156 



POULTRY rEEDlNG AXD FATTENING 



position. "When the second and succeeding birds are 

 placed in the trough the weight is moved along until 

 quite full. It is necessary that they should be packed 

 firmly and tightly in this way. Next a loose board, 

 four inches wide, and half an inch shorter than the 

 trough, is laid upon the back of the fowls. Just behind 

 the wings. Upon this are placed three or four heavy 

 glazed bricks, or two weights of fifty-six pounds, and 

 the fowls are allowed to remain in the trough for several 



Fig. 43 — CHICKENS IN CANADIAN SHAPING BOARDS 



hours, in fact, until they are quite cold and set. When 

 taken out they have the appearance shown in Figure 43. 

 In all such matters it is desirable to study appearance 

 and what are the market requirements. For London 

 trade it is necessary to send birds so shaped in order to 

 secure the best prices. Of course shaping does not add 

 one iota to the weight, nor anything to the edible value. 

 But it is none the less important, for the eye is the 

 inlet to the pocket as to "the soul." 



