CSU - Chicken State University- Large Fowl SOP

[NYREDS]

Well I am not at all experienced with La Flèche yet. However there are some things I want to keep in mind.

#1 is size. Currently all of the stock seems underweight. Which is to be expected with lack of interest in recent history.

#2 is Breast shape, size and carriage. Most of the birds weight will be from this part of the body. The Standard seems to emphasize two major portions, the breast and the back. Both of which will correlate to each other. A thin back is not going to get you a thick breast. You need a thick body. The breast should extend well on the bird, I believe the standard uses the terms Full, Prominent. This will assist in #1 and adds a lot to the score of the bird overall.

#3 is the comb, which accounts for 10 points. Some may think, well, comb is not a big deal. A lot of judges may even think La Flèche comb is not a big deal. But to me it is, it sets up the rest of the head. A good comb is going to make the head look good. A good comb is going to make earlobes and wattle look good. A good comb is basically what will draw you to the head of the bird.


As far as the parts I like. Most of them seem to have good foundation shape. Good breasts, OK width. Combs can use some improvements on all, but I was not able to pick and choose the best combs from the person I bought them from. Their carriage is, for the most part, excellent. Most of the birds I got from him look good, minus the weight. In a few years I will likely have some great birds to take to shows. I am also concerned with the tipped flight and tails. Most of the La Flèche I have seen online have this. Its not a major issue, but it can be a DQ. I will probably work this out last, as will others. But it is something to concern ourselves over.

Sort of both. It was overgrown, and the portion that was not fleshed began to veer of to the side a bit. It has been trimmed to avoid damage to the beak.

I agree with your position on the comb. A comb flaw may be a relatively small point cut but at the same time the comb is very noticable & the eye can be drawn to that small point cut affecting the impression the bird makes. Judges & experienced breeds may be able to see past this but many people do not.

 

[cgmccary]

I agree with your position on the comb. A comb flaw may be a relatively small point cut but at the same time the comb is very noticable & the eye can be drawn to that small point cut affecting the impression the bird makes. Judges & experienced breeds may be able to see past this but many people do not.

I agree with you too. When you look at the La Fleche (esp. the male), your eyes are drawn to the comb. If it is all messed up, you cannot help but notice it. With my La Fleche, they are all undersized in about the same proportion so better for me to select for comb, whiteness of earlobe, wattle length. NYREDS, the SOP calls for a long wattle on the male La Fleche -- how do you discern what is long, medium, etc.?

 

[Freeholder]

I hope this thread hasn't died! I finally finished reading all of it, and am looking forward to the rest of the breeds! I've learned a LOT, even from reading about breeds I have no interest in owning. And it has encouraged me to get a copy of the SOP, though I may find a used one to start with, as from something Walt said, it sounds like there may be another edition in the not-too-distant future?

Kathleen

 

[gilavina]

I hope this thread hasn't died! I finally finished reading all of it, and am looking forward to the rest of the breeds! I've learned a LOT, even from reading about breeds I have no interest in owning. And it has encouraged me to get a copy of the SOP, though I may find a used one to start with, as from something Walt said, it sounds like there may be another edition in the not-too-distant future?

Kathleen

The last copy of the SOP came out in 2010, which is the most current. They usually are printed about every 10 years or so, so getting a 2010 copy will be your best bet. The thread is not dead, I'm just waiting til we move further in the Continental class to the Marans.

 

[fowlman01]

The printing of the next addition of the Standard is about 5 years away.

Walt

 

[Pozees]

I hope this thread hasn't died! I finally finished reading all of it, and am looking forward to the rest of the breeds! I've learned a LOT, even from reading about breeds I have no interest in owning. And it has encouraged me to get a copy of the SOP, though I may find a used one to start with, as from something Walt said, it sounds like there may be another edition in the not-too-distant future?

Kathleen

Take the oft-offered advice to read the first 40 pages, over and over again. Extremely educational.

 

[Freeholder]

Ok, thanks. Walt had mentioned that the standards group or committee was working on revisions, but I guess that probably takes a while!

Kathleen

 

[cgmccary]

WALT & NYREDS: on posts 2064 through post 2068, I have posted 5 cockerels (a side view and head on view) of 4 La Fleche Cockerels. If you have the time, would you tell me which comb, wattles & earlobes you like best on the 4 & why. Any other comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Some specific questions I have are:

(1) I noticed the SOP's definition of a V-Shaped comb is "a comb formed of two well defined hornlike sections joined at their base . . . " and the La Fleche comb is described as "V-shaped; rather large" -- Most people seem to want the horns standing upright -- does the orientation matter (other than preference)?

(2) The wattles on the La Fleche are described as "uniform, long, well rounded, pendulous." Some of mine are longer than others. Which one is most correct wattle length & shape?

Thanks in advance.
Chris

 

[Canieldonrad]

(1) I noticed the SOP's definition of a V-Shaped comb is "a comb formed of two well defined hornlike sections joined at their base . . . " and the La Fleche comb is described as "V-shaped; rather large" -- Most people seem to want the horns standing upright -- does the orientation matter (other than preference)?

This is something I'd like to know as well. I want to breed toward a flat, tight V shape. But it seems the upright V is very common and likely tends to be one of the variances that naturally occurs due to head structure. The Bantam Standard even includes an artists rendition of the head which shows upright tips.

Also, can you go in-depth with how point substitutions function. That is one of my main concerns, if judges even consider point substitution much anymore.

 

[cgmccary]

This is something I'd like to know as well. I want to breed toward a flat, tight V shape. But it seems the upright V is very common and likely tends to be one of the variances that naturally occurs due to head structure. The Bantam Standard even includes an artists rendition of the head which shows upright tips.

Also, can you go in-depth with how point substitutions function. That is one of my main concerns, if judges even consider point substitution much anymore.

I was thinking it is called a "V-shaped" and so should look like the letter "V," but then there is the narrow "V" and then there is a wide "V" -- what makes it a "V" and not a "U" is the joining of the two horns at the base?