When you are handling young stock and looking for promising birds, hidden merits need to be observed and noted. It means judging what the final plumage will be, and that calls for more knowledge and interest thanjust spotting side-sprigs on combs or defective feathering on legs.
Specialists in certain breeds, of course, get to know what defects in colour and markings they have to anticipate. They know therefore where to look for the faults.
You will see, for instance, a black Minorca enthusiast spread out the wing feathers of each young bird - he is looking for white defects. In all breeds which should have black wings, white or grey in the feathers is a common defect.
The beginner can make mistakes here, for if the white faults are only in the pointed soft chicken feathers of the wings judgment must be postponed until the adult, broad stiff feathers come through. Sometimes the white defect departs, while in other birds it appears at the last stage.
Few attach importance to rearing bantam chickens if white appears in their black wing feathers. If the chicks are overheated in the brooding stage white soon comes through. If you have bought a valuable sitting of black Minorca bantam eggs this season— even if the parent stock had sound-coloured wings— rearing and feeding will decide whether the youngsters come through sound Indications of quill-binding in tail and wing feathers are seen in the fine hair lines across them. The feathers are dry and brittle, and parts break off. Often attention to the oil gland would have prevented this condition. The oil-gland is like a pimple at the root of the tail, and if you pull out the small hairs from the top and gently squeeze it oil will flow. Otherwise, if the oil is congealed, bathe the part with warmish water to soften the oil, then press out the coagulated matter until oil does flow. Do this, however, when chickens are young as a precaution.
