Secrets of the Show Birds' Toilet 145 



try again another night. When you succeed in getting him to stand 

 at night, then take him out in the day time and try him. The one 

 spot where a bird is most susceptible is under the beak and throat. 

 When you can "tickle him under the chin" he is all right; you can do 

 what you want with him. Teach him to pose any way you want by 

 putting a stick on that part you want him to lower or raise. At first he 

 will be afraid of the stick, but he must be taught that the stick will not 

 hurt him, and the way to do it is by holding the stick over him while 

 you feed him tid-bits. Many a good bird loses a ribbon because he 

 is so wild the judge does not care to fight it out with him. 



Preparing Colored Birds. — All birds that are to be exhibited must 

 have their legs and feet washed and put in fitting shape to be handled. 

 Just as much care should be taken with the legs, feet, head and other 

 points as if they were white. Now, having washed and manicured 

 the legs, feet, etc., and washed and colored the face, comb, and wattles, 

 take a good-sized silk handkerchief that is clean and dry and rub the 

 feathers all over until they shine. Keep going along with the feathers, 

 taking long strokes along the back, sides, wings and breast until 

 your bird just fairly glistens with polish. Of course, he is free from 

 lice; no decent fancier would attempt to send a lousey bird to a show. 

 When a colored bird is prepared right he is something worth looking 

 at, but, oh my, when his shanks and head are dirty, no matter how 

 good he is, he does not make a good appearance; and when he goes 

 to a show that's exactly what he is sent for, "to look good" to the 

 judge. No judge likes to handle dirty birds. It is not reasonable. 



Bleaching. — For those who believe in bleaching feathers, the method 

 is given; every one has his or her opinion as to the value of it and 

 each must be the judge. It can be detected by any judge by the lack 

 of lustre in the feathers. 



Wash the birds as directed, but do not use any blueing. Dry the 

 bird well with towels. Then take peroxide of hydrogen and wash the 

 feathers over, brushing it in with a tooth brush. Where there are 

 any feathers showing brassiness or off color, brush more peroxide in, 

 but be careful to keep it out of the bird's eyes and away from the 

 skin. After working the peroxide well into the feathers, put the bird 

 in a box with plenty of straw in the bottom, and cover him over to 

 dry and bleach. The box should be in a moderately warm room, but 

 not before a hot fire, as he must dry gradually. If all the sap is not 

 out of the feathers, repeat the process again. After peroxiding, and 

 the bird is well dried, take prepared chalk and polish carefully the 

 outside of feathers to give them a silky gloss. Some wash the entire 

 bird in peroxide, but that is really cruel and there is no need for it. 



The above methods are all legitimate and are allowed by the 

 Standard; other methods, which are downright faking, can be done by 

 those who want to, but I will not be a party to it by giving informa- 

 tion about how it is done. 



