Standard bred Sumatras

I am starting this new sumatra thread to discuss sumatras as the American Poultry Association describes them in the standard of perfection. If you are breeding to what the judges are placing in the shows (cornish heads, leghorn tails, phoenix tails, etc.) please don't post here and argue your reasoning. I will post more when my home internet is back up.

All ears hear

Ok to get the ball rolling, here's a question.

The SOP says that the sumatra should have a full throat. What is considered a full throat and what is over done or can it be over done?

Here is a picture of one that I feel is over done (had to search google for a picture of one, since I don't see this type of throat often in a sumatra)



Here is a picture of a bird without this "extra" throat skin.



Hopefully someone will share their knowledge or opinions on this.

I will give it a try......


So I would like to point out on this subject that the standard does say the Sumatra needs to have a full throat. In order to have a round head that matches the description, the throat must extend some giving it a full appearance. Try drawing a circle for the head (excluding the beak and it will give you a better picture). If you do this to the blue hen you will see she is a better specimen than the splash. There isn't a round appearance on the head of the splash. Take into consideration the ABA standard does state that the Sumatra needs to have a well developed dewlap. Each judge will determine the merit of the specimen based off what he or she feels fits the description. So it could be a little different from show to show. In addition, if breeding to the standard of perfection, you must take in to account the whole subject, and see how each section of the body defines the breed. If the Sumatra in question does not have a full throat, the head will appear to be long, which then can make the beak appear even longer. If the bird in question, like the splash has the extreme end of the full throat, then it gives the appearance of lacking arch to the neck, and the beak appear significantly tiny.

Hope that brings up more discussion.

In the few pictures of this type of sumatra (like the splash) I have noticed that if you take a bit of the extra throat area off, these birds don't have a very round head or a short beak also.

Do you know if the APA standard lists anything else on the throat area of the LF sumatra other than full throat, that I might have missed?

Thank you for your time and help.

How hard would it be to breed out the trait for a very straight dewlap and get back to a curved dewlap
that is complimentary to the head. I can see where a large straight dewlap that connects lower into
the neck would give the appearance of a round head and/or short beak but why not just breed for the
correct head and/or beak instead of a short cut that looks like an EE with a plucked beard or a turkey neck.

BTW.......good to see you posting again NW

Just thought of it, NWsumatras, since you breed the bantam sumatras would you care to show a picture of a well developed throat area on a bantam? (just love seeing your birds )

What do black Sumatra look like as juveniles I have a little one but I don't know if it is a Sumatra I got the eggs from eBay so I don't wholeheartedly trust the man that sold them could you guys also rate mine from like 1 to 10