WASHING BIRDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 68, 11 June 1927, Page 20 (Supplement)

WASHING BIRDS

PREPARATION FOR SHOWS SOME USEFUL HINTS By GEO. H. AMBLER. During - this month, many fanciers and utility men, too, will be busily engaged washing their birds for the various shows. All white birds require to be washed if they are to be shown to perfection. No matter how clean a bird may look, when once it is staged alongside a newly-washed competitor it will at once become apparent that a wash was badly needed. The operation is simple, and becomes a pleasure when one has good birds to operate on. Some of the dangers resulting from washing are that the operation may be done too quickly, or the sickle feathers may dry quite out of shape, etc. The operator must, therefore, first of all cure himself of any nervousness. The great secret of washing successfully is to do it boldly —a half-wash is worse than none at all. The main objects are to see that all dirt, and also all the soap, is got off the feathers. If this is done, and the bird is properly dried, all will be well. To commence with, three large baths are necessary, an abundance of hot and cold water, a nail-brush, a large sponge, a small packet of “Lux,” some blue in a bag, a little glycerine, clean towels, and a good drying box or exhibition hamper. No. 1 washing bath should contain water heated to about 100 degrees; in No. 2, which is for rinsing, the water should be about 75 or 80 degrees; and No. 3, for final rinsing, the water should be just tepid, and slightly coloured with blue, to which a little glycerine has been added. The blue will keep the purity of the plumage, and the glycerine will help to web out the feathers. Now take the “Lux” and empty it into about one pint of hot water. While this is dissolving wash the bird’s legs and feet, then place the bird gently into tlie water, let it stand a while, and then pour water gently upon it as you gradually press the body down till it is covered with water. The

“Lux” solution must now be emptied into the bath, and, by briskly beating the water, a good lather will be obtained. Now wash the head and comb, using the small nail-brush lightly, being gentle about the ear-lobes. Attention can now be directed to the breast and back; To do the breast, the bird will have to be lifted out of the water for a while. Open the wings, spread the hand under, and brush the wing very' carefully; then do under the wings and down each thigh, turning the bird about for convenience. The rump should be well attended to, and the hand passed under the tail, the brushing or sponging being done in the same manner as for the wings. Special attention must be paid to the shoulder * points, the flights, the tail root, and the thigh. There need be no fear of breaking the feathers, provided they are not rubbed against the grain. - Having removed all the dirt from the plumage, squeeze the water from the feathers and dress off as much soap foam as possible. Then place the bird in bath No. 2. floating it up and down as much as possible to wash out the soap. Assist this operation with a clean sponge. The bird may now be immersed in the final rising water, and rubbed up and down several times. Afterwards, sponge freely with a clean sponge in the direction in which the feathers grow, until all traces of soap are removed. Pass a feather through the mouth, and, if it does not taste soapy, the soap has been well rinsed out. The rinsing process over, squeeze out the water from the feathers, and place the bird on a clean table and dry off with a large, clean bath towel. Drying The bird should then be wrapped in a towel and laid on the table, and all dirt removed from under the scales of the legs. A stilt, sharpened quill is the best of anything to use, as nothing adds to the improvement of a bird more than clean legs. The bird is then placed before a bright fire, in a fluffing or drying box, or an unlined exhibition hamper, with a rug placed behind to keep off draughts. A drying box can easily be made to accommodate a couple of birds. Its size should be about 2ft 6in high, 2ft Gin wide, and 2ft 6in from back to front. All sides are boarded solid, except the front, which should be wired. This should be partitioned in the middle, with the backs composed of two doors, one opening into each compartment. A perch is necessary in the centre of each compartment, within eight or nine inches of the floor, and the latter should be covered with white sawdust to a depth of a couple of inches. This will absorb the droppings, and go a long way toward keeping the birds clean. Drying is just as important as washing, and attention is necessary during the drying process to see that the bird turns itself to the fire, so that all parts get a fair share of the heat and dry simultaneously, or nearly so. The drying must not be carried out too quickly, otherwise the feathers will curve, or the comb and lobes blister. Should the sickle feathers dry out of shape, the sickle should be held in the proper position and steamed from the spout of a ketle, as this will bring about the desired result. If birds are of a brassy tinge, it is no use troubling with them, as no amount of washing will make them white. Dispatch of Birds to Show Before sending your birds to show, see .that the hampers or boxes your birds are sent in are well-lined and roomy, with plenty of soft hay at the bottom. See that the labels are correctly addressed, with pen and class number filled in properly, so that the birds will be rightly penned when they reach the^show. Be a sportsman! If beaten at one show, and you think you have the best bird, try again at another, but do not grumble and try to make out that the judge knows nothing because he happens to have a different opinion from your own. Do not get disheartened if you fail to win right away, but try again until you succeed, and you will never forget the pleasure of winning your first challenge cup. Although I went so far as to win the International Trophy and Championship at the great Crystal Palace Show in England, the pleasure did not equal the winning of my first challenge cup. Treatment After Show While it is essential that close attention be given the birds previous to their dispatch to a show, it is equally as important that they should be carefully - examined and attended to on their return. It is just possible that the bird may have been staged in a pen in which a roupy or diphtheric bird had been staged at a previous show. It is therefore always wise to keep the bird by itself for a day or two, and then, if no signs of disease appear, it can be put back into its own pen. Care must also be taken that the bird does not catch cold. Most shows are held in places which become

hot during the event, and the change of temperature from the pen to the open run often gives the bird a chill.

Hints for Beginners Poultry shows are now upon us. and the novice exhibitor should make up his mind to benefit by his experience last show season. Learn from past mistakes, and then avoid them this time. Condition plays an important part in the exhibiting of poultry, and amateurs should take special pains to see that their exhibits are well washed and staged in a creditable manner. The main object, after all, is to catch the judge’s eye. As a rule, the novice, on visiting a show, merely walks round the pens, has a chat with his pals and then goes home. Often he does not even buy a catalgue. At almost every show there are good birds which can be purchased cheaply, and. with the aid of his catalogue, a keen novice can • find many bargains. The best bird does not always win, for an unnoticed bird, had it been washed, might have won the coveted first prize ticket.