Question about the APA Standard of Perfection

[LovinMyPeeps]

SO the description... "black and white feather covered bowling ball with yellow legs" to describe my favorite barred rock hen won't cut it eh? Bummer... I too have read "standards" on breeder and group websites and found myself delightfully confused. I'd like to start showing this year... I digress, may just be a matter of as you say "politics" and luck...

 

[Pathfinders]

Quote:
Winning shows is not a matter of politics and luck, far from it! It's a matter of hard work and dedication and preparation that starts months or even years ahead. If the same person in your area is winning shows time after time, perhaps you should consider what it is that person is doing to win. Chances are good they've studied their breed, looked over their birds with a critical eye and culled heavily, kept their birds in good condition all year long (not trying to make up in two weeks for poor conditions the rest of the year), fed their birds an appropriate ration, made sure they kept feathers in good condition, and a whole host of other things that are needed to produce a show winning bird, not the least of which is a very dedicated and educated breeding program.

 

[LovinMyPeeps]

I do keep my birds in optimum shape with good foods, appropriate treats and clean conditions. Our show always seems to favor orps. I love orps, but dont own any. I am looking forward to possiby buying a property that I am looking at that will give me even more room to have birds. I now have 8 birds on 1/4 acre and that for me is a good number. If I get the 9 acre farm with the renovated barn I can branch out and have more of a breeding program due to space. I refuse to crowd my birds to have a better show bird (plus they won't be "better" for long if they're crowded). My mutts are for eggs and I love them as much as my purebreeds, but right now I only have extra room to seperate out one breed from the others.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Maybe it's just me and the shows I've been to, but I've never seen a buff orpington make it to championship row. Perhaps your hen with the larger comb also has a better type? While I believe politics can have an impact on who wins, I do not believe it to be a prevailing occurance. Going by the oldest photos and drawings you can find might well find you breeding to a standard that is out of date--where the written description has changed.

 

[Rock N' Faverolles]

In my opinion, people should breed to what they interpret the standard to be for their chosen breed. They need to breed for that and not what is winning at shows (if it is different) and be happy with the outcome, win or lose. While I love looking at a bird with a perfect comb, people are focusing on this one detail way too much. As NYReds said, it is only a 1 or 2 point cut out of 100. Look at the overall bird. If you are dissatisfied with the judging, after the show, ask the judge as to why he placed the way he did. Also, using Orpingtons as an example (as that is what has been brought up recently) as far as type goes, make sure you know what the American standard says it is supposed to be and not the English standard. I know it's an English breed, but we are judged according to the American standard. If you want to breed to the English standard for body type that is your prerogative, just don't be upset if you don't do as well at shows. If you think the English standard is best, then start working at getting our standard changed.

David

 

[Chris09]

Medium as describing a comb, is quit large. Look at the comb description/ and line drawing in the American Standard of Perfection for the Leghorn, They are to have a "Medium" comb and look how big they are it isn't till you get in to Single Comb R.I. Red's, Delawares, Minorcas etc. when you start to see a "Large" comb.

Chris

 

[lildinkem]

I go by the pic of a Print. I trust that interpretation, or they would not have put it in the book.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
I agree, I breed to the USA Standard of Perfection for the Orp breed. I have yet to show. I don't really care what any judges think or APA Directors think of my opinion of how todays judging is being done. For those who do accurately interpret the Standard, I naturally have more respect for. And have bought birds from. I am not grouping all judges together. Just the ones who have no interest in the breed, or how to judge it.
I use the example of the comb, only cause others here have an issue of what a true MEDIUM Comb is. And apparently it doesn't not matter. Does that mean I will breed a larger Comb to win at a show. Nope, I will breed to what I think the breeds Standards of Perfection is. And I go by the pic of a Print. I trust that interpretation, or they would not have put it in the book.

And I go by the pic of a Print. I trust that interpretation, or they would not have put it in the book

Read in the front of the American Standard of Perfection.
2001 American Standard of Perfection page 1 under the picture of the artist it says and I quote:
"The color pictures in the Standard of Perfection are the artist's interpretation of the written description of each breed and variety portrayed. Their purpose is to give a general idea of each bird.
DO NOT take these portraits as examples of the perfect specimen. The written text is the description of the ideal bird."

Chris​

 

[lildinkem]

Well when I read the Standard and then look at that pic of the print, it looks good enough for me. At least a Medium Comb, looks like a medium comb in the print. And a Medium comb looks like a medium comb in the print from 1890. Those are two completely different artists interpretations of the same standard give or take.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Have not seen the latest Standard. Are the photos still from http://www.dianejacky.com ?