How Pouters are “ Trimmed 
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A White Pouter never requires any trimming at all, unless it be of the vulture-hocked class, 
in which case it is quite general to remove some of the superfluous feathers which project from the 
sides of the legs and feet. The best plan of doing this is to cut them off close to the root or skin, 
which will stop them from growing again the whole season, until moulting-time arrives ; whereas, 
when plucked, they not only quickly grow again, but frequently come twisted and ugly in shape. 
Some of the vulture-hocked birds, when skilfully trimmed, will appear nearly an inch longer in limb 
than before they were touched. The necessity of trimming hocked birds before breeding we have 
already spoken of. 
Pied Pouters may of course need the same hock-trimming, which is so general now as to be 
almost recognised like the “ dressing ” of the faces of Spanish fowls ; but they frequently requine, 
besides, the removal of more or less feathers from one or both shoulders, in order to make the 
pinion-markings both alike, or to make too much white into a respectable approach to the “ rose.” 
The bib and half-moon on the crop have also very frequently to “ lose ” a few feathers here and 
there, in order to make the shape and line of demarcation between one and the other as uniform 
and correct as possible, few birds indeed being quite satisfactory naturally in this particular. There 
are also stray foul feathers to be removed from the thighs if they exist ; and finally, there is often 
a little trimming done on the breast, so as to make the line across between the black above and 
the white lower down a nice sharp one. In one or the other of these ways many a really good 
Pied Pouter has to undergo a great deal of “ alteration ” before it goes to a show. 
The colour itself is often “doctored” a little. Black-pieds are so often of a nasty bluish shade 
that some use a little oil to improve it. This is done by touching the black feathers lightly with 
a small piece of sponge dipped in oil, and then squeezed out, too much showing at once what has 
been done. After the sponge, the feathers are rubbed with a piece of cloth ; but special care must 
be taken not to touch any of the white feathers, or they are soiled, and detection is certain. Some 
use goose-fat in the same way, others prefer spirits of turpentine ; but the best method of all, in 
our opinion, is to rub some grease over a plate, and then hold it over the flame of a candle till it 
becomes quite black. This rubbed on well but sparingly, whilst warm, is the best expedient, and 
lasts the longest, of all things we have tried. 
We know of no method of improving Reds or Yellows but what are so very easily detected 
as to be best avoided. Some wash Reds in buttermilk, but we never could discover any improve- 
ment after the process. Reds, Yellows, and Whites are of course much improved by being washed 
when dirty. It should be done with rain-water, in which a small piece each of soap and soda 
have been boiled. When cool enough, the bird is to be quite immersed in this, and held for some 
time, until the plumage is well saturated, when it must be well washed with more soap and 
a piece of sponge, leaving the head till last. The legs should be tied, to avoid struggling, and the 
beak carefully kept out of the water. When clean, the bird should be rinsed, and then totally 
immersed in enough water to cover it, in which is dissolved at least two tablespoonfuls of borax 
and honey — the regular “ baby-mixture ” kept by all chemists. The bird should be just stirred 
once up and down in this, which will cleanse out all the soap and make the feathers dry “ sound,” 
so that the bird will not appear as if just washed. It should be wiped after with a soft cloth, and 
then put into an open basket and allowed to dry in a warm room, but not too near the fire. 
The “ snip ” on a Black-pied Pouter is sometimes dyed, by first wetting the place and then 
rubbing it with lunar caustic. The dyed place is, however, never so black as the rest of the body ; 
and we never knew any case of dying such faulty spots in either Blacks or any other colours which 
could not be easily detected, as they deserved. We say as they deserved, because the dying of an 
actually mis-marked bird stands upon a worse footing than any other kind of trimming. 
