Saddle lor Washing Fowls. 
349 
about seven or eight inches across the board, bringing it carefully, with part of the padding, over 
the rough-cut board. From the front of this pad, C, measure the average length in the body of the 
breed you keep, and nail two other pads or rolls, D, of this length, tapering from four inches wide 
backwards to about two inches at the other pad, nailing on the edges and centre of the board, so 
as to represent, as near as may be, your thighs put close together. 
“ To put the bird on the saddle, take him under the breast with the right hand, and stretching 
out his legs horizontally behind with the left, drop him quietly on to the saddle, so that the breast- 
bone comes between the two rolls or pads, and slipping your right hand away in the direction of the 
feathers (i.e., towards the thighs), bring it quickly on the bird’s back. When you have him thus, 
release one of the legs from your left hand, placing them one at a time in the notches prepared to 
receive them, and taking care to keep the bird well back against the cross pad C, so that it has no 
room to slip back from the straps. These straps should be two in number, one passing over the 
pinions of the wings, and the other over the short flights and rump. The buckled ends should be 
brought to the top, and be connected by a short strap, say three or four inches long, to prevent 
them parting too far asunder, and so slipping off altogether ; and to prevent them slipping in the 
same way under the board, screw on the under side for each strap to pass through the guide of a 
common thumb-latch. Draw the straps so that the bird shall be at ease and have plenty of room 
to breathe, but no loose space to slip about in, drawing the one over the pinions first. If properly 
done the bird will be in a most comfortable position, and can remain so for hours without the slightest 
distress. My saddle had no stand. I used to draw out one of the drawers of a dresser about three 
inches, and insert the tail end of the saddle as shown in Fig. 79 ; then it could be easily moved 
from side to side, or by pulling the drawer in or out, could be set higher or lower as required. 
“ Some may think that this arrangement would distress the birds, but I can assure them that 
after the first two or three times they seldom make any attempt at movement ; finding the use of 
their legs gone, they appear perfectly tame and helpless in your hands, which are therefore free 
for use. In fact, after my old birds got used to it ; I found I had hardly ever to use the straps at 
all, but when put on the saddle they would keep quiet of themselves. Finding such ease and 
comfort in the plan, I took to giving my best birds a daily washing of face, head, and feet ; and they 
became so tame and used to it that they would allow me to pick them up in the yard at any time 
except when feeding. One old cock in particular — a great pet of mine — which had been used to 
the saddle for two or three years, on my projecting it for use from the old dresser in my stable, used 
to jump on the dresser top, and give a lusty crow and flap of the wings, as much as to say, ‘ Now 
for a good wash.’ He would then eye me inquiringly, which I took to mean, ‘ Are you going to put 
me on ? ’ and if I still hesitated would step on to the saddle and then wait a few minutes in a sort 
of forlorn mood, till at length he brightened up and called to me jus*- as if to his hens, at the same 
time making sham pecks at the pad, as if thereon lay a most delicious morsel if I would but come 
and see. I waited one day to see how he would conclude the ceremony without a wash. After 
various marchings up and down the old dresser, off and on to the saddle, calling, crewing, &c., it 
terminated in his attempt to mount or rather descend to the saddle without assistance. The 
attempt I m ist say was a very sorry affair, for after trying first to put down one leg and then the 
other for a score of times, he made an indescribable attempt to slip down both at once, which 
brought him quickly to the floor. He was on his feet in a moment, looking round wrathfully 
indignant ; when his eye caught the saddle and he flew at it as if at another cock, with his spurs in 
the air. Being too high, he did not reach his aim, but found himself on his tail again ; when he 
rose in a rather stately but subdued style, and slunk off the scene, looking thoroughly disgusted 
with me, the saddle, and himself.” 
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