The Illustrated Book of Poultry . 
14.8 
crowding round like children if we stooped down to perform any trivial operation. This tame and 
confiding disposition not only gives a high degree of pleasure to the proprietor, but is of great 
advantage during exhibition, the birds not being afraid to come to the front of the pen and show 
themselves off. They should also be accustomed to be handled, by taking them from their perches 
at night, always quietly and gently however, giving a good look at them, and then putting them 
back again. By giving a grain or two of corn or some little delicacy after these things, most fowls 
may be brought to lose any dislike for being thus handled, and will stand to be taken up and put 
down again, even in their open runs, with the most perfect unconcern imaginable. Of course birds 
vary in their disposition, and those recently purchased are often painfully wild. Many people also 
have not time enough at home to establish such intimate relations as this, but some degree of 
mutual confidence is always possible, and should be established, between the owner and his pets. 
By attending to such matters as these, and always giving a liberal supply of green food to 
fowls which cannot obtain any for themselves, the birds will easily be kept in fairly good condition 
for the time of year. But when actual exhibition is determined on, some additional and special 
treatment will almost always be necessary, as it is necessary to show fowls with rather more flesh 
than is proper as a permanent condition. It is well, however, to be very clear on this point. Many 
birds are shown so fat as to be practically ruined for all other purposes ; and it is to be regretted 
that all judges do not follow the example set by one or two of the best, of disqualifying such 
birds, and thus checking a practice which renders practically sterile some of the “best blood” in the 
poultry -world. This condition is not what we would desire. But we have again and again urged the 
importance of keeping fowls in general with sharp and eager appetities, or, in plain words, thin ; and 
this condition is by no means that in which they should be shown, any more than the contrary. There 
is a proper amount of flesh which greatly sets off a bird in point of appearance, while it is consistent 
with the most perfect health, and allows the fowl to go back to the breeding-pen undeteriorated : 
such is the condition to be aimed at. Many fowls are fatter than this already as they run in the 
yard ; still more are fully as fat ; and some may naturally ask why this last condition at least 
should not rather be maintained, so as to save the trouble of “ getting the birds up” when wanted. 
The reasons are several. In the first place, birds cannot be continuously kept in the condition 
desired ; it is as in training men or animals, and the most perfect state can be produced and 
maintained for a given brief period, but not beyond. Again : birds so kept, being less eager for 
food, would take less exercise, and hence be more subject to disease, which risk it is desirable 
to prevent ; besides which, in attempting to maintain the condition supposed, there would be a 
continual risk of over-feeding, which is much less in a short course of special treatment, when 
special attention can be given to prevent it. And finally, as most of the ingredients which improve 
the condition of the plumage, and which would still be necessary, are also of a fattening nature, 
in fowls so kept there would be no room left for the regimen desired. On all accounts, therefore, 
it is far better and easier to keep the fowls only in fair stock condition of flesh, giving what 
care to the plumage is possible, and “ wind them up” to the best condition when wanted. 
We need scarcely say that the selection of the birds is very important. The most prevalent 
mistake amongst beginners, when they are led to suppose their birds are good enough for exhibition, 
is to send as many as possible ; many and many a mistake of this kind have we made ourselves, 
and almost impossible do we find it even now to resist the temptation. It is some trouble to send 
at all to a show ; and when the mind has been made up to do this, it seems hard to keep at home 
birds that we know are good, and fairly worth a high price. We are apt to forget that, besides a 
mob of chance breeders, any of whom may unexpectedly show specimens of commanding merit, 
there are probably at least half a dozen really careful breeders who will compete with us. In 
