POULTRY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 18

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

THE COMING SHOW SEASON.

SEASONABLE HINTS. LESSONS FOR EXHIBITORS. BY UTILITY. The mouth of May will usher in (he Usual series of shows, beginning at Whangarei on May 14, and continuing till tho end of July. Consequently the next three months arc by far the most interesting to a large circle of breeders, for they will want to make preparations for sending birds to several of the shows which are "ecessibie by rail. Opinions differ materially on tho best way to prepare birds for shows. However, tho most urgent work which require® attention is to accustom the birds to show conditions, for otherwise they will suffer as a result of travelling. Even for local shows they usually fret .when suddenly shut up. The experience at tho egg-laying competition at Mount Albert suggests that several bleeders omitted the precaution to aucustpm their birds to what they would tind in their new quarters, for several which were in full lay the first week, showed a poor record during tho second and third. There is nothing in which fowls are more sensitive to change than in laying, whether the change bo in the matter of food, the kind of pen, or even the kind of floor for scratching, and it is a matter for surprise that any who contemplate'. sending their birds to Mount Albert did not get them accustomed to similar conditions beforehand.

Precautions Prior to Showing. To a largo extent the same precautions nro necessary with show birds. Many a bird is taken off a perch at night, after being on freo range, on the evo of a bliow. and taken to tho hall. There it finds itself in a strong artificial light, surrounded by strango birds and strange people, with not even its usual perch to settle on for the night. The strange surroundings excite it for perhaps three or four hours, and although there may be only a trifling loss from interrupted laying the bird cannot do itself justice when the judge comes round next morning. Not only may the bird suffer in the award of the judge, but also it may receive permanent inqury through the excitement and the sudden change of food. Many a bird apparently gets safely through one show, only to be useless for the r - est of the season. When a bird thus goes down through injury caused by a sudden change the owner wonders why the second and succeeding judges do not hold; it in the same regard as the judge who gave it a prize at the first show. .All this risk of injury, whether it appears at the first show, or only when afterward benched, can be avoided by taking proper precautions. While no hard and fast rule can be laid down for preparing birds for the show, the first essential is to carefully visualise what the bird will have to stand, as soon as it is benched. Food is most important, for there is not one show in twenty where it will get anything but wheat, unless the owner takes the precaution to give it a little bag of lawn grass or other green stuff in its pen. Most likely somebody wiO clear that out next day. Consequently the soft mash should be steadily diminished during the last fortnight, and the wheat ration increased until on the last two days it gels nothing but wheat Gradual Confinement Advisable. Confinement must similarly be arranged gradually. Probably the best way :'.s to t;ike the" bird off its perch in the evening, putting it into a pen that is as much like a show-pen as possible. Let it. out in the morning, and gradually release it later and later, until for the last two days it need not be let out at all. T.hat will be a convenient time to give its l £ g s a final wash, if it is one of the dark breeds, but if it is white, or any light colour, it must be washed all over, and that cannot ■be left till the last day. Spectators wandering round are always « cause of anoyance to birds recently penned, especially when they disturb them with their sticks. This cannot be altogether provided for, but a good cieal in the direction of preventing them from fretting can be accomplished by taking a candle to them every evening during the last fortnight. Many an exhibitor who lias movable pens will take them into the kitchen for half an hour or more during the last week. Gradually increase the light that reaches them, until for the last few evenings they are under the full glare for half an hour or more. It is wonderful how this quietens them, and accustoms them to show conditions, especially H several members of the household can conveniently go near them occasionally During the day, work about amongst them as much as'possible, and let strangers go near their pens, and then they wi not be frightened when they are benched.