PREPARING BIRDS FOR THE SHOW-ROOM 513 



All yellow legged varieties intended for exhibition purposes 

 should have their legs thoroughly soaked in warm water once 

 or twice a week, using a soft nail brush and soap to get off all 

 dirt. When the legs have dried rub in a small quantity of 

 sweet oil and polish with a woolen cloth. A tablespoonful 

 of borax added to the water aids in bringing out the shades. 



To obtain white ear-lobes keep birds in a darkened pen and 

 apply to the ear-lobes each day a small quantity of zinc oint- 

 ment. Afterward dust with violet powder. 



If the birds become dull and constipated, give each bird one 

 tablespoonful of castor oil. 



Birds for exhibition must conform to the "American Stand- 

 ard of Perfection" in every way and not possess any of the 

 disqualifications. 



Birds for the show-room should be washed. The room in 

 which birds are washed should be over 80° F. Three wash- 

 tubs are convenient receptacles in which to wash them. The 

 water in each should be about 1 10° F. The bird is immersed in 

 the first tub with only the head out of the water, lather 

 thoroughly with white soap, rubbing the way the feathers lay. 

 With nailbrush lightly scrub ; it is necessary to avoid rubbing 

 against the feathers, or crosswise of the feathers, or rufHe, or in 

 any way break the feathers. Rinse thoroughly with two rinse 

 waters. The soap must be thoroughly rinsed out of the 

 feathers or they will not thoroughly fluff out after drying. In 

 white plumage birds often a small amount of laundry bluing is 

 added to make the feathers whiter, but care must be taken not 

 to use too much as injury may be done. White ear-lobes may 

 be tinged blue, as well as streaking of the plumage. After 

 rinsing thoroughly dry with a towel, using it by sopping and 

 patting the bird. Often absorbing paper-towel material gives 

 good results. Do not rub the feathers, as injury may result. 

 In some experiments, conducted in the laboratory of the author, 

 it was found by having one of the tubs of water at 80° F. that 

 by passing the birds through in a space of five minutes the body 

 temperature would fall 3° to 5° F. below normal, which would 

 upset the normal thermic equilibrium of the bird if then placed 

 in a room too cool. In a I'oom at a temperature of 60° F. the 

 birds shivered and apparently suffered from exposure. It 



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