374 POULTRY CULTURE 



color of the comb and gives the eyes a shrunken appearance, 

 which leads buyers to think the fowl has been sick. The 

 feathers, including the pin-feathers, should be removed im- 

 mediately. (See Fig. 133 for method of removing pin- 

 feathers.) The pin-feathers should be removed very cleanly 

 and without breaking the skin while the body is warm; then 

 plump by dipping ten seconds in water, nearly or quite to the 

 boiling-point, and then immediately in cold water. Place 

 them on a shaping table, as illustrated in Fig. 134. 



Fig. 134. — A shaping board for dressed poultry. (Dom. Can. Dept. Ag.) 



Hanging draws the breast muscles and makes them appear 

 thinner when cold and harder to pack. 



The English give the following methods of killing .geese: 

 When the hand and arm are not strong enough to dislocate 

 the neck, take the leg and wing ends in one hand and allow the 

 bird's head to he on the hard floor, the top of the head upwards. 

 Place a thin piece of round iron like a poker across the back of 

 the neck at the juncture of the neck and head. Place one 

 foot over the end of this, then as quickly as possible place the 



