Thank you for posting these photos.
I have the 1998 APA SOP of the 1932 black & white NH work by Schilling. He often took photos and air brushed the birds into perfection. I love his work BUT a B&W drawing does nothing to lend you any hint as to what COLOURs are being suggested by the artist and his interpretation of the SOP.
The 2010 APA SOP shows basically what I would call a "rich orange" overall colouration. I probably have worded that badly.
We are told to go by the "words" in the SOPs and I see along with black:
In your males: deep chestnut red, golden bay, reddish bay, medium red, & medium chestnut red.
In your females: medium chestnut red, & medium red.
I do not want to start up a debate but would like to find a "medium" ground area for an acceptable representation of the colour for the breed, as in a moderate expectation of the desired colourations.
I have asked & received permission from a person with NH's on BYC that has photos of clear, side views of some level standing birds to use as "general" examples.
I would like to find a few more photos of:
- Day old chicks, a group would be great to show if any variance in the chicks' down is exhibited.
- Adult female showing side standing level view with good expression of the SOP mentioned "lower neck feathers distinctly tipped with black." I find this characteristic FASCINATING and amazingly beautiful--like a lovely necklace!
I have no bias on this breed as I do not KNOW much about it past it displays a similar outward feather colour found in one of my own breed's unrecognized varieties that do not breed true. The chick down and undercolour of the adults holds some of the answers as to why your breed replicates true and the variety I have, does not. The one I am speaking of is eb/eWh in the e-series, so impure in this and six other mutations--which therefore then makes it pretty much a terminal cross.
I thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Kind regards,
Tara