CHAPTER XXI 
JUDGING POULTRY 
JUDGING poultry differs from that of other farm animals in that 
the various classes of fowls have definite standards. These stand- 
ards are followed by poultrymen generally, and before one can 
judge intelligently, he must become familiar with the various 
standards as set forth in the Standard of Perfection published by 
the American Poultry Association. 
504. How to estimate the age of poultry. — The age of fowls 
cannot be judged with exactness. About the best we can do is to 
distinguish between young fowls, say those under one year of age, 
and older ones, say those one year old and upward. 
505. Young fowls.— The young fowl has a clean, smooth 
shank ; soft, short, and straight toe-nails ; and the young male has 
asmall, soft spur. The face is smooth and the eyes round and full. 
The skin is elastic and the flesh firm. 
506. Old fowls. — In older fowls, the shanks show roughness, 
dead scales, and less color; the toe-nails are hard and rough, and 
the old male has a long, hard, bone-like spur, which is often curved. 
The face is wrinkled and puffy, while the eyes are not so round 
and full as in the younger fowls. The skin is usually loose and the 
flesh flabby. 
METHODS OF JUDGING POULTRY 
There are two distinct methods of judging fowls in common 
practice, the score-card and the comparative method. Poultry 
is the only class of farm animals where the score-card is used in 
placing awards. Both the comparative and the score-card method 
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