TREATMENT ON RETURN. 137 



ratified the change. In the meantime, it is our opinion that 

 exhibitors have decidedly a right to know beforehand who are 

 to judge their birds; and this is now conceded at all the best 

 shows. To call upon them to send their best stock to a show, 

 where, it may be, the judge's known prejudices on certain 

 points give them no chance of a prize, is evidently unfair. 



But we are leaving the fowls, and must return to them, 

 though we have little more to add. Whether they require any 

 special treatment on their return will chiefly depend upon the 

 system of feeding which has been pursued during the period of 

 exhibition. If, as is the case still at some small shows, the 

 pernicious plan of feeding on whole barley ad libitum has been 

 retained, the birds may be more or less feverish and disturbed, 

 and will need a corrective. But such feeding cannot be too 

 strongly condemned. It saves trouble, certainly ; but if a 

 committee are not willing to take so much pains as will keep 

 the birds in perfect health, they have no right to gather them 

 together. The proper feeding is either barley-meal or oatmeal or 

 Spratt's Food in the morning, mixed rather dry, and given 

 before the public are admitted, with grain only in the evening ; 

 and, in each case, only as much as the fowls will eat at once, 

 without leaving any in the pens. Only these two meals should 

 be given, as the birds have no exercise, and do not require 

 more ; besides which, the natural excitement of the show is best 

 counteracted by a rather spare diet. Water should be given 

 in tins, and only in limited quantity not left ad libitum till 

 the birds have had time to slake their first thirst after the 

 journey. Barley ought only to be used sparingly, as it is too 

 hard to be properly digested in a show-pen. 



Fowls fed as here recommended will be returned in as good 

 condition as they were sent, and require no attention at all 

 beyond seeing that they do not get too much water and green 

 food at first. But if they return from a " barley-fed " show, or 

 the system on which they have been fed is unknown, or, in any 



