Cubalaya Thread For Sharing Pics and Discussing Our Birds

[Jungleexplorer]

So this is a German white Cubalaya hens tail . This is my favorite picture ever of a lobster tail. I've never had one quite this good myself, so this is my ideal personally. Hope this helps.

This is exactly the image I had in my mind, even though I had never seen a picture of it. From what I have read, this tail shape is really the defining characteristic in the Cubalaya. Without this tail it would be not much different then the Yokahama with a shorter tail.

 

[bruceha2000]

Stan, the tail should have the wide spread like that, yes. Ideally it would be below horizontal as well. Above horizontal is a DQ.

I ASSUME that they are judging the tail angle when the bird is upright. My girls have tails up when their heads are down, as in the picture in question. Nicely down when they aren't foraging.

Bruce

 

[cubalaya]

not the best pics but you can see the tails are getting good.

 

[gallorojo]

Ok, for some of you newer to the breed, here is what the Standard has to say regarding the tail--



BACK: Broad it's entire length, sloping downward from base of neck to tip of tail, with sufficient saddle feathers to make, without break, a continuous unbroken line from base of neck to tip of tail, which is a characteristic of the breed.
TAIL: Long, broad, well-spread and carried below horizontal. The distance between the base of the tail and the end should be longer than between the base of tail and beak.
Sickles and Coverts -- long, abundant, drooping; many dragging on the ground.


Bruce- The tail angle being discussed is when the birds head is upright, not down when foraging, or when the birds are excited, etc. Think of the bird in a "normal' pose, as in all the Standard illustrations. Perching, cold, wet, or sick birds will have lower tails, as will older birds. Younger, excited, molting birds will have higher tails. So there is some degree of movement possible in tail angle, but, when relaxed and upright the angle should be such to give you the unbroken line as described above. There is a lot of variation possible in the tails without being disqualified, but, the Standard is clear on what the ideal tail is to look like.

Cubalaya- You have made great progress with your birds over the years, if you breed that white male with that white female you may get some super offspring.

 

[Jungleexplorer]

Ok, for some of you newer to the breed, here is what the Standard has to say regarding the tail--



BACK: Broad it's entire length, sloping downward from base of neck to tip of tail, with sufficient saddle feathers to make, without break, a continuous unbroken line from base of neck to tip of tail, which is a characteristic of the breed.
TAIL: Long, broad, well-spread and carried below horizontal. The distance between the base of the tail and the end should be longer than between the base of tail and beak.
Sickles and Coverts -- long, abundant, drooping; many dragging on the ground.


Bruce- The tail angle being discussed is when the birds head is upright, not down when foraging, or when the birds are excited, etc. Think of the bird in a "normal' pose, as in all the Standard illustrations. Perching, cold, wet, or sick birds will have lower tails, as will older birds. Younger, excited, molting birds will have higher tails. So there is some degree of movement possible in tail angle, but, when relaxed and upright the angle should be such to give you the unbroken line as described above. There is a lot of variation possible in the tails without being disqualified, but, the Standard is clear on what the ideal tail is to look like.

Cubalaya- You have made great progress with your birds over the years, if you breed that white male with that white female you may get some super offspring.

If you don't mind, could please explain how the standard define "Horizontal". Is it horizontal in respect to the ground level, or horizontal in respect to the angle of the back?

 

[4hmom]

in the bantam standard it says the male's tail should be 20 degress below and the females 25 degress i had one bantam with a tail who was 18 oz like that but she died last fall for no cause that we know of

 

[cubalaya]

nice explanation on the tail, gallo. you have to look at the bird when it is moving, excited, perched and standing to get an idea of how the tail is on a particular bird.

 

[gallorojo]

Horizontal in respect to the ground level. If you are unclear, look at the image in my avatar, that is the Schilling illustration from the old APA SOP. That would be the idealized version.

I will post some more pics.






German bred blue red male-note the UNBROKEN LINE of back and tail, and how it's all BELOW HORIZONTAL.





Another German bird, note how low the tail is held. This could just be because he is perching, but, it's a good example because at least in this picture the tail is so low as to break up the topline. Now, I like this bird a great deal, and would gladly use him in breeding myself, but, the first one is better. This 2nd guy would not be disqualified, but, so low can break the unbroken line.



My big mottled boy. I love this guy, but note the tail has a break in it, it is not a smooth unbroken line, it arches up slightly, then down. The whole thing is below horizontal, so not a DQ, but not ideal either.



Red Pyle bred by Troyer and gifted to me, tail is much longer now, but, notice the nice even smooth topline. Look how similar the back and tail angles are to the Schilling illustration in the SOP. Very nice IMHO.

I hope some of this helpful!!!

 

[tigercreek]

Very helpful Gallo, thanks. I like the 1st pic of the German bird, and that is close to what I have pictured in my mind as ideal. I think the angle in the back to neck area is due to his pose - he is against the fence and holding his head high. I guess I am looking for a more fluid line like the one in your avatar pic. My question was pointed more to the pullet or hen . I was asking not so much about the top line from the side view, but the plane of the tail when viewed from the back. I am accustomed to seeing an inverted 'V' shape with a wide base. But I think we are looking for more of a flat tail in the Cuba?? That is what I understand is the shrimp or lobster tail. That pyle has a good looking top line. I 'm thinking that he should make something with very good type. I am not big on Pyles , but am learning to like 'em........stan

 

[gallorojo]

Ok, I don't think the tail should be flat when viewed from the rear. I think more of an inverted shallow "U" as the ideal, although a "v" is fairly common and acceptable so long as it meets the requirements as stated in the Standard. Something like a. Game hen the tail folds vertically, the 2 halves meet. That is NOT what you want with the Cubas, the 2 halves should be folded out away from each other, but getting it perfectly flat is maybe impossible and maybe not desirable. Well spread, below the horizontal, plus long. You raise rocks, yes? The good show rocks have a tail shape exactly perfect for the Cubas, you just want them longer and lower, but that big wide spread and big cushion on top is what you want. So think show type white rock, but lower angle and twice as long .