This is a thread of common defects among the various types of chickens. Please feel free to post photos, I'll then add them to the OP so we have a nice list. I don't have a huge amount of birds, so I'll only be able to post a few pictures. Full credit will be given to the owner(s) of the photographs.
Clear pictures of the area please! Like, if your bird has a split wing please take a picture of the wing and not a photo of the entire bird.
The birds being photographed do not have to be purebred or show quality.
Please do not post photos that are larger than 640x480
oh, and please post to remind me if I forgot something!
Thanks!!
Mottie
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Combs-
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Single comb
A correct large single comb, but the size is a defect in certain breeds that require a smaller comb, such as this leghorn. Photo (C) to Attack Chicken, used with permisson
Cockerel exhibiting a "beefy" comb with far too many points. Also twisted. Photo (C) to bluemottie
Rose comb
A female wyandotte bantam exhibiting a correct rosecomb for that breed. For general referance of rosecombs. Photo (C) to Attack Chicken, used with permission
A cockerel showing a double spike. Birds with this defect should not be used for breeding. Photo (C) MsBear, used with permission
A cock with a rough rosecomb, notice the pointy, spiky surface. Photo (C) to ameracanachick, used with permission
V-comb
Pea comb
Preferred pea comb- as required for the standard for that breed (araucana). Photo (C) to amazondoc, used with permission
Straight and tall pea comb (as opposed to a flat pea comb, as seen above.) Photo (C) to amazondoc, used with permission
Tall and floppy pea comb. Photo (C) to amazondoc, used with permission
Tall and twisted pea comb. Photo (C) to amazondoc, used with permission .
Walnut comb
Cushion comb
Strawberry comb
Comb Swap
(Birds with an incorrect type of comb)
Standard cochin cockerel with a pea comb. The correct comb type for cochins, either bantam or standard is a single comb as seen above. Photo (C) to HappyMt, used with permission
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Head (beak/wattles/eyes/earlobes)
Droopy, "basset hound" eyes-notice the lower lid droop. Photo (C) to onthespot, used with permission
A young wyandotte pullet with a deformed beak. Caused by either genetics or fluctuations of humidity during incubations, which was the cause in this case. Photo (C) to Attack Chicken, used with permission
A silkie cockerel with a crooked (crossed/scissor) beak, where the upper portion of the beak is crossed over the lower half, or vice versa. Caused by genetics or by fluctuations in humidity and temperature during incubation. Birds that hatch with severe crossed beaks often do not survive long as they cannot eat. Photo (C) to onthespot, used with permission
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Wing and wing feathers (primaries/secondaries/coverts/wing bow)
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Legs (shanks/toes/spurs) -birds with four toes
Showgirl (all five toes, as required) crooked middle toes Photo (c) to bluemottie
Another bird with crooked toes. Photo (C) to Jester's Eye, used with permission
Ungual Osteodystrophy-Missing or deformed tonail, usually on the middle toe, sometimes actually shortening the toe. Heritable, not simple recessive or dominant, several genes involved. Photo (C) to jenjscott, used with permission.
Rooster with spur growth on only one side, other side small and nubby. Photo (C) bluemottie
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Legs (shanks/toes) -birds with five toes
Showgirl pullet exhibiting four toes; five required
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Tail (Sickles/main tail feathers/saddle area/uropogyial gland area)
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Keel/Breast area
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Feathers
Foreign colors-very small quantities are acceptable, but the feather should never be more than 1/2 the undesired color. Photo (C) to bluemottie
(Farthest bird back in the picture) An example of a color impurity, where an underlying red leaks through, such as on the wing of this ameraucana rooster. Photo (C) onthespot, used with permission
Dark colored bird with white tipped feathers - NOT a mottled or spangled variety - a common occurance in black birds, featherlegged black birds can have white tips on the leg feathers. Photo (C) to jensjscott, used with permission
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Clean legged birds
Clean legged four week old with feathered legs and stubs
Photo (C) to bluemottie
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Feather legged birds (faverolles/langshan not included)
Feather legged bird exhibiting a lack of feathering down the middle toe-also showing an infected stub. (NOT a langshan/faverolle)
Photo (C) to bluemottie
Off-color feathers in feather legged breeds, most commonly white feathers in blue or black varieties. Photo (C) silkiechick05, used with permission
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Feather legged birds (faverolle/langshan birds)
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Crested Breeds
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Silkie feathered birds
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"Bob" tailed birds (cochins/silkies/showgirls/etc)
Cochin bantam with main tail feathers-hard shafted feathers that are not pliable and should not exist in these breeds. Photo (C) bluemottie
Showgirl cockerel with main tail feathers as well. Photo (C) bluemottie
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Games
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Unique birds (sumatra/junglefowl/etc-birds with specifics requirements; sumatra must have three spurs, blabla)
Silkie with off-color skin. A dark purple color is required to be shown. Photo (C) to Catwalk, used with permission
Cock feathers in males of hen feathered breeds, such as this sebright. Photo (C) to Poultry Master, used with permission
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Universal Disqualifications
"Disqualifications:
All Breeds and Varieties-
Specimen lacking in breed characteristics.
