Common Defects
The shape description already given of Plymouth Rocks, from the American Standard of Perfection, is that of a perfect bird, and the further original treatise found in this work is merely for the purpose of clarifying and amplifying that found in that more general work. Admittedly, however, no specimen, male or female, is perfect, which means that every specimen is defective in some way in nature and degree ; that is, two individuals may have defects, but of different nature, or they may have the same defect, but in different degrees. One is, then, more defective than another because it has more defects, or because it has greater defects, as the ease may be. It is the purpose of this work to point out the more common defects, and so explain their nature, that they may be readily detected and the seriousness of their nature accurately computed ; also, how to mate, according to the practices of the most successful
breeders of Plymouth Rocks, so that such and such defects of the parents may be eliminated in the progeny.
THE MALE
Comb
The reader is advised to make himself at this point familiar with the nomenclature of the comb and head points. The most noticeable feature of the head is the comb. This, the high point of the head, the
top-piece, and, like the hat on a well dressed man or woman, creates a good or poor impression according to its own quality. Unless harmonious proportions between the comb and the head exist, an unfavorable impression is created immediately. For these reasons breeders pay more attention to it than to any other adjunct of the head. The description in the Standard is clear and is generally understood, but often too much importance is attached to the clause which requires five points, evenly spaced, with the front and rear points a little smaller than the other three, and each of the right length to look proportionate to the base, which should be firm, smooth, straight, free from folds, wrinkles, indentures, or thumb marks.
Carriage of Comb
It is a matter of first importance that the comb should set firmly on the head, as a thin or limber comb
is apt to droop and if a comb droops too much it becomes a disqualification, which clearly intimates that a drooping comb is a serious defect. Turning to one side at either front or rear is also a defect. Thumb marks or wrinkles over the beak are quite serious defects, as the rules for cutting the same clearly show. These faults usually occur when the blade is too large or too heavy. What are expressively termed "beefy" combs are inclined to this fault. Twisted combs are very unsightly and undesirable.
Size Outline
If the features are to be considered in the order in which they affect the appearance of the bird, size and
outline must be next discussed. A comb should not be so large as to look top heavy or coarse. On the contrary, it should not be so small that the male seems effeminate, or that the female appears to lack health or vigor. Refined heads are demanded of both sexes in all Plymouth Rocks. The outline of all combs should be symmetrical ; that is, all parts of the comb, the blade, the base and the points should be in proportion to give proper balance between all these parts.
Base
The base of the comb should be straight, first of all, from front to rear, heavy enough to hold the points from drooping and the blade from turning to one side or the other; though extremely and unnecessarily heavy bases are not wanted, as should be understood from the Standard description. This description
precludes thumb-marks, wrinkles and indentures as mentioned, heretofore.
Blade
The width or depth of the blade should be about the same as the length of the longest points or a little more to give the best setting, and the line formed by the base of the serrations or what might be termed the top-line of the blade should be nearly horizontal, or conforming a little to the top of the skull and at the same time with the outline made by the top of the serrations, and thus help to harmonize all the parts. The blade may be taken as part of the base, and much that has been stated about the latter is true of the former; more than that, it must follow the skull somewhat to give the appearance of setting
on the head gracefully and it should be of such length as to balance with the other parts so that the comb, all in all, completes its symmetrical outline.
Points
These should be five in number and evenly spaced. The front and rear points a little smaller than the other three so as to obtain a regular and symmetrical outline. Besides even spacing, the right proportion in length of points and depth of blade should exist. Of this, the eye is the best judge, rather than a mathematical calculation. As a rule, the blade should be slightly deeper than the length of the points, but sometimes combs that are pronounced good by competent judges have points a trifle longer than the depth of the blade and other good combs have points that are perceptibly shorter. Of
this feature, the first impression given to the practiced eye is usually the correct one. A phenomenon known as the double-point occurs when the serration between two points is not as deep as between the other points of the same comb. Sometimes the serration referred to is very shallow, which gives the appearance of one broad point. This defect destroys all balance between the serrations and the points, and is a most marked blemish when viewed from the side. In order to obtain a thorough understanding of what constitutes an ideal single comb, one should make a careful study of
the life size illustration of a perfect Plymouth Rock male head,
Other Head Adjuncts
Not nearly as much attention is paid to defects of the other appurtenances of the head as to those of
the comb. The shape of the eyes, wattles and lobes are clearly defined in the Standard, but unless they are very noticeably defective in shape, little cutting is practiced. Wattles may be of unequal length even too short, misshapen, coarse in texture but even so, unless very noticeably so, deductions from the score are not often made. Wattles are most often cut for injuries from fighting, freezing, or tearing in one way or another. These are not natural defects and should not be discounted as heavily as though they were. Such injuries mar the good appearance of the bird most seriously. Ear-lobes in Plymouth Rocks are good as a rule and seldom cut for shape.
