Andalusions should have a high station. The Spanish, obviously, liked birds with a high station. I like the proud look of look of the Spanish breeds. They act how they look to. Well, most of them at least. Concerning type, would an Andalusion be an Andalusion without a high station? They would not be an Andalusion if they had a level back.
I was going to take a moment and comment on dragonlady's birds. I am intimately familiar with them. They are not my style (too much feather for my tastes), but for those that do fancy them, they are excellent birds. They are well bred, healthy, and vigorous. They have very manageable personalities, and are a pleasure to own. They are also more attractive in person, on green grass, than in a picture. They are big beautiful birds. The feather makes them appear larger than what they are, but they are still big birds. Their personalities remind me of my New Hampshire.
Another comment on type. When it comes to pure breeds, I admire good type. Even in production birds, a pure breed should have good type. A mixed breed should have good laying type etc. A flock of well bred birds have consistency concerning type. Production birds do not necessarily have to be as refined concerning color. They should still have good type.
I have a couple old photos of some utility light Sussex on pasture. Their color is not bad, but not necessarily for exhibition. They do have excellent type, and better type than many exhibition birds. If I was to judge between the two, I would certainly have to choose the former.
If we took the time to handle a flock of commercial sex links, we will find a consistency in type. Even among different lines. Feather quality is poor, poor combs, pinched tails, etc. Still excellent laying type. Just nothing other than what is necessary for laying eggs. Then, they are not famous for health and longevity. Something that is important to someone that is concerned with sustainability.
Someone mentioned the topic of crosses a bit ago, and Tony posted some pictures of one. I like traditional simple crosses. Where someone could accommodate two breeds, and do well by them. Also utilize the benefits of the cross. There is a number of possibilities. New Hampshire x Barred Rocks or Delaware, Reds x Light Sussex etc. The offspring make better dual purpose birds than the commercial hybrids. That is if the parents have good size and type. Of course the parents being good layers of big eggs would be important.
Regardless of the purpose, well bred birds are still the goal.
I was going to take a moment and comment on dragonlady's birds. I am intimately familiar with them. They are not my style (too much feather for my tastes), but for those that do fancy them, they are excellent birds. They are well bred, healthy, and vigorous. They have very manageable personalities, and are a pleasure to own. They are also more attractive in person, on green grass, than in a picture. They are big beautiful birds. The feather makes them appear larger than what they are, but they are still big birds. Their personalities remind me of my New Hampshire.
Another comment on type. When it comes to pure breeds, I admire good type. Even in production birds, a pure breed should have good type. A mixed breed should have good laying type etc. A flock of well bred birds have consistency concerning type. Production birds do not necessarily have to be as refined concerning color. They should still have good type.
I have a couple old photos of some utility light Sussex on pasture. Their color is not bad, but not necessarily for exhibition. They do have excellent type, and better type than many exhibition birds. If I was to judge between the two, I would certainly have to choose the former.
If we took the time to handle a flock of commercial sex links, we will find a consistency in type. Even among different lines. Feather quality is poor, poor combs, pinched tails, etc. Still excellent laying type. Just nothing other than what is necessary for laying eggs. Then, they are not famous for health and longevity. Something that is important to someone that is concerned with sustainability.
Someone mentioned the topic of crosses a bit ago, and Tony posted some pictures of one. I like traditional simple crosses. Where someone could accommodate two breeds, and do well by them. Also utilize the benefits of the cross. There is a number of possibilities. New Hampshire x Barred Rocks or Delaware, Reds x Light Sussex etc. The offspring make better dual purpose birds than the commercial hybrids. That is if the parents have good size and type. Of course the parents being good layers of big eggs would be important.
Regardless of the purpose, well bred birds are still the goal.
