PREPARING BIRDS FOR EXHIBITION 



265 



erated. There is no question, however, that a bird should 

 be clean when shown and that a clean fowl with proper train- 

 ing will make a better appearance and impression than one 

 equally as good otherwise but having soiled plumage or one 

 that is easily frightened. Some fowls do not respond to 

 training or conditioning as readily as others. It is well, 

 therefore, to have an extra fowl or two in training before 

 the final selection is made. If possible, the birds selected 

 should be removed from the rest of the flock and the males 

 and females separated. Homemade or purchased exhibition 

 coops should be provided and 

 each fowl kept in the coop for 

 a portion of each day. 



Exhibition coops such as 

 shown in Figure 263 can be 

 purchased from most poultry 

 supply houses. Fowls so con- 

 fined will become accustomed 

 to the coop and the handhng 

 of them daily will have the 

 effect of making them tame. 

 In removing and returning 

 the fowls to and from the coops, move quietly and handle 

 the birds gently so as not to frighten them unnecessarily. 

 When handling the birds, hold them as shown in Figures 

 258, 259, 260, 261, and examine the plumage so that they 

 will become accustomed to such movements when being 

 handled by the judge. 



Fowls intended for exhibition should not be closely con- 

 fined to the coop for too great a period, as long continuous 

 cooping may cause the bird to lose its appetite and result 

 in a subsequent loss in weight. An effective plan is to allow 

 the birds range every other day and confine them to the 

 coop every other day alternately. This plan should be 



Figure 262. — A homemade exhibition 

 coop suitable for training and con- 

 ditioning exhibition fowls. 



