Self Blue (Lavender) Orpington Proposed Standard Comment Thread

[HallFamilyFarm]

"From this moment forth, I vow to give my Gary the utmost in empty frivolity, to live by the standards of snail grooming set forth by...THAT guy!!" ~~ Spongebob Squarepants

I suppose I don't "get it".
Somewhere along the line, little groups of people got together and formed committees to tell OTHER people what their cats, dogs, and chickens should or shouldn't look like and decided for everyone else what perfection was.
Suppose the lavender orpington never reaches the standard of perfection set forth by...THAT guy! and the committee. As it stands, people love them. People think they are beautiful. I don't care what any judge or committee thinks. I don't need a group to tell me they are beautiful or desirable or that I should or shouldn't want them. For people like me, the only thing that matters is my own standard of perfection. If I ever sell chicks, it will be because people appreciate what I saw as beautiful or as perfection. They will take them and decide for themselves what THEY think is beautiful and what is perfection and breed their own accordingly.
I hope people don't stop breeding these birds based on the idea that they can't or won't get the approval of...THAT guy!
Whatever it is that is missing from these birds, well, I don't see it. My eye sees beauty. Period.

This thread is for those wishing to work on a breed/variety standard. No one is forcing anyone to breed a certain way. But if these are to be in the showroom, we must have a Standard.

 

[cubakid]

"From this moment forth, I vow to give my Gary the utmost in empty frivolity, to live by the standards of snail grooming set forth by...THAT guy!!" ~~ Spongebob Squarepants 

I suppose I don't "get it". 
Somewhere along the line, little groups of people got together and formed committees to tell OTHER people what their cats, dogs, and chickens should or shouldn't look like and decided for everyone else what perfection was.
Suppose the lavender orpington never reaches the standard of perfection set forth by...THAT guy! and the committee. As it stands, people love them. People think they are beautiful. I don't care what any judge or committee thinks. I don't need a group to tell me they are beautiful or desirable or that I should or shouldn't want them. For people like me, the only thing that matters is my own standard of perfection. If I ever sell chicks, it will be because people appreciate what I saw as beautiful or as perfection. They will take them and decide for themselves what THEY think is beautiful and what is perfection and breed their own accordingly.
I hope people don't stop breeding these birds based on the idea that they can't or won't get the approval of...THAT guy!
Whatever it is that is missing from these birds, well, I don't see it. My eye sees beauty. Period.

"That" guy you refer to is the oldest functioning livestock organization in the country. It's not just "little groups of people" it is a committee voted for and recognized for thier efforts in the interpretation of standards. "That guy" also doesn't decide what the birds should look like. The breeders submit the standards they see fit for a new breed or variety, and then have an exhibition showcase where a judge comes through and reads their standards and decides if the birds the exhibitors are showing fit the standards they set forth for thier own birds. Providing that there is no previous breed or variety that already already exists and your not trying to change it. The APA Standards Commitee is not a big bad man, just trying to preserve the strict standards set forth by predecessing breeders, an weed out something that is not up to its own standards.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:

"That guy" and I are lifetime friends! I am an Endowment Lifetime Member of the American Poultry Association. #195

 

[cubakid]

Good luck with the recognition process! I'd like to see the end result at the shows.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Good luck with the recognition process! I'd like to see the end result at the shows.

Before anyone files for acceptance, this new variety MUST be shown at many shows. Hoping folks start entering at least a few with their other varieties of Orpingtons.

 

[cowchick11]

I exhibited mine at a few shows this year and a few fairs. I will be breeding a few to my blacks this year to see what I get.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

I exhibited mine at a few shows this year and a few fairs. I will be breeding a few to my blacks this year to see what I get.

Did you ask the judge what he thought about their type? Breeding back to Black builds the type.

I was very happy with our juveniles type this year... until an "accident" cost us all but one. We added some "outside" new blood birds last week. So far they look good.

 

[cowchick11]

The judges that I had a chance to chat with said at the size at the time was good (during the summer). At ages about 4.5- 6.5 months. Shape was pretty good but needs to be deeper in the chest and broader over the back, length of back seemed good, this I know in comparing them to my good blacks. Their eyes did get darker as they got older but I think they should be just a smidge darker yet. I believe in looking at them at the last show and comparing them with the other birds that they will be small by a pound or two when they hit the hen and cock year mark. I have one really heavy cockerel and one really heavy pullet that look great. Breeding in small numbers but hoping to get the quality up a bit with my blacks. The judge at the last show mentioned the comb size on the cockerels, too big! The wattles are a little too big for me as well. The pullets have very nice combs and wattles.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

One more generation breeding back to Black amy get it for you. Keep us updated!

 

[SpringChicken]

How are the Lavenders doing in show now 2 years later? Still breeding?