hubbakd's poultry secrets. 67 



For drink there is nothing better than spring water, to which 

 has been added a drop of tincture of iron to each cup. Change 

 the water at noon, but omit the tincture of iron. Be careful 

 to clean watering cups thoroughly every night. 



Bathe the face, comb and wattles with clear alcohol each 

 day. This will check the heavy growth of their combs. 



Use for a head dressing the day they are to be judged, five 

 parts of turpentine to one of cocoanut oil. First bathe the face, 

 comb, and wattles with vinegar and warm water, equal parts, 

 dry, and then apply the turpentine and oil. This will put on a 

 finish that is hard to beat. Shanks should be gone over with 

 the same application. 



Every bird should be handled twice a day. Remove bird 

 from coop in the following way : Turn the bird's face to- 

 ward you, with your right hand take a firm hold of the wing 

 close to the body and pull the bird forward. Place your left 

 hand under the keel with the hocks between the thumb and 

 forefinger. This will give you a firm hold of the bird. Bring 

 the bird toward you, leaving the whole weight in your left 

 hand, with breast resting on your forearm. Open the bird's 

 wing with your right hand, then change the bird to your right 

 hand and with your left hand open the other wing. You have 

 now handled the bird just as the judge will and he should not 

 be man shy when taken out of the coop in this way. I have 

 seen birds that were used to being taken from the coop with 

 both hands, as amateurs sometimes do, and when a judge takes 

 these birds by one wing and pulls them toward him, these 

 birds would squack and become frightened because they were 

 not used to being handled in this way. A bird frightened by 

 strange handling will tighten the feathers and will not show 

 real type. Many a good bird has lost a blue by not being 

 handled properly in training quarters. 



Have a barrel in your training quarters to stand your birds 



