EXHIBITING FOWLS. 159 



birds'; but the single bird system has vastly multiplied 

 entries, and is better for exhibitors in every way. 



A week before a show the exhibits should be penned, 

 using pens rather larger than at shows, in order that they 

 may be used to the confinement, and get tame. To the 

 latter end they should be often visited, and used to being 

 turned about with a judging-stick ; if after each occasion 

 they are thrown a few grains of wheat or hempseed 

 (allowing for all this in their diet) they will rapidly become 

 tame and familiar, coming to the front of the pen. Such 

 penning also cleans the darker colours very effectually ; and 

 if before they are penned the legs and heads are thoroughly 

 washed, and care has been taken of the birds in their runs, 

 for such colours very often no more will be needed. A nail- 

 brush is often very handy for cleaning heads and legs, in 

 other cases a sponge may suffice. The pens should first be 

 covered with gravel or grit, and over this clean chaff, the 

 droppings being often taken away, and both materials 

 renewed whenever necessary. 



For light- coloured fowls, however, or for such as have 

 much white in their plumage, the cleansing process above de- 

 scribed will often be found insufficient. In such cases the 

 birds must be carefully washed with soap and water before 

 sending off, and good or bad washing may make all the 

 difference between winning and losing. 



A large tub or pan must be provided, and half filled with 

 warm water. The very first step is to clean thoroughly the 

 feet and legs, which always are of a colour to need this in 

 light-coloured fowls ; and if they are dirty, the water in 

 which they are washed should be thrown awav and clean 

 substituted ; a hardish brush will generally be useful in 

 scrubbing the shanks. The head is washed next, using a 

 soft nail-brush on the comb if needful ; after that the first 

 step is to thoroughly soak the plumage by the use of a 



