514 POULTEY CULTURE 



would appear, from a physiologic standpoint, that it would be 

 better to place the birds in wash and rinse water at a tempera- 

 ture near that of the body and then have the drying room at a 

 temperature of approximately 100° F. The normal tempera- 

 ture of an adult fowl is about 106° to 107° F. The room tem- 

 perature should be gradually brought down to about 70° F. as 

 the birds dry. 



In shipping, regulation exhibition coops should be used. 

 These are substantially built coops, with sufficient capacity 

 so the feathers of the birds do not become ruffled or damaged 

 and the comb does not touch the top of the coop. (See Fig. 

 207.) 



Do not put water in the coop, as it will result in soiled 

 plumage. Place an apple or potato in the coop for them to 

 pick at, it will give them some succulence. 



For requirements of the different standard breeds reference 

 should be made to the "American Standard of Perfection." 



Saturated carbonate of iron has been fed to birds of buff 

 and yellow varieties to improve the depth of color. This 

 must be fed at time of molting. 



Birds which should have white ear-lobes often develop 

 red in them. To make the ear-lobes white Cobb recommends 

 the following: wash them in milk, and dry thoroughly, then 

 apply powdered oxide of zinc. 



Peroxide of hydrogen bath is sometimes used to make the 

 white plumage pure white and to overcome brassiness. 



Dirt from the legs and nails is removed by scrubbing with a 

 nail brush during the bathing process. 



The feeding of linseed meal and sunflower seed improves the 

 gloss of the plumage. 



GROWING SHOW BIRDS 



In rearing show birds special care should be given to the 

 care and feed as they grow and develop. When the birds are 

 about five months old the adult plumage begins to develop. 

 At this age the birds should be carefully shielded from the 

 sun's rays. This can be done by keeping them in the house 

 during a part of the day and allowing them to go out into the 



