When I go to a poultry show there is one exhibit I look forward to with a great deal of pleasure, and that exhibit is the White Cochin Bantam class. There seems to be a certain fascination to me, to watch the snowy white birds and I’m sure there are many other breeders who will agree with me when I say that the most beautiful of all the poultry family is the little “White Cochin Bantam”. But the sad fact is that many a time, one can see a class of these birds which are not worth the entry fee at the time they are being shown, merely because of the lack of energy on the part of the exhibitor in preparing the birds in the proper manner.

In preparing show birds I begin as soon as the bird is hatched, by doing all in my power to make them comfortable and contented. I go around my birds and pet them and do other things to make them accustomed to the presence of people. There is nothing in my estimation that is so disgusting as to see a bird that would otherwise win the blue ribbon had it not been so wild and frightened when the judge looks over it. Many a bantam has lost the ribbon for no other reason that he was not “tame”.

About six or eight weeks before the show I go over my flock carefully and pull out all broken feathers, and put the bantams in small covered runs with sand floors. This is to keep the new feathers from braking. I also examine the feet and legs of the birds and see that they are smooth and clean. Incase they are a bit rough, I apply a few applications of carbolic vaseline which tends to soften them and clean them of any scaliness.

Three weeks before the show I transfer then into exhibition pens where I teach tem to pose and stand in any good position that I think suitable to bring out their good points. I find that it is best to do this training at night, as they are not so liable to get frightened. From the time on until two days before the show, I coach them and try to get them accustomed to being on exhibition.

Two days before the show I wash them. This is, perhaps, really the most important and yet most difficult part of conditioning the birds. It requires a great deal of patience and must be done thoroughly in order to be worth the trouble. They are washed as follows: I first prepare three tubs. The first tub of water is quite warm and this is the one in which I put my suds. In washing I use ivory soap as it floats and is, therefore, handy at all times. I make a good lather and first wash the comb, face and wattles. When this is done the feet are next. When washing the feet my motto is “be thorough” as it is important to have the feet as clean as possible. I use a fine toothbrush and make sure I get all the dirt from under the scales. A toothpick is very good for dirt under the scales. When this is done, place the bird in the water, with only its head above. Hold him thoroughly until fully soaked. Be careful to rub the way the feathers grow at all times so not to break them. Next comes tub number two. This is to get the soap out of the feathers. It should be in temperature and the birds needs only to be put in and feathers rinsed enough to get the soap out. Then comes tub number three. In this tub the bird is given the finishing touches. The water should just have the chill taken out and a little blueing added. Just a trifle as it adds colouring to the white birds. Too much however, will spoil the effect. When this is done the bird is taken out of the water and sponged to dry as much as possible. Then wrap in a Turkish towel and set it before the fire and let it rest. Then comes the drying. Some people think it is unnecessary to set them before the fire and let them dry. This will do, but for the best results have an electric fan you can use to blow warm air on the bird and while it is drying keep working the feathers all the time to make them more fluffy. If an electric heater is available it will prove a great aid in the drying process.

In taking to the show, if the show is in the immediate neighbourhood it is best to put as few as possible in each crate as this will diminish the chance of them braking feathers or getting dirty. If they are shipped, then it may be necessary to place them all in one crate. It is best by all means to keep show birds separated in the shipping crate by cloth partitions. By following the above simple directions you should not have to place a poorly conditioned bantam in the show room.

By Edward G. Hanson, 1921