Skull
Occasionally the head proper, also the beak, is too long and not nearly deep enough, and for these defects are cut, but not heavily numerically, because the allotment to these sections for shape is very small. The following shape sections are important because many of these denote practical qualities or the absence of them.
Neck
First impressions are very often convincing, especially in a large class. One of the most important factors in making an impression is style, and style depends much upon the length and arch in the neck, for the latter gives the head its poise. If lacking in arch, it is usually because the head is carried
too far forward. Note the position of head in ideal illustrations, with front of beak falling vertically back of the front of the breast. The vertical position of the head relative to the front of breast is one of the distinctive breed characteristics in the American class. Length is important ; if the neck is too short, the bird lacks style, and the neck is also probably too thick and has too much arch ; if too long, it is probably too slender and lacks arch. Too long necks generally accompany birds too long in other sections, especially legs. A well-arched, full neck indicates vitality and is desired. Necks of males should carry an abundance of long, flowing hackle feathers. Without these, neck and shoulders will
show an angle at the junction, which should not appear. With long, flowing hackle feathers extending well over shoulders, neck and back seem to merge together, a necessary feature at a vital point in a beautiful top contour.
Wings
The most common fault at the present time in this section is deformed feathers. While this deformity usually takes the form of twisted feathers, other defects such as these are not as unsightly, as the twisted feather or feathers nearly always protrudes more or less. Twisted wings take on several peculiar and abnormal forms. Occasionally the end of the flight or secondaries are affected, and
as in this case the defect is most noticeable. Again, the bone of the wing, at or beyond the joint furthest from the body is turned in so that the flight feathers face wrong side out. Occasionally wings do
not fold together properly, and remain open by the side. This is what is known as a slipped wing. This undesirable phenomenon, known as the slipped wing, has of recent years become common in many strains of purebred fowls. This appears when the flights fold in reverse rather than in the natural order; those nearest the body dropping from their natural position just inside the secondary farthest from the
body and appearing outside of the lower secondaries instead of inside; thus leaving a space between the folded secondaries and the primaries, which give rise to the name "slipped wing" theprimaries have the appearance of having slipped down. The name is applied in such a case whether the primaries are reversed or not. The outside appearance of such a wing is not altogether unlike that of what is known as the split-wing. The latter is, however, different as the flights, though folded, are not covered by the secondaries. This split is caused by the primaries most adjacent to the secondaries or the secondaries, most adjacent to the primaries, taking the wrong direction, with the result that the secondaries fail to cover the flights when folded. If such a wing is spread or open, a space, sometimes a wide one, is noted between the flights and secondaries. In some lines of blood, the flight feathers, instead of being twisted or following the wrong direction, are short and narrow and do not fold properly. Large or long wings are not called for by the Standard, but the wing should be of moderate length, sufficient to reach the saddles in the male, and a corresponding position in the female. They should be well-tucked up and covered by the saddle or back feathers, according to sex. Drooping shoulders indicate a looseness or weakness of the shoulder muscles. Another and equally undesirable defect is of the high or too prominent shoulder with the large wing feathers held at the wrong angle, bringing the points too low. This wing is too large and the point is not tucked up or covered as it should be.
