Standard of Perfection

[cowchick11]

Wanted to make a quick comment on the availability of the SOP. I am reviewing my new 2010 copy and so far the first 5-10 pages have really not changed, not a surprise, from what I remember when I was in 4-H. I really studied this front part a lot for biology and advanced bio in high school.
So some questions perhaps that should go to those way higher up than myself in the APA (I'm a member). Is there a short manual with just the first 3-45 or so pages to make the "basics" more accessible? If it was accessible would people use it? Are some of us just people in the know or is the SOP really that hard to find? Sorry, I just think that with all the technology today it should be easy to find the SOP. Maybe people just don't understand what it is when they find it?
While I realize that a book on tape version of the SOP would not have the full benefit of the visuals has the APA thought about putting the SOP into an electronic version? E-book or something like that? Now though, because of what was posted I think I may buy a SOP to donate to the local (multi-county) library to spread the wealth and poultry knowledge as this is once again a quickly growing hobby.

 

[NC Giants]

Good thread. Just got some Barred Rocks from matt & sgribble at the Newnan Show. Looking forward to seeing how these birds finish growing out. Have had Black Giants for @ 5 years. Know more now than back when i started, but still have lots of ????????s

 

[Robert Blosl]

That is a excellent idea to buy a current APA standard of perfection and donate it to your local Li bray. Then when someone suck as a beginner goes to the farm or Agriculture section they could check it out and read it at home. I have bought some great Fly Fishing Books off Amazon and have about 20 to donate to our local library. Some members of our local fly fishing club are also donating some of their books and DVDs to go into this section. Then when a youngster goes to read about this subject he or she will have many great books to look at and read. This is how hobby's keep on going in all different sections of interest.

In regards to a standard buy computer or book form you got to think about the cost for the APA. They are not rich and do the best they can. How to get one is easy as most Poultry Supply company's and even hatcheries that advertise on this web site sell standards as the American Poultry Association sells them. I have not tried Amazon but they may sell it as well. I have a old standard going back to 1964 with black and white pictures. I currently raise White Rock Large Fowl and have the photo copy pictures hanging up in my chicken house for me to always glance at. This way I am always in the zone for type and try to look at different birds and come up with special mat tings. I love to take a bird with faults but with strengths and find a mate for them. That has been my method of breeding better birds each year and then if you get these traits fixed they stay with you for many years to come.

There are some old standards on the Internet which cover the breeds such as Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes that I love to read. The basic stuff is in front of the book that means more to me and then the breed that I like such as Rocks and Reds. Hope more will try to get a standard or even get one on Local Library Loan that another library may have for you to read and look at. bob

 

[fowlman01]

The APA has not done a digital version of the SOP because ten seconds after they did it, the SOP would be up for grabs for anyone who wants to lift it off the web. The APA already has problems with people scanning it and offering it for sale or for free. It has happened on this site...more than once.

I just googled "APA Standard" and the APA site was right there and that is one of the places you can buy one. I think people are saying they can't find a free SOP.

The APA Standard is one of the few ways the APA makes any money, putting it in digital form would be shooting themselves in the foot.

Walt

 

[colby318]

I was able to purchase a SOP from amazon for my kindle fire. The nice thing is I can sync it across our Ipad and PC. It's the 1937 (?) edition. The pics of the birds are black/white and there's no blue wyandottes. Not bad for $7.99

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

The APA has not done a digital version of the SOP because ten seconds after they did it, the SOP would be up for grabs for anyone who wants to lift it off the web. The APA already has problems with people scanning it and offering it for sale or for free. It has happened on this site...more than once.

I just googled "APA Standard" and the APA site was right there and that is one of the places you can buy one. I think people are saying they can't find a free SOP.

The APA Standard is one of the few ways the APA makes any money, putting it in digital form would be shooting themselves in the foot.

Walt

Several breed clubs got caught placing the entire breed Standard on their websites. The SOP only cost $59 postage paid from the APA website at http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/APA_ShoppingMall3.htm As walt said, the sales of the SOP is the main source of income for the APA. It would be destructive to allow it in a downloadable form that folks could easily share by email. This was discussed at Crossroads. It just is not finacially wise to publish the SOP in any other format than it currently is in.

I have had folks email me, wanting just the orpington Standard...or the Turkey Standard. I will gladly help anyone with their questions. Simple questions like proper color of eye, shank etc I will provide the answer. Hey, I will give someone the entire SOP, freely..... one partial sentence at a time. But to get the entire breed Standard, I send them to http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/APA_ShoppingMall3.htm

I was able to purchase a SOP from amazon for my kindle fire. The nice thing is I can sync it across our Ipad and PC. It's the 1937 (?) edition. The pics of the birds are black/white and there's no blue wyandottes. Not bad for $7.99

Owning an antique SOP would be nice. But small things change over time. It is nice to have an antique copy of the SOP, but for breeding to today's Standard, you really need a copy of the current Standard of Perfection. Its well worth the $59 we spent on it!

 

[fowlman01]

There have been significant changes since 1937. The blue Orp was recognized by the APA in 1923, so that is another reason why the old ones are only good for collecting. The blue Orp should be in there if it was recognized 14 years earlier than the publication date.

Walt

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

There were changes just from the 2001 edition. New breeds/varieties, etc.

 

[capayvalleychick]

It's been over a week since JA Miller has posted. I hope that he is ok.

Kim

 

[fowlman01]

There were changes just from the 2001 edition. New breeds/varieties, etc.

There are 60+ new illustrations, several revisions and one new species in three colors in the 2010 edition.

Walt