WHILE JUDGING: COMPARE EACH FINDING WITH THE RELEVANT BREED STANDARD

IMPORTANCE OF FEATHER QUALITY:

Feathers act as a protective covering for fowl, protecting it from cold, rain, sun and injury, also aiding in short flight. It is important that the feather be relatively broad, the web of good firm texture, with a strong shaft, the barbs, barbules and barbicels closely and tightly knitted together, with the exception of a very few ornamental breeds such as Silkies, Frizzles and Sebastapol Geese. Early and full feathering is associated with a good relatively broad feather of firm structure, and judges, flock inspectors and breeders, are especially instructed to give full consideration to this important quality. Narrow thin feathers inclined to silkiness often found in the back wings and tail coverts, are particularly to be avoided and no specimen with this characteristic should be used for breeding.

Proper surface gives identity, beauty and uniformity. Under-colour is also a characteristic of each colour pattern. It should be considered but not granted undue emphasis. In very tight feathered breeds (ex. Malays, Games, etc.) under fluff may show through at junction of back and tail, shoulders, wingbows, etc.

The following general feather descriptions for various classes apply to females and to such sections of males which conform generally to the feather type of the female with the exception of Fizzles and ornamental breeds such as Silkies and Sebastopol geese:

(a) Cochin: Feathers should be broad, long, soft and fitting loosely on the body. Fluff relatively long and abundant,

(b) Brahmas: Feathers should be more compact and without the fluffiness of Cochins.

(c) All American, all English except Cornish, all French and langshans: Feathers should be moderately broad and long, fitting fairly close to the body.

(d) All Mediterranean, Hamburgs, and Polish: Feathers moderately broad and long, fitting rather close to body.

(e) All Games, Game Bantams, Malays and Malay Bantams and Orientals: Feathers short, rather narrow, hard and firm, with as little fluff as possible, fitting very close to body.

(f) All Cornish: Feathers should be close fitting and hard, as in the Modern Game, but wider.

COLOUR:

Black or Brown: In the quill of the primary or secondary of white varieties should not be construed to include stains on the quill of a feather caused by the coagulation of blood on the underside.

Brassiness: On the surface plumage of white fowls is a serious defect and shall be discounted according to Cuts for Defects.

Grey Specks: A few very small, greyish specks in white fowls shall not prevent a specimen that is otherwise superior in type and colour from winning over one which is less typical in shape but sound in colour; provided the grey specks do not appear prominently in the primary, secondary or main tail feathers.

Under-colour: Proper surface gives identity, beauty and uniformity. Under-colour is also a characteristic of each colour pattern. It should be considered but not granted undue emphasis. In very tight feathered breeds (ex. Malays, Aseels, Shamos, Games, etc.) under-fluff may show through at junction of back and tail, shoulders, wingbows, etc.

Judges shall give due consideration to the condition of the plumage in making awards but not to the detriment of breed type and colour.

GENERAL DISQUALIFICATIONS AND DEFECTS: PLUMAGE

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