Hubbard's poultry secrets. 63 



pens that your favorite bird does not show his best just at the 

 time that the judge is to pass his opinion on him. He might 

 get excited over something, or he might not be feeling just 

 right at the time the judge is placing the awards. There are 

 one hundred and one things that could happen that would 

 cause your best bird to tighten up his feathers and not show 

 his best at the time he is to be judged. The judge has all 

 these things to contend with. How easy it is for him to make 

 a mistake under these conditions. Remember the judge has 

 not had the chance to study your birds as you have, so if the 

 ribbons do not go to your birds just as you think they should, 

 don't complain and say that the judge is crooked, or you won- 

 der how much the other fellow had to pay him to place his 

 birds over yours. Get that idea out of your head about 

 judges being bought. Remember they have their reputation 

 at stake, and they are going to protect it the best they know 

 how, and place the ribbons on the birds that look the nearest 

 to the standard at the time they are being judged. Some 

 birds improve every day they are in the show room and others 

 go back. Always remember that a bird which is gaining in 

 weight will make a good appearance in a show coop, provided 

 he has been properly trained before he is sent to the show 

 room ; and a bird makes a poor showing if he is losing in 

 weight, as he is fast going out of condition. So train and 

 handle your birds at home and arrange your feeding so that 

 they will be gaining in weight the day they are to be judged. 

 This will give the judge a chance to pass on your birds when 

 they are at their best. 



I have followed the show room for twelve years and not 

 once in the twelve years have I ever suspected a judge of be- 

 ing crooked. There were years that I did not think that I got 

 just what I thought belonged to me, 'and there have been other 

 years where it has been a close thing for the judge to decide. 



