SHIP IN LARGE CRATES 467 



closely and too long before the show, which makes them dull 

 and sluggish. A pullet is at her best just before she lays her 

 first egg; after that she loses her bloom and goes ofT shape. 



Buff color is the hardest to maintain at an even shade. The 

 secret of getting even, rich, golden buff color is never to allow 

 the sun or rain to touch the surface of a showbird. Some of 

 the most successful breeders of buff plumaged birds do not give 

 their birds freedom in the open from the time their final plumage 

 begins to show, but keep them in shady runs or under sheds. 



Shipping Crates. — Above all things, do not try to save space 

 or a few cents on expressage by crowding show specimens into 

 small crates. There is no economy in it. Use standard exhibi- 

 tion crates, which may be purchased at a reasonable price. If 

 made at home, build them high enough for the birds to stand 

 upright, and wide enough for them to turn round without in- 

 juring their tails. Label or tag the crates neatly, and in strict 

 accordance with the instructions of the show secretary. See 

 that the crates are bedded with clean straw or some material 

 that is free from dust. We have seen instances where birds that 

 had been carefully washed and groomed were hopelessly marred 

 by a deposit of dust on face, shanks and plumage, caused by 

 scratching in dusty litter. 



To insure identification every specimen should be leg-banded, 

 and the number or distinguishing feature of the band should be 

 marked on the entry blank and shipping crate. 



Sportsmanship. — It has been said, any one can win blue rib- 

 bons, but it takes a real fancier to lose. If there is one thing 

 in a show room that is detestable, it is the exhibitor who has not 

 sufficient sportsmanship to abide by the decision of the judge. 

 If you can't understand an award, have it out with the judge in 

 a gentlemanly way, but if he can't convince you that his opinion 

 is correct, take your medicine like a man. A good loser is always 

 respected and admired. 



Chickens are great imitators, and their imitations frequently 

 lead to habits which are very troublesome and difficult to com- 

 bat, among which are egg-eating, feather-pulling, cannibalism 



