POULTRY NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8133, 13 June 1906, Page 4

POULTRY NOTES.

[Written for the News.] In my last notes I promised to give directions in reference to washing fowls. As the local show will soon be held, this information will probably be of use to fanciers. In the first place, I don't consider it needful to wash colored fowls, unless they are black and white, like a Silver Wyandotte or Houdan. These are better washed, as well as all white fowls. In these days of keen competition, the birds must be shown in the pink of condition. The following is the method adopted in washing: First slice some nice bvrella or white curd soap into hot water, and make a good lather by boiling it. Then have two baths for warm wateri and one for cold. Fill the baths about half full of warm water, the first to ~■..• i <o.jd supply of the boiling soap .aim* added. Then add a nice bit of olue to the third bath with cold water, Have a dean sponge ready, and place the fowl into the soapy water, working the water well into the feathers, until wet turough. Then work the dirt out of the feathers, beginning at the head, and going right through. Be particular about the throat, the tips of wing, and the tail. After the bird is well

washed, squeeze the water out of the feahers. Then put it into a bath of warm water, and work out all the soap. Squeeze out the water, and place the bird in the cold blue water, rinsing it well to the skin. After removing what water you can, hang the bird up by its legs, and let it n ip its Dry as much as possib.e wuh a soft towel; balance the bird on your kace, and le l it llap its wings (mis ivill help to dry it quicker), dave a nice fire ready; t ,ui iiu; un-d m a box lined vrilli hay, with wire trout, but do not put it too near the fire, as this makes ihe feathers too h.i-d. .\L>yx- the bird about now and then, sj as to have the heat evenly distributed ovu' the body. After the bird is dry, put it into a large case or shed, with'clean bright straw and a little wheat sprinkled about. The bird will soon work itself into good condition. Before sending to the show, see that the beak and legs are clean, and that vaseline is put on the comb aud wattles.