Back
This section affords an opportunity for sharp distinction between the breeds of the American class. Plymouth Rocks' backs should be broad and of moderate length. When joined to a fully feathered, correctly arched neck, and a well-furnished, well-spread tail, carried at the proper angle, the back, with these sections, forms a beautiful top contour. The curves connecting back and neck, and back with tail, are so mild and gradual as to be most graceful and finished. To obtain this pleasing effect, the back must be just as it is described and portrayed in the Standard. Faulty backs, and there are many of them, as it is a hard section to breed as it should be bred, make obviously faulty birds. The back may be too short; this means a short body, and the birds must lack true breed type. Shortness of body means lack of weight or even a greater variance from true type. Too long backs mean too long bodies, and a variance from true type. Such birds are apt to be too flat on the sides as well as on the back. They lack grace and typical carriage. As Plymouth Rocks they are plain and unattractive. Too long backs usually
lack the curve needed, to finish a good specimen, between the back and tail. They are usually too narrow and round from side to side, and again are much more apt to be "roached," that is, have a tendency to make the black line convex rather than concave. Breadth is needed in this section to give the sturdy appearance characteristic of this breed.
Tail
This is one of the most ornamental sections of the bird. Aside from the head, it is the most striking feature of the male. With a beautiful tail, a bird is finished ; but, with the tail lacking or faulty, the specimen is deficient. The tail must be-carried at the proper angle or the beauty of the top contour is marred or entirely lost. If carried too high, the curve between back and tail is destroyed and an unsightly angle substituted. If carried too low, style and the appearance of life and action are gone. Too long tails destroy good balance, because they are out of proportion. They give too much length
to the bird. The tail should be of such dimensions as to length, lateral spread and vertical spread that it balances the head and neck. Pinched tails, or tails that do not spread vertically, are very faulty, as a bird that has one is never finished or balanced. A good spread between the lower or rear pair of feathers, horizontally, is desirable, as without it the body and back appear too narrow. A fully furnished tail is a rare ornament, therefore highly prized by exhibitors. The contour formed by back and tail have so much weight when breed type is determined that it is very nearly impossible to disassociate these two sections.
Breast
The best liked meat of a fowl is found on the breast; therefore, for this reason breasts that carry as much meat as possible and still retain symmetrical lines are desired for all breeds. The descriptive terms, "broad," "deep," "full," are comparative, however, and, when used to describe Plymouth Rocks, refer to Plymouth Rocks only. Breasts are frequently faulty as to shape. Some are too narrow, nearly all are not deep enough. Many are not sufficiently full to present the "front" most breeders like to see. Few breasts are full just in front and above the end of the keel-bone. This defect is very noticeable, as it is one of the first points of observation, if not the very first, when in the show coop. By the above description we are led to expect a breast outlined by a series of broad, symmetrical curves from side to side, merging into the body on either side with no sharp line of distinction between the sides of the breast and the sides of the body. The same description holds nearly true when applied vertically. In this direction the breast should be full and round. The breast should be deep, so that it forms a broad, widecurve from top to bottom which gradually merges into the line of the body formed by the bottom of the keel-bone. Thus, both horizontally and vertically, the outline of the breast should make
a broad, symmetrical curve that merges into the body without breaks or apparent angles.
Body and Fluff
Technically, body does not refer to the whole carcass, as in common phraseology. It refers in this connection merely to the lower part of body extending back from the front end of the keel-bone. The fluff is composed of the small, soft feathers found between and to the rear of the thighs, though the body feathers at rear of the thighs are often spoken of as such. The body must have depth, breadth and length. Defects in one or all of these three dimensions are common. Defects in body shape are found more often in the front than in the rear. Shallow breasts are often associated with shallow bodies, especially in front of the thigh. Very often, too, the body, in front of the thighs is too short. Neither must it be too long, for the body must be well balanced. Keel-bones that are too short in front of the thighs carry breasts that lack in fullness. Narrow bodies are generally accompanied by narrow backs
that are often long, flat lengthwise, and what are termed "ridgy,"that is, too much rounded on the sides.
