such atmosphere experience shows 

 that the plumage webs again best of all. 



Rain or soft water should always be used for 

 washing poultry, and really good mild soap, not 

 a coarse alkaline quality. White fowls of loose 

 plumage like Cochins may be shown next day 

 if necessary, and we know that Mr. Elijah Smith 

 on one occasion washed his birds in the morning, 

 took them a few miles to the first railway 

 junction (where he had in those early days 

 several hours to wait), and dried them on the 

 floor before the waiting-room fire ! But the 

 birds should, if possible, have at least a day to 

 preen themselves and get the plumage in order 

 in their own way ; also, if anything is not 

 properly done there is time to put it right. 

 We would prefer two or three days, and they 

 will keep perfectly clean if the pen has plenty 

 of chaff as above advised, and the droppings are 

 frequently removed. Another reason for a little 

 time to spare, is that often slight Irxity of the 

 bowels may follow for a day or two. The reason 

 for this, we believe, is either soap being swallowed 

 or a slight chill ; usually the latter, which might 

 probably be prevented by five or six drops of 

 essence of camphor on a bolus of meal first 

 thing next morning, and taking care that they 

 are not put direct from the warm drying basket 

 into a cold pen. They should always be 

 watched, and fed carefully the following day, 

 food in the least sloppy being especially avoided. 

 Management of adult fowls for exhibition 

 resolves itself mainly into care of the plumage 

 for the summer shows, good moulting for the 



winter ones, and the attainment of 

 Adult Fowls a proper amount of flesh. While 

 for Exhibition, chickens can be fed freely at all 



times, older fowls so treated would 

 be fat and useless for stock ; to be useful they 

 are best kept considerably more spare than the 

 most effective show condition. Hence actual 

 breeding stock often requires perceptible feeding 

 up before it can be considered in show trim. 

 It is better by far to treat them thus, than to 

 keep them in such condition for long periods, 

 especially if of the larger breeds ; and this is 

 one of the reasons why old fowls of such breeds 

 do not stand continuous showing. Here again, 

 however, constant and ample green food is the 

 greatest help and preservative. Most of the 

 extra feeding should be given whilst still on the 

 runs, and adult fowls which have had any expe- 

 rience will require less time in the training pen, 

 a very few days being usually sufficient. What 

 has been said already regarding gloss of feather, 

 and colour of combs and lobes, will apply to 

 them also. 



Great care of their plumage is needed for 



summer competition. The hens may require 

 seclusion from the cock during most of the day, 

 and when serious breeding is over, are better 

 taken away altogether. The male bird should, 

 however, have a couple or more common hens 

 left with him till about the end of June, during 

 morning and evening ; deprived altogether, he 

 often becomes listless and dispirited. Both sexes 

 should be shielded from hot sun, which bleaches 

 or tans the plumage, and makes it brittle. If 

 hens become broody, their management as to 

 being allowed to sit a little, or turned off the 

 nest at once, will have to be considered in con- 

 nection with the date when they may be wanted, 

 and how far the season is advanced, as any time 

 after the early part of July it may possibly bring 

 on a moult. 



A fairly quick and good moult is the chief 

 thing to aim at in regard to the later shows, and 

 the fact just mentioned is of value in regard to 

 hens. These should always beallowed 

 Moulting ^ f^'"" nieasure of rest in the summer, 



Exhibition for if they are not, the mere want of 

 Stock. strength thus caused may prevent 



their moulting quickly and well ; 

 but should any become broody after the first 

 week in July, to allow them to sit for a month 

 and then turn them off will often result in the 

 casting of the feathers almost together, and the 

 rapid growth of the new coat whilst the weather 

 is still warm. This is the sort of moult a breeder 

 likes. Much depends upon the date of hatching, 

 and the experienced breeder lays his plans 

 greatly in reference to this. Chickens hatched 

 late in March and through April, and well cared 

 for, may be expected to moult well and fairly 

 early all their lives ; but late hatched birds are 

 apt to be late in moult, and on the other hand 

 pullets hatched very early, too often lay very 

 early and moult in their very first season, but 

 late in the autumn. When this happens, the 

 time of the bird's future moults is frequently 

 upset for life, but not always. 



Valued specimens, then, should be prepared 

 beforehand for a good moult, by giving the hens 

 rest when occasion offers, and separating the 

 male birds for a reasonable time ; but not over- 

 doing this last, as already remarked. Their con- 

 dition should also be carefully examined, with 

 a view to feeding up, as already hinted in 

 Chapter III. They need e.xtra food and sup- 

 port through this period, but if already on the 

 fleshy side, this might be disastrous ; therefore 

 take special care that they are in full vigour, but 

 not in the least fleshy, and ready for the system 

 of feeding there described. If they seem to re- 

 quire it, the tonic powder No. 3, page 199, may 

 often be given with benefit, and if they are to be 



