UTILITY STANDARD FOR GUIDANCE OF JUDGES

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 171, 7 April 1923, Page 22

UTILITY STANDARD FOR GUIDANCE OF JUDGES

Mr. Pearson-Webber, one of a committee elected by the Utility Committee of the Poultry Club Council (England) to consider and set up an advisory standard of utility merit for the general guidance of judges and exhibitors suggests the following : —

The National Service Standard Hen. 1. Comb.—Medium in size for breed. Strong and length in its hold of the skull; fine in texture. 2. Skull.—Feminine in character, with long wide base; beak of medium size, strong and straight. 3. Eye.—Full, largo, bright; avoid frowning eyebrows.

4. Neck. —Finely curved and set in balanced proportions. 5. Shoulders. —Well apart; fitted to “wish bones” strong and deep, with a straight drop to point of merry thought. 6. Breastbone. — Strong, straight, short in proportion to back; ai useful guide is with back 9 to 6; let breastbone be 4.

7. Back. —Long, straight, flat; wide across the hips.

8. Tail. —Strong, well set and carried “gay.” 9. Pelvis. —Fine in texture, supple, straight and wide aj?art; Hogan system accepted. 10. Capacity.—Varies with condition, being depth measured from pelvis vent bones to point of breastbone; deeper the bettor layer. 11. Legs.—-Well proportioned to assure perfect balance, set straight, fine quality, small, light scales, roomy tendons. 12. Feet. —Set firm, straight claws, strong, short toes nails. 13. Plumage.—Fine texture, with absence of fluff, while in thoroughbred stock as near Poultry Club standard in colour and texture as possible. 14. General. —Usually of medium size for the breed and of an active, busy, intelligent temperament, and always a greedv feeder. 15. Cockerels.—Cockerels must be masculine in character and should be proportioned with back as 9 to 6; let breastbone be 5. Definitions.

Condition. —By the term "conditions” is meant: (a) suitable weight for age, sex and breed; (b) vitality and persistency, being that power which is inherent a strong constitution and recuperative action; (c) bloom and cleanliness of feather, horn, skin and flesh; (d) seasonable precocity and fertility. Capacity.—By the term “capacity” is meant that proportionate length, width and depth which provides ample room for tho devolopnieut of the ovaries as well as freedom of action for heart and lungs. Texture.—By the term “texture” is meant the hereditary refinement of horn, bone, skin, flesh and feather.