SHOW FOWLS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 260, 1 October 1936, Page 16

SHOW FOWLS.

TRAINING METHODS. TO STAND WELL”IN THE PEN. “Oil dear,” remarked a beginner at showing in our hearing recently. “That cockerel looked quite different at home —he was, 1 thought, a fine, upstanding bird. Just look at him now, crouching at the back of the pen. Why, he seems about half the size.” Yes, that was the trouble—the cockerel in question, though quite a good one, had got a commended card only, the main reason being that he was nervous and showing very badly. The fact is that you must train your show birds properly, which, of course, applies with double force to the “first time out.” Not only should the show candidate be penned for a few days in something similar to a wire training cage, but it must he accustomed to the sight of as many humans together as possible and also to other birds. It often helps the confidence of a raw cockerel to see one or two females opposite, while a very timid one may have one with him in the cage awhile with great advantage. Always get as many of your friends or family to visit the home pens as often as may be, and to bring with them some tiny scrap of meat or other dainty to give the bird after “chatting” with it a while. Then don’t forget the “stick” that the judge is almost sure to use in order to get the exhibits to turn themselves about and display their points or action. It doesn’t matter what you use at home—it may be a walking-stick or any other suitable piece of wood, so long as it won’t soil or injure the birdhut keep gently insinuating this into the pen and get the occupant to realise that you want it to move round, come forward, and so on. when it is inserted. Never, of course, be in the very least rough or too sudden in these movements, but always remember that what you have to do is to gain the _ bird’s confidence and make it associate a human coming to its cage with something that’s for its benefit.—The Smallholder 'England).

CANARY AND CAGE BIRD NOTES. (Bv “Unfliglited.”) MAKING A GOOD START WITH BUDGERIGARS. (Continued.) Novice: What happens after this? Old Hand : You must not expect to receive from the secretary a receipt for your entries and entry ices by return of post. The acknowledgment of your form will bo cage labels, which may not arrive until within a few days of the date of the show. These cage labels (which according to the Budgerigar Society’s ruling must be tied to the centre wire at the bottom with thin white twine, or if gummed cage labels are used these must be fixed at the bottom of the front wood rail in the centre) are accompanied by what is termed a show label. Tin’s latter is put on the outside of the travelling cases which will contain the show cages when they are despatched to the show. Some secretaries also send out a stickon label for pasting on to the inside

of the ]id of the case, and on this the exhibitor has to write the class numbers and cage numbers for the guidance of the show stewards when packing. You will observe from your schedule the latest hour at which exhibits can be received in order to be in time for judging. Unless you take the birds to the show yourself, be sure that you despatcli them by t ain sufficiently early to avoid any risk of their late arrival. At most shows some exhibits reach tho hall after the judging has com- | menced, and this is almost invariably ‘due to the exhibitor despatching too late. Ono must always make allowances for the possibility of a slight delay en route. Novice: All this seems to be quite simple and straightforward. Old Hand: Yes. it is, and when once you have carried out the procedure it becomes in future a mere matter of routine. Novice: What do I put on the floor of the show cages? Old Hand: Seed. I always use a mixture of canary seed and white millet. Do not use any other kinds of seeds. And don’t put any water in the water pots. Novice: I take it that the stewards at the show will see that my birds are provided with water and any additional food that is needed? Old Hand: Yes, that is so. You need not worry as tho stewards will do everything . that is necessary and will see that your birds are returned to you all right. The management of cage bird shows is usually excellent, and when one considers the many thousands of birds which are exhibited annually, the astonishingly few casualties which occur reflects the greatest credit on committees and stewards. (To he continued.) QUERIES ANSWERED. In answer to “Linton,” the correct time for breeding budgerigars is from the end of August until two rounds of young have left the nest, when breeding operations should be stopped by removing the nest boxes. VALUABLE WILD FOODS—“RIBWORT PLANTAIN.” This plantain is regarded ns one of the most valuable of our wild seeds. The seeds, which are gathered in abundance irom November to March, have great medicinal virtues. A course of plantain and rape seed has long been considered a remedy in cases of wheezjncss and asthmatic tendencies in British birds and plantain itself may be used to correct feather disorders. Appearance.—Tho flowering stems arc from six to eight inches in height surmounted by the brown to black seeding heads which appear in the summer. Uses.—Can be given to both budgerigars or canaries. Queries addressed to “Unflighted,” c/o “Standard,” Palmerston North, will be answered.