Help with understanding APA in ducks Please? Geese too.

[Happy Quack]

I am interested in showing waterfowl and so is my kiddo. I was wondering if color is more important that conformation. Like in horse color is that important. It is more about the angles of the shoulders and hips, how long or short the back is ext. If someone could post conformation pics good and bad and let me know which is which that would be really helpful.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Gray Farms]

If your going to show and show in APA sanctioned shows I would highly recommend get a APA Standard of Perfection book. The breed descriptions are fairly precise on all factors and it has illustrations of the breeds. Its not really a clean cut, exactly as they should be kinda thing. It actually serves as a guideline for judges... and breeders. When ultimately it is up to the judge and every judge looks at different things in a bird. And some will pick a bird to win that another judge would not.

Confirmation and color are about a 50/50 split in the points. I would say a little off confirmation is better than a little off color. But either will loose you points. Major defects however will be huge deductions or disqualifications. Such as a gray feather in an Embden or a less than vertical stance in a Runner.

A little off topic but I'll add..........
If your just getting started in showing I would recommend starting with a solid colored breed. They tend to be much easier due to not having to concentrate on getting a pattern right. Like Pekins or Cayugas over Swedish or Magpies. And in the geese I'd recommend starting with a smaller, easier to handle breed. Such as Chinese or Romans over Embdens or Toulouse.

 

[Happy Quack]

Thanks

 

[drumstick diva]

You may also want to post on the "Duck thread," and the "Geese thread," just put that in the search box and it will come up for you. You may also wish to ask for guidance in choosing the right breed to start with.