Washing Fowls for Exhibition. ^ 
the object is not to put on all the flesh possible, but simply to get the birds into clean and brilliant 
condition , adding, if needful, enough flesh, and no more, to make them “look their best.” The rule 
of always leaving a little appetite to spare will be a pretty safe one; and by attending to it, the 
judicious use of linseed, hempseed, iron tonic, and a little meat, will do all that can be desired. 
After our many cautions on that head, we need hardly repeat that fresh green food must also be 
regularly given ; without that all other treatment will be useless. 
Such a regimen as we have described would be improper for some breeds, as Game, which 
require to be shown in “ hard” condition. For the treatment of Game we would refer to the chapter 
on that breed. Hamburghs are generally kept on good grass-runs, and then require nothing 
beyond washing, and a little meat and iron tonic to make them lively in their appearance and 
brilliant about the heads and wattles. Hardness of leather is often improved materially by partly 
feeding the birds on small peas. 
The treatment we have now spoken of will be all that is needed for breeds of dark or medium- 
coloured plumage ; but with white or light buff fowls a thorough washing of the entire birds will 
be more or less frequently required, to attain the beautiful purity of colour which is essential to 
winning in good company. We have often seen the best pen of White Cochins at a show lose other- 
wise certain honours merely for want of a good washing ; and while such has often provoked strong 
remonstrance, we must say we think the penalty perfectly right. No doubt the stress on cleanness 
of appearance might be carried too far ; but as long as so considerable a number of points is 
given to “colour” in judging a fowl, the perfection in which that colour is presented cannot be a 
matter of indifference. It is in washing his birds that an amateur’s difficulties and discourage- 
ments often begin. He may know that his fowls are the best that are likely to be sent to a show ; 
he may have succeeded perfectly in keeping them in fine health and general condition ; they may 
in fact be such that a professional poultry-man would almost infallibly win with them ; and yet 
he may probably lose for want of experience in washing them. We were once much amused at 
hearing one of the most successful and “ knowing” men in the fancy — one who rarely shows for 
his employer now without winning— relate his first experience, when, as a youth of eighteen, he 
entered a “pen of Whites” on his own account for a neighbouring show. “You would hardly 
believe it, sir,” he said, “ but I stopped up all night washing ’em, and they was as black as sweeps 
when they was done.” We do not think any instructions will make a good washer without some 
practice ; but it is not difficult to describe how the operation ought to be performed, and it should 
be practised once or twice on second-rate fowls before the most valued specimens are subjected 
to the risk, for a white fowl badly washed will not stand so good a chance as if not washed at all. 
The great secret of good washing is to ensure the thorough drenching of the birds ; the 
most frequent cause of failure being an attempt to keep the under plumage dry. The following 
remarks are by Mr. Elijah Smith, well known to fanciers as one of the best breeders and most 
successful exhibitors of White Cochins. No one could be better qualified to give instruction ont his 
subject, and the following is his method of proceeding . 
“Take a wash-tub ten or twelve inches deep — oval shape is the best, on account of the bird’s tail ; 
let the tub be sufficiently large to hold the bird comfortably. Then take of clean soft warm water 
and fill the tub (or tin) about three parts full, so that the bird when pressed down by the hand in 
the water will be covered over its back, up to the neck. Then take white soap, and a sponge, and 
rub it in the water until it is well mixed, and you have good suds , and rub the bud well with soap 
on all the dirty parts, and keep sponging the bird well until you can see that it is quite clean, 
which you will be able to see very plain when wet. Do not be afiaid to lub the feathers, as it Mill 
