478 EXHIBITING AND JUDGING 
only one bird should be put in a cage. This is the condition in 
which they will be shown, and two birds in the same cage may 
lead to fighting or soiled plumage, which would counteract any 
possible advantage which might be attendant upon training. 
Nothing but clean straw or planer shavings should be used in 
the exhibition pen during the training period, and only dry, hard 
grains should be fed. If the training period extends to the time 
they are sent to the show, it is well to feed them for a few days on 
the same ration they will get in the showroom, so as to get them 
accustomed to it. A sudden change of ration often results in a 
slight diarrhoea, which silts the plumage, and lessens the bird’s 
chances to win. 
Success at the show will depend largely upon the behavior 
of the birds in the pens. Of two birds that fully come up to the 
standard, the one that is easy to handle, that is gentle, that does 
not tear around the cage when the judge is inspecting, but takes a 
characteristic pose and holds it, is sure to get the highest award. 
These qualities in show birds are almost wholly due to training, 
and they will often make an inferior bird come out ahead of one 
with a higher score that lacks these traits. Some persons have a 
natural ability to train birds, which is a great help. 
Conditioning and Selection.—The selection and housing of the 
birds for exhibition should begin many weeks before they are 
shown. The exhibitor should select and begin to train at least 
double the number of birds he expects to enter. This will allow 
of frequent selection and elimination of infericr birds as their 
defects appear. If it is found, upon examining the birds, that the 
molt is not complete or the feathers are not in first-class condition, 
a little sunflower seed or oil meal can be fed, which will materially 
aid the lustre and finish. When pullets are to be shown as such, 
special care must be taken to prevent them from coming to matur- 
ity before the show date. This is best done by confining them in 
small cages and moving them frequently from place to place. 
With maturity come exceptionally heavy combs, high tail car- 
riage, and great abdominal development, which is not desirable 
in the pullet. The birds to be shown should be weighed carefully, 
and any slight lack of weight can be made up by varying the 
rations, to the extent of feeding additional corn, and restricting 
exercise. 
Birds selected for possible exhibition must be free from any 
blemish, and in shape of body, color, and pattern must conform 
