Question about the "Columbian" look

[BeccaOH]

I saw some Columbian Wyandottes and really liked them. I have SLW and GLW, and adding the CW seemed a natural choice.

But then I saw Delaware and now I've seen Columbian Plymouth Rocks -- and I'm confused. Perhaps the local flock I admired were not Columbian Wyandottes after all (I was driving by and didn't talk to the owners).

So, tell me how you tell these breeds of Columbian featherings apart. Is there one original Columbian breed or a heritage Columbian to preserve? I had heard that "Columbian" was traced back to the Chicago World's Fair.

I'm confused and curious.

Thanks

 

[halo]

Well, Columbian Wyandottes would have rose combs, Columbian Rocks would have single combs. I think they would be about the same size, Wyandottes maybe having a bit heavier and rounder body. I think the Delawares are bigger birds than the Wyandottes or Rocks.

 

[speckledhen]

Delawares have barring in the hackles, completely different from straight Columbian types like Brahmas, etc. Some hatcheries must have thought they were interchangeable and bred Columbian Rock blood into Delaware lines and ruined the Delawares of today, IMO.


See the barring in the hackles on my Del cockerel? Rocks and other Columbians like Brahmas do not have that type barring.

 

[Krys109uk]

The columbian pattern is available in lots of breeds. Each breed has certain characteristics, standard for that particular breed, which set the breed apart from other breeds.

 

[speckledhen]

Krys is completely right--there is more than the color involved in the standard for that breed. Body type, tail set, leg color, eye color, etc. all come into play.

 

[BeccaOH]

Okay, I'm starting to see the bigger picture. Researched the Brahmas and Light Sussex patterns. And here I thought the Columbian Wyandotte was totally unique in its feathering. LOL

Thanks.

ETA: I think I'm prejudiced against an all white chicken, but I like the B&W combo.

 

[3KillerBs]

Quote:
What a gorgeous rooster!

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you! Isaac is still young, about 25 weeks old, but he's a good boy. Sorted through about 15 Delaware cockerels in two hatches to get to one like him.

 

[halo]

I never knew that about Delawares, Cyn, how interesting! Ill sure look at Delawares differently now.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Breed and variety are not interchangeable terms. Most breeds occur in multiple varieties, although some varieties are mroe popular than others. Most varieties occur in numerous breeds, although there may be slight differences from one breed to the next. The Bantam Standard describes the barring pattern a dozen times (it seems like, probably a bit less than that) to account for differences between breeds, and also for similar, but not quite the same, patterns such as cuckoo and crele.