Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[thedragonlady]

If you think about feathers being the outside/exterior ........the part we see.......it makes sense . One of the best examples of how feathers can affect the way the birds can look just because of the type of feathers, are the British Orps and the American Orps.. Other than the head, the bodies should be the same, but these two look quite different. You have to have the right kind of feathers for the breed or it will be very hard to get them to look right. You can't fix a bad body with feathers, so feathers are just a part of the visual.

Walt

Oh, Walt!

Here we go again..round # 998..........The British standard calls for a 45 degree tailset, ours for 25 degrees. Whole different picture. The birds winning in England now do not fit the British standard, anymore than ours do.All that hanging fluff is winning over there, and oversize birds are winning over here.

I don't mind oversize birds as much as I do the ones with hanging, drippy fluff that is totally impractical except in an ornamental breed. Regardless of feathering, if you don't feel the deep keel in your hand, it isn't an Orp to me. My older girls aren't named Dolly, Marilyn, Sophia, and Gina, for nothing !

 

[Pozees]

I am still reading here, lots of pages with great info! Just marking my place.......

Oh good you found it!

Bob, Suncatcher is a fellow Colorado resident who has a hatchery Mottled Java hen and has become very interested in the breed. She will be interested in your progress with your group, as will many of us no doubt!

 

[Pozees]

Oh, Walt!

Here we go again..round # 998..........The British standard calls for a 45 degree tailset, ours for 25 degrees. Whole different picture. The birds winning in England now do not fit the British standard, anymore than ours do.All that hanging fluff is winning over there, and oversize birds are winning over here.

I don't mind oversize birds as much as I do the ones with hanging, drippy fluff that is totally impractical except in an ornamental breed. Regardless of feathering, if you don't feel the deep keel in your hand, it isn't an Orp to me. My older girls aren't named Dolly, Marilyn, Sophia, and Gina, for nothing !

 

[fowlman01]

Oh, Walt!

Here we go again..round # 998..........The British standard calls for a 45 degree tailset, ours for 25 degrees. Whole different picture. The birds winning in England now do not fit the British standard, anymore than ours do.All that hanging fluff is winning over there, and oversize birds are winning over here.

I don't mind oversize birds as much as I do the ones with hanging, drippy fluff that is totally impractical except in an ornamental breed. Regardless of feathering, if you don't feel the deep keel in your hand, it isn't an Orp to me. My older girls aren't named Dolly, Marilyn, Sophia, and Gina, for nothing !

It was a general statement regarding how one breed can look different in part due to feathers. It was unfortunate that I chose Orps, but that was what came to mind first. I have handled these birds and some have deep keels and some don't. you can see that from the pictures online. To have a tail set you have to have a tail....a ball of feathers has no angles. When I make these comparisons, I am using birds that win in shows in England....not what the British Standard actually says. Where does the British Standard call for 45 degree's? I have the new BSOP here and I don't see tail angles stated in the Orp section. Page 202,203 and 204 show actual photo's of British Orps and the Buff male on page 202 looks like a American Orp....the rest don't...and the black has a shallow keel.

Bottom line is that I am not interested in round #998 or 999 whatever it is now in your mind. It was simply to show how feathers can affect the exterior look of a bird....that is all.

Walt

 

[NYREDS]

http://tinyurl.com/csde7dw
THE IMPORTANCE OF RHODE ISLAND RED FEATHER
QUALITY AND FEATHER CHARACTER
By Arthur O. Schilling Poultry Artist, Breeder, and Judge

Hi Walt, Bob and All,

I have been reading the above section in the "Knowledge" book.

Schilling covers the following 4 aspects of correct RIR plumage:

Feather Shape: Broad feathered
Feather Quality: Fine texure
Feather Substance: Feeling of thickness or substance
Feather Finish: Lusterous sheen

Have I got this synopsis correct? Are these the right definitions of the terms?



Then he sums up all of them by writing:

Schilling on HRIR plumage: " When you have a fine broad feathered female her plumage will have the feel of fine texture velvet as you pass your hand over her back or shoulders. The feather will have a feeling of thickness or substance, and she will carry a luster that is almost irridescent. She will have a sheen that is beautiful."



Do these terms and descriptions also apply to the male? How much of this knowledge can I take and directly apply to my Sussex fowl? How much is breed specific to HRIR?

Thanks,

Karen

Wish I knew enough about Reds to comment on this since it sound so much like something I've said here about a hundred times. You found a Shilling reference to HRIR? I doubt it.

 

[thedragonlady]

It was a general statement regarding how one breed can look different in part due to feathers. It was unfortunate that I chose Orps, but that was what came to mind first. I have handled these birds and some have deep keels and some don't. you can see that from the pictures online. To have a tail set you have to have a tail....a ball of feathers has no angles. When I make these comparisons, I am using birds that win in shows in England....not what the British Standard actually says. Where does the British Standard call for 45 degree's? I have the new BSOP here and I don't see tail angles stated in the Orp section. Page 202,203 and 204 show actual photo's of British Orps and the Buff male on page 202 looks like a American Orp....the rest don't...and the black has a shallow keel.

Bottom line is that I am not interested in round #998 or 999 whatever it is now in your mind. It was simply to show how feathers can affect the exterior look of a bird....that is all.

Walt

OK, truce ...purely for the moment, I'm sure. Kathy and I have too much fun with you ! We love you anyway !

I AGREE that feathers, or lack of them, in quality, or substance, can affect the look of a bird. So can a super abundance of unnecessary feathers.Unless you handle a bird, you never know.

It's rather like the old English vet certificates that were issued as to soundness in horses years ago. The amount of feathering should be "suitable to the use intended". I'm a firm believer in that. An Orp should be able to range in all kinds of weather, without being hindered by dragging, muddy skirts. HOWEVER....She should have enough density of skirt to successfully brood chicks in a cold, damp climate.

 

[3riverschick]

Wish I knew enough about Reds to comment on this since it sound so much like something I've said here about a hundred times. You found a Shilling reference to HRIR? I doubt it.

Well, I meant back when Schilling wrote that "Knowledge" book they were just plain RIR.
But now they are what we consider "Heritage RIR because of the passage of time. Right?
I hope I got that right...
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Thank you all for taking time to reply. A lot to think about in your sharings!
Regards,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Hi!
I think my 3 Light Sussex chicks might be a trio. I sure hope so. They are 1 month old today and the colors are just lovely
and vivid. I can't tell by comb and wattle. However, two have shorter tails and one has a lovely long tail (I think thsi might be my male).
Hoping,
Karen

 

[Pozees]

Hi!
I think my 3 Light Sussex chicks might be a trio. I sure hope so. They are 1 month old today and the colors are just lovely
and vivid. I can't tell by comb and wattle. However, two have shorter tails and one has a lovely long tail (I think thsi might be my male).
Hoping,
Karen

There is no emoticon for this I can find, but OMG OMG OMG ...
LOL