I agree Arie.I cannot remember a time I did not select for wide feathering in my large fowl.Many times what I like in the breeding pen,is based on what results I get and it is not much of a consideration according to the Standard,another words a breeding point rather than an exhibition feature. I prefer smaller combs as opposed to large ones,less serrated points on the comb instead of more,a high tail instead of a rainyday low tail,etc. . One area that does have an inpact on type that is often overlooked is the legs.The leg placement has a lot to do with tilt ,balance,and symmetry.The length of leg adds style and a cockerel or pullet should be a bit taller and rangey as they settle down with age.A short legged or squatty Leghorn does not have type or style.It belongs on a Dorking or Jap bantam. Feathering is a feature that is like a double edged sword.You do not want a lot of fluffy feathers or long underfluff.If you get the underfluff to short and hard feathered like games,you get the narrow feather with much reduced surface area and a rough look.You need a wide feather to avoid that frayed look and a feather with mostly shaft and little feather webbing.A male with narrow frayed tail and sickles looks wrong and can be a hard trait to eradicate.A leghorn is a longer feathered bird and a short tail does not look right,they should not have tail depresser genes. In the large fowl,I like to see back width,skull width,good breast muscles,and a good skelletal frame.I like some length of body,but I want the back filled in to give the concave backline.Always have the level carried,tight wing,it is especially important in Leghorn bantams to have level wings that are not so long they hang way out past the body. Dan Honour
