EXHIBITING FOWLS.

North Otago Times, 27 October 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXHIBITING FOWLS.

So piany poultry shows are, held all over the Kingdom (flays an English exchange) that there is a groat induement for those people who keep pure bred fowls to take the opinion of the judge on the merits of their best birds. It is a very good vay for the beginner to compare .us fowls side by Bide with otliera, antj to ascertain whether he is correct in his estimate of their value. Should ho emerge from the ordeal satisfactorily and find that his bird iq in the

miA iffit, ne \> ill Ijt .111 ii Better pmrtu/n Ul dispose of his surplus stock at. good prices, and lie nil! also find a readier gulo oarly in the next "yoar for sittings of eggs, " Before exhibiting it ie necessary to be acquainted with the points of the particular breed. Competition id so severe nowadays that it js useless to aead a fowl to a 6how unless it has some considerable pretention to good looks. In making a selection it is not advisable to choofio a bird that has any prominent fault,.Uipwover good it may lie ii)'other.vApectfi. With the majority'of breeds, unless they are bantams, size is thought so much of that it would be no good to exhibit a fflnall specimen. 1 twisted comb would be fatal to sucte«- So also would be the ftbsenco of the'fifth toe in a Dorking,

Au important point in successful exhibiting is tint Ihe bird should be tamo. Arbird that is wild and dashes about the show nwi will eland but liltlo chance of n prize, ; To prevent this, the intended exhibit should be placed daily, a fortnight before llio show, for half an hour or 60 at a time, in a wire pen. When in the pun tho fowl should bo fed, and stroked with a small slick. It should also bo well examined, because when criticised at close quarters from all points it is surprising what unexpected faults often become apparent, which are unnoticed when tho bird is moving about on tlio ground. Ten or twelve days before the show the diot can be slightly altered, although if tlio bird is in good condition and dean it is not necessary to make any change in the feeding, Some exhibitors add linseed to tho soft feed two or three times a week, so as to mako the plumage more glossy. The linseed is used in the form of tea, well stowed, and with enough water to make a thin jolly, Tlio linseed tea is mixed with tho meal, instead o£ water, Oatmeal and maize meal boiled together, with twice a wck somo boiled rice ifl given by somo successful exhibitors. ■ It is useless sending white or light-coloured fowls to a show if they are at all dirty, or if the plumage is in anyway Boiled, Washing is then necessary, a process that re- , quires a. good deal of care, and some practice. If the bird is clean, and does not require washing, the head, face, and legs, and feet need only receive special attention. Tho comb, laco, ear lobes and wattles, if red, should bo gently washed with a soft tooth-brush, using warm wator and soap. If the ear lobe is white, it is better to use a sponge, The legs and feet should be dipped in warm water, and then well scrubbed with a nail brush, and afterwards dried with a towel. In some birds that have been kept in a dark place the face and comb may be pale. A Bmall quantity of ehop-ped-up underdone meat, given for a few days will make them loolc redder. Just before the birds are 6ent off to the show i it is usual to touch the faces and combs ; of those fowls that should be red with a ! brush'dipped in vinegar and water, or .in equal parts of vinegar and salad oil. ,