206 EXHIBITING POULTRY 



such fanciers finding fault with decisions at the 

 shows, but when shown the minor defects which 

 they overlooked they realized their inability to select 

 properly. 



Ofttimes we notice fine looking specimens which 

 we think should have shared in the prize money, but 

 when these birds are taken in hand and carefully 

 gone over we find some decided defects. This also 

 holds good in buying birds. 



Most of the criticism heaped upon the judges 

 comes from amateurs who imagine they know as 

 much about poultry as those who have made this 

 work, I might say, a life study. An experienced 

 exhibiter, as a rule, very seldom finds fault with 

 the judge's decision even if he knows an error has 

 been made. Such mistakes cannot always be 

 avoided. 



Another thing lost sight of by most inexperienced 

 exhibitors is putting their show birds in the proper 

 condition. A bird, no matter how high its quality, 

 if not groomed for the pen, will not display its good 

 qualities. Condition means much in the judge's 

 eyes, and many a good show specimen has met its 

 Waterloo for the lack of it. One cannot expect 

 to take a bird off the roost the night before shipping 

 to the show and expect such a bird to be in show 

 condition. Show birds should be penned in indi- 

 vidual coops beforehand so that they will be accus- 

 tomed to the imprisonment. 



