POULTRY NOTES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20096, 1 May 1935, Page 8

POULTRY NOTES

(By Alex. Peat.)

Now that the show season is fast approaching and probably there will be a few amateurs showing for the first time, a few hints on washing fowls may provide helpful. Black or dark fowls if kept in a clean house and grass run should not require washing, but white birds will certainly be improved by it. First of all the legs should be washed. Hold them in fairly hot water for a few minutes. Then take an ordinary domestic nail brush and a piece of soap. Give the legs a good scrubbing and any dirt that may afterwards be found under the scales can be removed with the point of a quill, toothpick or a match stalk cut to a fine point. Having got the legs clean the next thing that is required is a medium sized bath half full of water heated to about 103 deg., a large bath sponge and a bar of soap. Hold the bird in the water with just its head out for five minutes in order that the feathers may become properly soaked to the roots: then take the soap and rub this well over the feathers. Having done this, with your hand rub the soap well into the feathers. Do not be afraid to rub the feathers well for now that they are properly soaked rubbing will not hurt them. After rubbing the soap in thoroughly, immerse ihe bird once more in the water, and with the sponge wash out all the soap and the dirt. The bird is now ready for bath No. 2. which should contain the same quantity of water heated to about 98deg. Place the bird in this water with the head out and with your hand ruffle the feathers backwards while the bird is under the tfwater so that the water may get right to the roots of the feathers. Having done this allow the bird to stand up in the bath, and with the sponge give it a good sponging with the water in order to remove all trace of the soap. Another bath of water is now required; this time the water must not be warmer than 85 to 90deg. or just new milk warm. In this water a little blue washing) should be dissolved, just enough to colour the water a blue shade. If a little glycerine is added to this water it will help the feathers to web out better and softer. The bird should be held in this as in other water and well sponged while it is under the water then allow it to stand up, and with the sponge absorb as much of the water from the feathers as possible before drying with a soft towel. Having dried the bird as far as possible with the towel, it should be placed in a clean box or basket about 3ft or 4ft away from a bright fire. The lining of the basket facing the fire should be let down, but that at the back be kept up to exclude draught. For the first hour it should be watched, so as not to allow the bird to stand too long in one position. It should be turned round frequently so that the bird dries evenly all over. It is best to wash the bird in the evening two or three days before the show. If the following day is fine and sunny the bird may be placed in an exhibition pen out on the grass for an hour. Then the feathers will web out much better. Before despatching to the show, the face, comb, and wattles should be well sponged with warm water. Some fanciers, just before putting the bird in the basket to despatch to the show, apply a little glycerine or olive oil to the face comb and wattles. For white birds use clean straw chaff as a bedding in the bottom of the basket. Every fancier tries to show his birds to the best advantage and those who keep yellow legged varieties use evry effort .to get the leg colour as sound and brilliant as possible. All yellowlegged varieties intended for exhibition should have their legs well soaked in warm water once or twice a week and washed with a soft nail-brush and soap so as to off all the dirt. When the legs have been dried as much dirt as possible should be removed from under the scales and a little sweet oil rubbed well in finishing off with a piece of rough flannel. Common washing soda is a well known agency for bringing out the leg colour and if in the case of dusky legged birds a small handful is added to the water it is certainly very helpful in this respect. Some shades of yellow, moreover, respond to it more readily than others. If a tablespoonful of powdered borax is added to the water in place of the soda, all shades are greatly improved by it. This ingredient is both harmless and effective.