Since Basque Hen is not recognized by the APA, there is no Official SOP (yet). Here's what we have so far...
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
BASQUE (EUSKAL OILOA)
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 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
Cockerel.....6.5 lbs
Hen...........5.5 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. Hackle abundant and flowing over the shoulders.
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 of medium length, well arched.
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.
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.
BACK: Barred dark golden-red. Saddle finely barred lustrous dark golden-red.
TAIL: Main tail alternating bars of black and white. Sickles 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.
WINGS: Front 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 white and black barred edged with golden-red.
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.
UNDERCOLOR 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.
BACK: Golden-red.
TAIL: Main tail black edged with golden-red. Shaft golden-red.
WINGS: Front and bows dark golden-red. Bar and secondaries 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.
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.
UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Ivory
Stay tuned on the EOF for results of this coming weekend's first meeting of the(unofficial)
North American EO Association. Following the meeting there will be a critique of My flock of 22 EOs (11C/11P).