Hi folks,
I just wanted to say thank you for the link on EO forum for the draft SOP for EOs. I took the draft and revised the format to align with the format with which we are working to get cream legbars APA approved. The format may have been fine but it did not copy from the website in the appropriate format. I will post it below and on the EO forum.
I am planning to show my best cockerel in Ruther Glen at the VA Poultry Breeders Association Fall show. My two appropriately colored pullets that I considered showing turned out to have sprigs on their combs so they will not be making the trip. I will also be showing some cream legbars and ameraucanas; eleven birds total. After observing the quality of birds in the show in Frederick, MD last weekend, I became convinced that some of my birds could give a good run. This is my first ever attempt at showing so wish me luck!
The revised format SOP:
EUSKAL OILOA
(Proposed North American Standard of Perfection for the Euskal Oiloa (Basque Hen)
The following describes, to the best of our collective efforts, the North American breed standard for the Basque (Euskal oiloa) chicken as of January 2012. Of the 5 varieties recognized in the Basque Country only the marraduna color variety is described. To view the entire discussion please see http://forums.euskaloiloas.com/viewtopic.php?id=472
Euskal oiloa first came into being as a natural breed evenly distributed across farms of the historical territories of Bizkaia, Araba and Gipuzkoa of the Basque Country (Euskal Herria) of Spain. Recovery and preservation of this breed began in 1975 when Dr. Fernando Orozco and his team at the Department of Animal Genetics INIA recognized the devastating impact that the use of hybrid laying hens for commercial production of the regionally preferred brown shelled eggs was having on the native breed. Based on this work, Dr. Jose Antonio Mendizabal drafted the Spanish breed standard. The introduction of basque fowl into North America is relatively recent and the breed has attracted a following in Canada and the United States as a result of the combination of traits for hardiness, attractive color patterns, a friendly temperament, and good egg and meat producing properties.
ECONOMIC QUALITIES
A dual purpose medium weight fowl used for production of both meat and eggs. Color of skin, yellow; color of egg shell varying from very light to a rich brown depending on the individual, strain and stage of production.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
White in the ear-lobes. Shanks other than yellow.
STANDARD WEIGHTS
Cock…………………………8 lbs. Hens…………………………5.5 lbs.
Cockerel……………………..6.5 lbs. Pullet…………………………4.5 lbs.
SHAPE -- MALE
Comb:
Single, medium in size, straight and upright, firm and even on head with five to seven well-defined points. Blade slightly raised from the back of the neckline.
Beak:
Strong, vigorous and well curved.
Face: Smooth.
Eyes:
Large and oval.
Wattles:
Long, thin and smooth, with a rounded lower edge.
Ear-lobes:
Medium in size, lying close to the face, smooth and lanceolate.
Head:
Long and wide.
Neck:
Moderately long.
Back:
Broad, sloping slightly downward to the tail. Saddle feathers abundant and medium length.
Tail:
Moderately large. Carried at an angle of 45 degrees (45 °) above horizontal.
Main tail—feathers broad and overlapping.
Sickles—medium length, well arched.
Wings: Large, well-folded, held tightly to body.
Breast:
Broad, deep and well rounded.
Body and Fluff:
Body fairly developed.
Fluff—moderately full.
Legs and Toes:
Lower thighs strong and robust. Shanks rather long, thick, and heavy.
Toes—four on each foot.
SHAPE -- FEMALE
Comb:
Single, medium in size, straight and upright, firm and even on head with five to seven well-defined points. Blade slightly raised from the back of the neckline.
Beak:
Strong, vigorous, nicely curved.
Face: Smooth.
Eyes:
Large and oval.
Wattles:
Medium length, thin and smooth, with a well rounded lower edge.
Ear-lobes:
Rather small, lying close to the face, smooth and lanceolate.
Head:
Long and wide.
Neck:
Moderately long.
Back:
Broad, sloping slightly downward to the tail.
Tail:
Rather small. Carried at an angle of 35 degrees (35 °) above horizontal.
Wings:
Large, well-folded and held tightly to the body.
Breast:
Broad, deep and well rounded.
Body and Fluff:
Body fairly developed.
Fluff—moderately full.
Legs and Toes:
Lower thighs strong and robust. Shanks rather long, thick, heavy.
Toes—
four on each foot.
.
MARRADUNA BASQUE
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Entirely white or black feathers in the sickle or main tail feathers. Entirely white feathers in the the primary or secondary wing feathers.
COLOR -- MALE
Comb, Face, Wattles, and Ear Lobes: Bright Red.
Beak: Yellow.
Eyes: Brown.
Head:
Plumage, finely barred with white and golden-red.
Neck: Hackle—
Finely barred with white and light golden-red with a narrow black stripe, irregularly barred with white, extending down the middle of each feather.
Front of neck—same as breast.
Wings: Fronts and Bows—barred white and medium chestnut red.
Secondary coverts—barred white and dark golden-red.
Primaries—barred white and black with upper edge golden-red.
Primary coverts— black and white barred edged with golden-red.
Back: barred dark golden-red
Saddle—finely barred lustrous golden-red.
Tail: Main Tail—
alternating bars of black and white.
Sickle and Coverts—
the same as the main tail with lustrous greenish black. Coverts black and white barring, the white barring gradually turning to dark golden-red approaching the saddle.
Breast:
White and golden-red barred.
Body and Fluff:
Body irregularly barred with white and golden-red similar to the breast. Stern irregularly and indistinctly barred with white and golden-red.
Fluff—ivory.
Legs and Toes:
Lower thighs indistinctly barred with white and golden-red. Shanks and toes yellow.
Under-Color of All Sections: Ivory.
COLOR -- FEMALE
Comb, Face, Wattles, and Ear Lobes: Bright red.
Beak: Yellow.
Eyes: Brown.
Head: Golden-red.
Neck:
Dark golden-red. Lower neck feathers with a black stripe, slightly and irregularly barred with white, extending down the middle of each feather. Front of neck similar to breast.
Wings:
Front and bows dark golden-red. Bar and secondary’s golden-red. Primaries golden-red with lower web of first few primary feathers black transitioning to golden-red. Primary coverts black edged with golden-red. When the wing is folded in the natural position only the golden-red color shows.
Back: Golden-red.
Tail: Main Tails—
black edged with golden-red. Shaft golden-red.
Breast: Light golden-red.
Body and Fluff:
Light golden-red with faint and indistinct white barring. Stern irregularly and indistinctly barred with white and light golden-red. Fluff ivory.
Legs and Toes:
Lower thighs light golden-red. Shanks and toes yellow.
Under-Color of All Sections: Ivory.
