THE POULTRY KEEPER

Waikato Times, Volume 95, Issue 14949, 20 May 1922, Page 13 (Supplement)

THE POULTRY KEEPER

By “Moorfowl.**

POULTRY SHOWS. Whangarei.—May 26, 27. Waikato Winter Show —May 80, 81,

June i. New Plymouth —June 7, 8. 9. Wairoa (Hawke’s Bay)—June 7, 8. Ohakune —June 7, 8. Onehunga—June i 5, 16. Palmerston North —June 21, 22, 28 Ngaruawahia—June 20. Levin—June 30, July 1. Ilawera —July 5, 6. 7. Gisborne—July 7, 8. Wanganui—July 12, 13.

PREPARING FOR EXHIBITION

In view of the fact that the welfknown poultry writer, judge and exhibitor, Mr Geo. H. Ambler, late ol England and of Christchurch, and now residing in Auckland, is acting as one of the judges at the great Waikato Winter poultry show at the end of this month, a few hints from his able pen as- to the art of preparing birds for exhibition, is at this stage most appropriate and should prove highly entertaining. A bird’s chance of success largely depends upon the manner in which it •is prepared for show, writes Mr Ambler. Not only must one’s exhibit be clean and in the pink of condition, but it musK.be sc trained that it will permit itself to be handled to any extent.

Some breeders boast that their birds have no preparing at all, and yet are always ready to bo brought to the judge. This, of course, may be more or less true, because some breeds of birds, especially if kept in the country, can be so well looked after that they have all that can be desired as far as health and general conditions are concerned. But very few birds could be laken straight to a show with any hope of scoring successes and acquitting themselves well. They must have had some experience of a show pen and what will be expected of them here. So all young birds intended for exhibition should be penned up in wire show cases, and become accustomed to being poked with a judging stick. More than this, they should be accustomed to show themselves properly, which can be taught by using the judging stick. The first tiling to remember, then, with a young bird, new to shows, is to get it caught and put in a pen (a show pen for preference) till it is quite tame and will allow itself to bo handed to any extent. Another portant point is to pen the birds up for two or three weeks beforehand. If allowed to run wild, many birds will have their plumage so affected by the sun as to seriously impair their chances of success from a show point of view. Some breed, of course, demand a longer time than others do for the proper development and preservation of their plumage. Tile two preliminary considerations, then, are the training of birds to behave quietly and sensibly in their pens, and a course of confinement, if necessary, in the interests of their plumage. Judges at most shows have no time to waste —live minutes or so in front of a bird —in order to induce it to hole itself properly; and so, frequently the bird goes down In the list simplj because the exhibitor lias not taken a little trouble to teach it how to comport itself. Always keep the bird whilst training him, near the front of the pen, with his head facing you. When you have succeeded in putting him through bis.paces easily with the hands, then take a light stick, and whilst keeping your hands in the pen as before, endeavour to got him to act in the same manner by touching him with te stick instead of with the hands. Having accomplished this, in a short time a longer cane _ can be worked from the outside until even-tually-,''by just inserting the ea*ie through the bars and touching him up, he will immediately throw himself into a good exhibition posture. The Washing Process.

Then, as to the preliminaries to sending birds off. First and foremost comes their washing. This is a most important matter, any successful exhibitor of the while speckled and buff variety knows. Colour and good show form count for much. Quality shows up better when the feathers are beautifully clean, whilst faults are accentuated if the feathers are dirty. So important is th c washing that I have known exhibitors to go to the trouble and expense of sending their birds long distances by rail to have them washed by experts. There are several things to be borne in mind about the washing. First, it should not be put off till the eve of the show, lest, if any part of th e plumage wants rewashing, there is no time for it. Then, too, the birds ar e more likely to catch cold on the morrow's journey. Secondly, the washing water must be moderately warm —not hot or cold. The bird will have to be passed through three lots of water, the last of which should contain a tinge of laundry blue, sufficient to turn the Creamy white colour lent by the soap into a pure snow-white,' the colour desired in a show bird. It must be borne in mind, also, that a good soap should be used in preference to the strongly alkaline ones so much in vogue. These latter really damage the feathers. Tile best plan is to soak the bird well lirst, and then lather it well and evenly all over, lo prevent any patches of dirt being left. After the lathering, rinse the bird well in water a trifle less warm than the first, taking care to remove every trace of soap; hold the bird up by the wings and squeeze out as much of the soapy water as possible. Then take the bird and place him into the bath containing the blue. Let the water get well into the feathers, and. then, whilst he is being held up lake hold of handfuls of feathers and squeeze out as much moisture as possible, especially squeezing the breast, fluff, tail and high feathers. Now place him on a perfectly clean table, and, taking a clean, soft towel in both bands, rub his head and neck in the same way as you did when washing. In fact, thc whole 1 body may he treated in a similar manner.

Drying Off,

After using several soft towels in tin's way, the bird should be put in a basket with just a little hay in, in front of a lire, great care being taken that the bird is in no draught, and that the basket is well screened on the. side away from the fire. Of course, the lire should be burning well before the bird is washed.

All these points must be well looked afler, 'to prevent any ill effects on the bird. "While drying, about every 20 minutes, the bird should bo taken out of its basket and its plumage wiped down the right way with a dry, soft towel. This will prevent the feathers curling up and getting into a wrong position. The best plan is to start washing early in the morning. By noon the bird will be dry, and it can be left in the kitchen without any fear of its taking a chill, the only thing necessary being to smooth its plumage with a silk handkerchief or piece of soft velvet. The feet and. legs should' he attended to before the bath begins.

These should have had great care bestowed on them several weeks beforehand, because one washing cannot get a bird’s feet and legs in good show form. This applies much more, of course, t'o old birds than to young ones, the scales of their legs being rougher, but it does not apply in a lesser degree to young poultry, the safest plan with them being to treat their legs systematically so as to prevent the scales from becoming rough, and also to prevent' scaly leg. The bird should be caught out in its run, its legs thoroughly washed with soap and water, and then anointed with a little olive oil or something of an antiseptic nature, and the bird should be kept penned up for a time, so that this may soak well in. Washing the Wattles.

Then, as regards the wattles, lobes and comb. These must be washed, and the wattles and comb anointed with olive oil. The lobes should have been under treatment for some time previously, otherwise they may be blistered, as is often the case with birds left entirely at liberty up to the time of showing. Lobes should be soaked with a sponge with clean warm water. Then, having in this way been softened, a mixture of oxide of zinc and glycerine should be worked into them, and Ibis, having again been washed off with warm water, the lobes will gradually become soft and white. This, of course, wants attending to long before the bath is begun or even thought of.

JOTTINGS

Always, as near as possible, feed poultry at regular hours. Irregular feeding often causes derangement of the digestive organs, and this means impaired health and fewer eggs.

Where egg-production is the only objective, the male bird is a drag. A properly fed bird needs no pepper, spice, or other condiments. In many localities a duck ranch will prove more profitable than a poultry farm. 4

It is easier and cheaper to pick out the loafing from the laying hen, than it is to pay their board out of your pocket. Cull all the year round. • A big layer must be a big eater. Do not keep a hen short of food while she is laying regularly. To be successful in the growing of poultry of any kind it is best to begm in a small way with one variety that seems best suited to your disposition. Get a few of the very best of this kind, increase your numbers gradually until you build up a large flock.