Definite indications of contagious or communicable diseases.
Evidence of Faking.
More than 20% eather up or down from weight listed for its breed,sex and age.''
-Chris09
Clear pictures of the area please! Like, if your bird has a split wing please take a picture of the wing and not a photo of the entire bird.
The birds being photographed do not have to be purebred or show quality.
Please do not post photos that are larger than 640x480
oh, and please post to remind me if I forgot something!
Thanks!!
Mottie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Combs-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Single comb
A correct large single comb, but the size is a defect in certain breeds that require a smaller comb, such as this leghorn. Photo (C) to Attack Chicken, used with permisson
Cockerel exhibiting a "beefy" comb with far too many points. Also twisted. Photo (C) to bluemottie
Rose comb
A female wyandotte bantam exhibiting a correct rosecomb for that breed. For general referance of rosecombs. Photo (C) to Attack Chicken, used with permission
A cockerel showing a double spike. Birds with this defect should not be used for breeding. Photo (C) MsBear, used with permission
A cock with a rough rosecomb, notice the pointy, spiky surface. Photo (C) to ameracanachick, used with permission
V-comb
Pea comb
Preferred pea comb- as required for the standard for that breed (araucana). Photo (C) to amazondoc, used with permission
Straight and tall pea comb (as opposed to a flat pea comb, as seen above.) Photo (C) to amazondoc, used with permission
Tall and floppy pea comb. Photo (C) to amazondoc, used with permission
Tall and twisted pea comb. Photo (C) to amazondoc, used with permission .
Walnut comb
Cushion comb
Strawberry comb
Comb Swap
(Birds with an incorrect type of comb)
Standard cochin cockerel with a pea comb. The correct comb type for cochins, either bantam or standard is a single comb as seen above. Photo (C) to HappyMt, used with permission
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head (beak/wattles/eyes/earlobes)
Droopy, "basset hound" eyes-notice the lower lid droop. Photo (C) to onthespot, used with permission
A young wyandotte pullet with a deformed beak. Caused by either genetics or fluctuations of humidity during incubations, which was the cause in this case. Photo (C) to Attack Chicken, used with permission
A silkie cockerel with a crooked (crossed/scissor) beak, where the upper portion of the beak is crossed over the lower half, or vice versa. Caused by genetics or by fluctuations in humidity and temperature during incubation. Birds that hatch with severe crossed beaks often do not survive long as they cannot eat. Photo (C) to onthespot, used with permission
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wing and wing feathers (primaries/secondaries/coverts/wing bow)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legs (shanks/toes/spurs) -birds with four toes
Showgirl (all five toes, as required) crooked middle toes Photo (c) to bluemottie
Another bird with crooked toes. Photo (C) to Jester's Eye, used with permission
Ungual Osteodystrophy-Missing or deformed tonail, usually on the middle toe, sometimes actually shortening the toe. Heritable, not simple recessive or dominant, several genes involved. Photo (C) to jenjscott, used with permission.
Rooster with spur growth on only one side, other side small and nubby. Photo (C) bluemottie
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Legs (shanks/toes) -birds with five toes
Showgirl pullet exhibiting four toes; five required
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tail (Sickles/main tail feathers/saddle area/uropogyial gland area)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keel/Breast area
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feathers
Foreign colors-very small quantities are acceptable, but the feather should never be more than 1/2 the undesired color. Photo (C) to bluemottie
(Farthest bird back in the picture) An example of a color impurity, where an underlying red leaks through, such as on the wing of this ameraucana rooster. Photo (C) onthespot, used with permission
Dark colored bird with white tipped feathers - NOT a mottled or spangled variety - a common occurance in black birds, featherlegged black birds can have white tips on the leg feathers. Photo (C) to jensjscott, used with permission
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clean legged birds
Clean legged four week old with feathered legs and stubs
Photo (C) to bluemottie
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Feather legged birds (faverolles/langshan not included)
Feather legged bird exhibiting a lack of feathering down the middle toe-also showing an infected stub. (NOT a langshan/faverolle)
Photo (C) to bluemottie
Off-color feathers in feather legged breeds, most commonly white feathers in blue or black varieties. Photo (C) silkiechick05, used with permission
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Feather legged birds (faverolle/langshan birds)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crested Breeds
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Silkie feathered birds
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Bob" tailed birds (cochins/silkies/showgirls/etc)
Cochin bantam with main tail feathers-hard shafted feathers that are not pliable and should not exist in these breeds. Photo (C) bluemottie
Showgirl cockerel with main tail feathers as well. Photo (C) bluemottie
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Games
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unique birds (sumatra/junglefowl/etc-birds with specifics requirements; sumatra must have three spurs, blabla)
Silkie with off-color skin. A dark purple color is required to be shown. Photo (C) to Catwalk, used with permission
Cock feathers in males of hen feathered breeds, such as this sebright. Photo (C) to Poultry Master, used with permission
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Universal Disqualifications
"Disqualifications:
All Breeds and Varieties-
Specimen lacking in breed characteristics.
Definite indications of contagious or communicable diseases.
Evidence of Faking.
More than 20% eather up or down from weight listed for its breed,sex and age.''
-Chris09
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