POULTRY CULTURE 



large that the judges engaged must be free from interruption if they 

 are to get their work done on time, it is often necessary to exclude 

 exhibitors from the hall or from those parts of it where judging is 

 going on, but in shows of the class under consideration exhibitors 

 should be given every facility to see the judging of their exhibits 

 and to learn the judge's reasons for placing birds as he does, for 

 in this is the greatest educational value of the show for them. 



Methods of judging. The method of judging small shows is 

 usually by the score card. This method makes specific estimate of 

 values, and so is more satisfactory to novices than the comparison 

 method, and more useful for instruction where many points are 

 considered. These methods will be explained in the following 

 chapter. Exhibitors at shows of this kind should insist that the 

 judge be as severe on faults in their fowls as he would be at a 

 higher-class show. Some judges always score high at small shows, 

 cutting faults very lightly when judging, and so give exhibitors 

 false ideas of the value of their birds. 



Classification. The classification of poultry in exhibitions should 

 be the same, regardless of the size and importance of the show 

 and of the quality of the exhibits. By wrong classification the 

 greater part of the possible educational value of a show may be lost 

 to exhibitors, and the exhibits may be misrepresented in reports 

 of awards. Different kinds of birds are not strictly comparable ; 

 neither are birds of the same variety but of different sexes and 

 ages. Young birds must be favored in weight and some points of 

 development, old birds in color (which has a tendency to fade with 

 age) and in all points where age brings deterioration. The common 

 classification for fowls makes five classes for each variety, four 

 classes for single birds (cock, cockerel, hen, and pullet) and one class 

 for exhibition pens, a pen being composed of five specimens, a male 

 matched according to Standard requirements with four females. The 

 single-bird classes are also called the "open classes." In ducks, 

 geese, and turkeys the same classification is used, the old and young 

 of each sex competing separately. In turkeys, and occasionally in 

 geese, two classes for old birds (particularly males) are made, two- 

 year-old birds competing separately and all over two years classing 

 as " aged " birds. In the single classes each bird is judged on its 

 individual merits in comparison with competitors in the same class. 



