PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 381 



the purpose as well as any material yet used, unless it is a com- 

 bination of the same and long straw, with the straw on top. 

 Clean, hand-threshed, rye straw is best suited to this purpose. 

 While it is clean and unbroken, the droppings have a tendency 

 to fall through onto the sawdust or shavings which adhere to 

 them, absorbing the moisture contained in them, or covering 

 them with a thin coating of whichever bedding material is 

 used; being protected in this way and by the straw above, the 

 plumage is kept clean. Unless shipments are very long, birds 

 shipped in coops fitted up in this manner will arrive in excel- 

 lent condition of plumage, provided, of course, that they started 

 in that condition. 



Feeding During the Journey. When the journey is of such 

 length that the fowls must be confined to their coops for more 

 than two or three hours, food should be supplied. This should 

 consist largely of the small grains, but a supply of green foods, 

 which serve to entertain the fowls and keep the digestive tract 

 in good order, is important because the fowls must feel their 

 best to look their best. There is certainly a chance of their 

 crops becoming overfull if the fowls are not accustomed to 

 these foods. However, they should have been previously accus- 

 tomed to them. The green foods should be of such a nature 

 that it will not soil the plumage and in the case of white birds, 

 greens are usually omitted from the bill of fare while the birds 

 are in transit. 



Shells and Grit. A small handful of oyster shells and grit 

 should be supplied. This is doubly essential because the 

 fowls will in all probability be deprived of both during the 

 show. 



Whether water is necessary or not depends upon the time 

 of confinement in the shipping coop. In cold weather birds 

 may be deprived of water for twenty-four hours, or even a 

 little longer, without visible inconvenience or discomfort if 

 plenty of succulent food is provided. The more succulent the 

 green food, the longer the period during which water may be 

 withheld. Without water the fowls are less liable to be soiled 

 in transit and usually arrive in much better condition than 

 when water cups are a part of the coop fittings. When it is 

 necessary to supply water in transit, cups that are partially 

 covered or have a float should be used, particularly when white 

 birds are shipped. After the birds have been washed and 

 conditioned for exhibition, shippers of white birds supply water 

 only when absolutely necessary. 