Shanks and Toes
Legs that are set well apart, shanks that have plenty of bone, but are not over large and coarse, are desired, because they indicate strength and vitality. Shanks that are rather large and strong are found only with large and strong specimens. Breadth in back and body indicates a strong constitution, and legs that support a broad body are set well apart. The toes on each leg are generally stout, straight and
comparatively short. Crookedness is the most common defect in toes. Sometimes this is accidental, but more often it may be regarded as one of the surest signs of inherent weakness. When the general appearance of a bird confirms this symptom, the akinship of the opposite sex should be carefully considered.
THE FEMALE
In but a few sections does the shape of the female so radically differ from that of the male that it requires a different treatise. What follows applies to those sections.
Comb
The description of comb for male and female coincides, except that the comb of the female is much smaller. A female comb may easily be too large, and while small combs are preferred, they should not be so small as to be difficult to observe, in which case this may indicate constitutional or sexual weakness, which is, however, readily determined in other ways.
Head and Adjuncts
These sections differ in size only.
Neck
In this section the feathers differ in character and form, one of the most noticeable sex differences in most varieties. In some breeds hen-feathered males are disqualified, the presence or absence of long, narrow hackle feathers is one of the tests that distinguish between properly feathered and hen-feathered
males. In shape, the neck of the female is shorter comparatively, and not as heavy and is not as fully arched as those of the males.
Back
Here, also, we find the same difference in the construction of the male and female feather. The long feathers from the saddle or back of a male, called expressively saddlehangers, are not found on females or hen-feathered males. (Henfeathered males occur only in a few breeds, and only sufficiently often to be considered.) These differences of feather construction between males and females creates also a different conformation of back in the two sexes. The variation, however, is more of degree than kind. The concave is not as sharp, as the back lacks the long, ornamental saddle feathers and tail coverts of the male, and the concave curve is not nearly as short. On this account and because of the lower carriage of the tail, the body of the female appears longer than that of the male, and the effect is that of a rather long, broad, straight back, rising very gradually in a slightly depressed incline to the tail.
Tail
This section affords opportunity for distinction between male and female. The long, curving sickles, smaller sickles, and tail coverts of the male are of a different character from any feathers found on the female. The tail of the female is carried at a five degree lower angle than with the male and
appears even lower because of the difference in character of the tail furnishings. The tail may possess the same defects as the tail of the male, but it should have the same good qualities ; namely, well spread base, of sufficient width vertically to avoid a pinched appearance, and should be furnished with an abundance of tail coverts of the same general character as the feathers of the back, though both
broader and longer.
Slow-Feathering
Of late years some lines are slow in feathering. The reason for the development of this phenomena is
not known, but some breeders have observed that slow feathering has made its appearance coincident with the fine barring. It has been observed, too, that fine barring and narrow feathers are intimately associated. The two facts have led to the idea that when breeding for fine barring, narrow feathers are also bred, and by so doing, unwittingly, feather producing tendencies are reduced. The effect of slow feathering and of feathers that do not grow normally or are of irregular formation upon the shape of
the fowls and especially upon the shape and appearance of such ections as wings and tail is considerable.
Type vs. Shape
Usually about the same ideas occur to us whether we hear the word "type" or the word "shape." However, they may or may not convey the same meaning. Shape may be more specific, as when used with reference to a part of the bird ; that is, to one section or perhaps to more than one ; while type, as generally used, refers to the bird as a whole. We have distinctions here, also, as breed types and commercial types ; that is, types designated according to adaptability for certain uses ; as egg-types, meat-types, general- or dual-purpose types, ornamental types, etc.
Faulty Types
We speak of a bird as having faulty shape when one or more sections are defective ; of having faulty type when one or more sections are defective in such a way as to change the typical appearance of the bird from one breed-type to another. A Plymouth Rock female by a combination of faulty back and leg shape might become more of a Wyandotte than a Rock ; that is, if too short in both sections ; by faulty back and body shape, more the character of the Rhode Island Red, if too long and flat in back and too shallow in body ; a Plymouth Rock that was too broad and deep in body and short in legs might assume somewhat of the Cochin type. But enough has been related to show the importance of correct type in the bird as a whole, and what is necessary to secure it good shape in every section.
taken From The Plymouth Rock Standard Breed book
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