R. I. REDS AS EXHIBITION FOWLS 



pretty well in color and it is 

 no unusual thing to find 

 cocks that are nearly as good 

 as cockerels in color. 



You will of course have 

 looked them over for disquali- 

 fications. Under the 1910 

 Standard two pounds or more 

 underweight will disqualify. 

 We must remember that 

 side sprigs on single combs, 

 lopped combs on both single 

 and rose combs, absence of 

 spike on rose combs, feathers, 

 stubs or down on the shanks, 

 feet or between the toes, ot 

 any clean legged breed, or 

 variety, disqualifies in the 

 Standard of 1910. Breeders 

 should remember that a rose 

 comb in order to be lopped 

 enough to disqualify must 

 fall over far enough to come 

 in contact with one side of 

 the fowl's head or be so large 

 as to obstruct the sight. The 

 latter means from a front 

 view. Birds with these defects 

 should not be selected as can- 

 didates for show room honors. 



Look the plumage over 

 carefully and see if there is to 



be found a feather, or two, with a bleached or off-colored tip. 

 If found, we, personally, should not hesitate to pull it out. 

 We are merely trying to improve the bird's appearance for 

 hard competition and wish to present it in the best possible 

 condition. We do not consider it "faking" for in; most cases 

 such feathers are caused by being bleached by the sun, or 

 by an injury, and not by breeding and we do not think they 

 would breed these defects, so we should not be deceiving a 

 buyer or ourselves by removing them. 



Wash the feet and legs with soap, water and brush. 

 While they are still wet and the scales soft and pliable, take 

 a wooden toothpick and remove the dirt from under the 

 scales. Now rub on a little sweet oil, olive oil, or vaseline 

 and rub briskly, but lightly with a soft cloth to polish them 

 a little, and the bird is ready for the exhibition cage. It 

 should be placed in a cage several days or a week before the 

 show, unless it is extremely wild, in which case it should be 

 done sooner, placing them in the cage is merely to tame 

 them, get them used to being handled and teach them to 

 pose in a natural manner, so that the judge will see them at 



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53 



their very best, and give them 

 full credit for symmetry and 

 shape. 



If you have a good look- 

 ing cockerel that looks rather 

 cowed or brow-beaten, he 

 should, after having been by 

 himself a few days, be placed 

 with some females for a day 

 or two and it is surprising 

 how he will .fluff out, hold up 

 his head, and appear to have 

 more confidence in himself, 

 which goes a long way to- 

 ward success with his exhibi- 

 tion appearance. 



Caged birds, in training, 

 should be kept in deep litter 

 and if any dirt is seen on the 

 plumage it should be sponged 

 off with clear water. Do not 

 use soap. 



If the weather is cold 

 when you ship to the show, 

 your fowls will not notice it 

 so much if they have been 

 raised on fresh air methods, 

 but they will be in hot ex- 

 press cars and on cold depot 

 platforms so it would be well 

 to give them a good feed of 

 chopped onions, before start- 

 ing which will help ward off colds. They should not be ship- 

 ped in open coops. If you are shipping in exhibition coops, 

 .see that there is a muslin curtain tacked over the front. 

 Beware of drafts. If you are able to accompany your birds, 

 so much the better. You. should see that they have a good 

 feed before weighing in if they are a little light, or if they are 

 heavy see that they are weighed before feeding. Take a cloth 

 or sponge, dampened, and wipe off the comb, face, wattles 

 and legs. Some exhibitors use vinegar and water, others di- 

 luted alcohol, but we have found a damp sponge sufficient. 

 If the bird is in good health, the head points will be red 

 enough and if not, it will do you no good to try to "dope it." 

 Remember that all Red breeders are enthusiasts, so 

 make up your mind to be a good loser. 'The Red breeders 

 are known for being good "boosters," so do not let your dis- 

 appointment at not winning lead you to say anything against 

 your competitor if he has, by honest methods, won out. 



Competition in the Red classes is pretty keen in almost 

 every show in the country and there is only one blue ribbon 

 in each class, so, be a good loser. 



