JUDGING R. I. REDS 



55 



The WRONG WAY to take a bird from the 

 show cage. 



fully aware of this and wisely takes his medicine. The 

 younger and less sophisticated exhibitor may kick over the 

 traces and "say things" to the judge. If the latter is con- 

 siderate of the feelings^ of such disappointed exhibitors he 

 will take pleasure in going over the classes with his critics 



and give his rea- 

 sons for placing 

 the awards. This 

 often buries the 

 grouch and re- 

 stores good fel- 

 lowship. It is also 

 one of the rare 

 cases where it pays 

 to be a good fel- 

 low. 



Assuming the 

 judge is mentally 

 equipped for the 

 job, the only other equipment necessary is a judging stick. 

 The latter ma'y be a metal telescoped two or three jointed af- 

 fair, or made of two or three short fishing rod joints, or a sim- 

 ple round wooden stick about eighteen to twenty-five inches 

 long. In fact any light stick or cane will answer. The 

 judging stick is used to poke up the birds to make them 

 pose properly in order to get at their correct shape and sta- 

 tion. A well-trained bird responds 

 readily to the gentle tap of the stick 

 on the shoulders or under the chin or 

 bill. In judging Games and Game 

 Bantams such a stick is indispensable 

 in arriving at the correct station or 

 carriage of the bird. Prodding and 

 slapping the bird gently on back, wings 

 and stern will make it stand up and 

 take notice. And the judge will soon 

 notice which bird has been there be- 

 fore; i. e., trained with the stick of its 

 owner to "show off." 



The right way to take a bird out of 

 the cage is to gently place the right 

 hand on the shoulder, stroking the 

 back and grasping the left wing firmly 

 with the right hand. Then pull the bird 

 out head foremost. After the bird has been removed from 

 the cage, use the left hand to hold right wing close to 

 the body. Now slip right hand underneath the body 

 and grasp both legs firmly in the right hand, using the fore- 

 finger to separate the thighs. With the left hand the differ- 

 ent sections can then be spread, plumed and explored. Be- 

 gin with comb and head and follow with neck, back, tail and 

 wings. Breast and body can be examined more closely by 

 placing bird on its sides. Mark a good bird X, a better one 

 XX, and extra good one XXX and the best XXXX when 

 determining color. Poor specimens can be eliminated by 

 marking them "O," which means "Out". When the round up 

 comes very few XXXX will be found, but these usually 

 prove to be the winners if they "shape up" on the final 

 handling, which is done with the judging stick. The comb 

 often plays an important part in settling close decisions. 

 Color points being equal, shape decides the award always. 

 Where shape is superior and color is somewhat lacking m a 

 specimen, the old rule, "Shape makes the breed, color the 

 variety," must not be lost sight of. This is especially true 

 with white breeds or varieties. Do not let a XXXX bird m 

 color blind your judgment and award it a prize if the type 

 is not there. The bird witii the type characteristic of the 

 breed, albeit a XX or XXX bird in color, may be the superior 



The RIGHT WAY 

 sh ow cage. 



specimen when measured by the American Standard of Per- 

 fection, the only correct guide to judge by. 



With parti-colored varieties the judge should follow the 

 same rule, but with due regard for the value of fine barring, 

 lacing and penciling in exceptionally fine colored specimens. 

 To reproduce an even colored R. I. Red is an art and due 

 consideration must be given to such, but a shapeless R. I. 

 Red, small and under Standard weight, no matter how grand 

 the color, should not get the judge "up in the air" and lead 

 him to award it the blue ribbon over birds of type and size, 

 albeit the color may be many points removed from that of a 

 shapeless feathered star. Type rules the roost. Under the 

 new Standard, especially, shape receives a greater allotment 

 of points which makes it imperative that judges familiarize 

 themselves thoroughly with the correct type of each and 

 every variety fowl they pass upon. Disqualifying specimens 

 is another "touchy" subject. Some judges throw out speci- 

 mens for very trivial defects because an arbitrary Standard 

 gives them the power to do so. They forget, however, that 

 the same Standard admonishes them to give the bird the 

 benefit of all reasonable doubt. To dig into the shanks, to 

 see whether a stub or a feather once flourished there, to use 

 a magnifying glass to discover an embryo feather, to put a 

 sheet of paper between a lopped comb and the skull to find 

 whether the comb really touches the skull, may be fine hair- 

 splitting judging, but it is ridiculous in a true fancier's eyes. 

 Give the poor little bird a chance always. It is well to look 

 for the good qualities first, the bad 

 ones, if any, will not affect or preju- 

 dice the judge's mind sufficiently 

 then to lose sight of the meritorious 

 sections. Judges should take out, 

 handle and examine every bird in a 

 class, unless positively unworthy of 

 consideration. It will satisfy exhibi- 

 tors far better to do this, even if in 

 many instances it appears unnecessary 

 to handle some specimens. 



Judges should also do their own 

 marking on the judges' card with an 

 indelible pencil and verify the number 

 on card with number on coop of win- 

 ning specimen before turning signed 

 card in to secretary. It is well to put 

 the number of leg band down also. 



to take a bird from the 



A Com^parison Record Card 



For the convenience of judges, reporters and exhibitors 

 who wish to keep a record of the winnings and near winners, 

 we recommend the use of the American Poultry World Com- 

 parison Card, illustrated on page 56. It is a fairly accurate 

 monitor for future 

 reference as Well 

 as a simple means 

 of assisting the 

 judge in select- 

 ing the winners 

 in a hot class and 

 fortify him with 

 the reasons for 

 making the a- 

 wards. 



Some years 

 ago we used a sim- 

 ilar card and found 



How to Hold the bird after removing from 

 the show cage. 



it an efiicient aid in arriving at the merits of the competing 

 specimens. Other judges found it equally serviceable. It is 

 not absolutely necessary at very large shows where there are 



