478 EXHIBITING AND JUDGING 



only one bird should be put in a cage. This is the condition in 

 which they will be shown, and two birds in the same cage may 

 lead to fighting or soiled plumage, which would counteract any 

 possible advantage which might be attendant upon training. 

 Nothing but clean straw or planer shavings should be used in 

 the exhibition pen during the training period, and only dry, hard 

 grains should be fed. If the training period extends to the time 

 they are sent to the show, it is well to feed them for a few days on 

 the same ration they will get in the showroom, so as to get them 

 accustomed to it. A sudden change of ration often results in a 

 slight diarrhoea, which silts the plumage, and lessens the bird's 

 chances to win. 



Success at the show will depend largely upon the behavior 

 of the birds in the pens. Of two birds that fully come up to the 

 standard, the one that is easy to handle, that is gentle, that does 

 not tear around the cage when the judge is inspecting, but takes a 

 characteristic pose and holds it, is sure to get the highest award. 

 These qualities in show birds are almost wholly due to training, 

 and they will often make an inferior bird come out ahead of one 

 with a higher score that lacks these traits. Some persons have a 

 natural ability to train birds, which is a great help. 



Conditioning and Selection. The selection and housing of the 

 birds for exhibition should begin many weeks before they are 

 shown. The exhibitor should select and begin to train at least 

 double the number of birds he expects to enter. This will allow 

 of frequent selection and elimination of inferior birds as their 

 defects appear. If it is found, upon examining the birds, that the 

 molt is not complete or the feathers are not in first-class condition, 

 a little sunflower seed or oil meal can be fed, which will materially 

 aid the lustre and finish. When pullets are to be shown as such, 

 special care must be taken to prevent them from coming to matur- 

 ity before the show date. This is best done by confining them in 

 small cages and moving them frequently from place to place. 

 With maturity come exceptionally heavy combs, high tail car- 

 riage, and great abdominal development, which is not desirable 

 in the pullet. The birds to be shown should be weighed carefully, 

 and any slight lack of weight can be made up by varying the 

 rations, to the extent of feeding additional corn, and restricting 

 exercise. 



Birds selected for possible exhibition must be free from any 

 blemish, and in shape of body, color, and pattern must conform 



