Notes for Poultry Keepers.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 May 1910, Page 4

Notes for Poultry Keepers.

AVASHING BIRDS

A southern expert remarks thalfc 110 washing of biitls is a. job that the exhibitor has to tackle more tliiiin once during a show season. I here is no task in connection with showing that the exhibitor dreads more than the washing of birds. It takes .a lot of time and care, and needs a deal ol skill and patience. Ihe wiaslnng also takes up a. lob ot room in the house if "one lias many birds to do. The takimof room in the house, and the mesa made, is oliten the cause of friction between the man of the house and bis wile. The latter has to bo a sweet-tempered, woman indeed who can, without a murmur, stand tlio sight of cages all over the kitchen 01 (lining-room floor. r ilio op(»i\i•tions o.ften extend further than tlio two rooms mentioned. I pan remember my own pens filling a bedroom as well; and I remember visit— in# a. fancier one Sunday morning and found the sitting-room oceiC pied. The 1114111 with a. big liouso may have better facilities, but the ordinary cottager, who forms tlio bulk of the exhibitors, gives his wife a trying time if he lias many birds to wash. Therefore, avoid washing as much as possible. Don't wash simply because a bird has to lie show if. Pigeons and caundies love the bath, and iare often clean enough to be sent away with only a wipe with a silk rag. Tf thev jiro not clean enough, a sprayinc may do, and only when they fail tb clean themselves should they be washed by their owner. TTe should give his birds every opportunity to wash themselves. "With pmiltrv it i.s different. .n----like oigeons and canaries, they do not love water unless they are walterfowl. Oonseqiioiitlv, some one must wash them. Perhaps a dark-pl 11111 aged bird may pass with a wipe, but the light, colours, especially whites, need a lot of cleaning. T like a sunnv day best, but if tlio weather i.s cold, or one has to do it at night, a room with a good firo must be used. The water requires to lie soft, and the soap of tho best. Three receptacles will be required, and thev should bo big enough to allow the birds to be immersed iu tlieni. S'nnseoueiitly f' wis will take a bigger dish than tb:' snuill feathers. In the first basin ;r lather should be made similar in thickness and heat one could stand for shaving mimeses, or about as hot as as the hand can comfcrHblv bear. TTold the bird finnlv bv tl 1•» b j gs. ami immerse it •H In lit the heid until well sonk«d. Tli"ii rub the lather from head to t-iil, mid dinning ilu» subject neea«"'ain!lv. The under parts can be

rlcno l)v sinmlv turpiiK l, the hird ( its hack, still Tinkling t.Tio leers \y\ono li.iliid. Tlio second hn.sin water should be cooler than <tl first, oiul n sponjre should be usi to ut'i (!it> snap out. Tno t'hii bath should bo in cold water, hi not. cold enoii.sili to cliill. The tliii hath .should a littlo hlu nnd a £ood rinse in it should got r tlio soap out of tin l I'eathers. Tli is very important. Soap in tl featlu'i's nivalis a bedramjlfd-lookii hird. Dry tin* Ini'd well with warm di clothes until fairly dry. I'xu hird as soon as washed should 1 p!a!';".! in a dry pen or cajio. In not near enough to the (ire as 1 cause sti'iim to ris-. , I'mni the hod; A sti'oiin , lire licit will speil tl feathers. That is one nviMiu wl: I prefer :i .sunny iiinrni.UL';. an another reason is the hird lias le: chanre of a chill is wnslu on a warm day. If liinls lia\ ■n. Vlnil h'idy the al'ti washing, then all is well. Tl wires of (he 'Irvine caries shouh! 1 covered all iiidit with i> cl.th. Tli will keep out excessive heat an dnun;i>rs. Kre(|Mi.'iitly when the wash finisli<'d the hird.s lie limp and a] pear to he dead or dyinm. Tin's (■eiiiviallv so with canaries an other nervous hinK Hut the seldom die hecuise of wa^hinc;.