Standard of Perfection

[fowlman01]

I started using the ABA leg bands last year. You have to order your bands early, they will run out of one size. That happened to me, had to order the next size larger.
I already have my bands for this year, I ordered early. You have to keep trying each week as the birds grow to get the bands to stay on. Now that I am using them, I can't see myself not using them. Those metal bands are just to clumsy and hard to read if they get bent a little bit.
Last year bands were bright yellow, this years bands are blue.
Also any bantam bird with the right size ABA band on, and that bird wins at an ABA, show gets a prize from the ABA.

The ABA seems to award those prizes with or without the band if you are a member. I am an ABA/APA judge and I have never been instructed to make any notes about a bird with an ABA seamless band. There is no special place on the ABA report form to note that....but I vaguely remember hearing that before.

I just checked the ABA judging instructions and don't see a note about seamless bands.

Walt

 

[fowlman01]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/400344/heritage-large-fowl-thread/4470


Need help to a question on Heritage Large Fowl Thread. Mr. Miller and Walt maybe you have the answer. bob

I posted my thoughts there Bob. I don't know the term you are looking for.

Walt

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Allen I believe you are right about the APA and ABA requiring a band on a bird to show it, but the difference is that it not a permanent band. A person can use a band that is temporary. A permanent band that is placed on the bird when young with enough room for growth to maturity can possibly create an identity that then would allow the individual bird to accumulate points toward particular awards or distinctions. As it is now exhibitors and breeders accumulate points for awards..

This was recently discussed on a different thread. APA and ABA do NOT require that birds be banded. Some shows (and it seems to be regional) say that they should be banded, but the reality is that no one checks. The only time I have seen judges actually use bands is in identifying one of the two females in a trio (such as awarding BV, etc.)

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Fabulous thread, Dr. Miller! Thank you for starting it. What you say totally resonates with me. Now, for my stupid question. I am not yet educated in genetics but trying to improve that. I have a question about Marans and egg colour. You mentioned that a 6 year old hen will be laying lighter eggs. Assuming that she is a good all-round bird (type meets SOP) and laid a very dark egg earlier in her life, is she likely to pass that initial darkness on to her off-spring even if it is hatched out of her now lighter egg?

I'm also very interested in your comments on incubation so I'm heading over to that thread next!!!

(I'm also proud to say that I do own a copy of the SOP - and I've read the pages suggested by Walt MANY times over. I am also a member of the APA as well as a couple of breed organizations. An interesting aside - I was told by APA judge, Troy Laroche, to try to track down a old copy of the SOP with the black and white illustrations. He believes the black and white illustrations are better learning tools than the new colour ones - that it is easier to evaluate the shape and form of the birds in the black and white illustrations.)

 

[checoukan]

The ABA seems to award those prizes with or without the band if you are a member. I am an ABA/APA judge and I have never been instructed to make any notes about a bird with an ABA seamless band. There is no special place on the ABA report form to note that....but I vaguely remember hearing that before.

I just checked the ABA judging instructions and don't see a note about seamless bands.

Walt

I don't know thought I read it on the ABA website. I have never shown any of my birds. I will be getting my feet wet next month at a small show.
All of my rosecombs are in breeder pens. So feather condition will not be good. But, I have to get chicks on the ground now for the fall shows I do want to attend.
Rosie

 

[fowlman01]

Fabulous thread, Dr. Miller! Thank you for starting it. What you say totally resonates with me. Now, for my stupid question. I am not yet educated in genetics but trying to improve that. I have a question about Marans and egg colour. You mentioned that a 6 year old hen will be laying lighter eggs. Assuming that she is a good all-round bird (type meets SOP) and laid a very dark egg earlier in her life, is she likely to pass that initial darkness on to her off-spring even if it is hatched out of her now lighter egg?

I'm also very interested in your comments on incubation so I'm heading over to that thread next!!!

(I'm also proud to say that I do own a copy of the SOP - and I've read the pages suggested by Walt MANY times over. I am also a member of the APA as well as a couple of breed organizations. An interesting aside - I was told by APA judge, Troy Laroche, to try to track down a old copy of the SOP with the black and white illustrations. He believes the black and white illustrations are better learning tools than the new colour ones - that it is easier to evaluate the shape and form of the birds in the black and white illustrations.)

Troy tells you all kinds of things........hahaha. I agree that the B/W illustrations are more accurate, but they do not give you a sense of color and where it is located. The main thing is that they never sold....we sold them all off for $10. just to get them out of inventory. The B/W's were done by Schilling, so they are pretty accurate.

The 2010 SOP has 80 new illustrations by Katherine Plumer. They can be viewed at her web site....Goggle Katherine Plumer. She is as close to Schilling as the APA can afford.
Let me know what you think.

Walt

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Troy said the same thing about the accuracy of the B/W's. We are very lucky to have someone with Troy's experience in our area - and so generous with his time and knowledge. I have the new 2010 SOP and it's the only one I have. I haven't seen the B/W version. I just joined the APA last year. I have only had chickens for 4 years. I still have TONS of learning to do. But I'm trying to soak it up wherever I can!

 

[fowlman01]

Troy said the same thing about the accuracy of the B/W's. We are very lucky to have someone with Troy's experience in our area - and so generous with his time and knowledge. I have the new 2010 SOP and it's the only one I have. I haven't seen the B/W version. I just joined the APA last year. I have only had chickens for 4 years. I still have TONS of learning to do. But I'm trying to soak it up wherever I can!

He is a very good judge.....pick his mind when you can. He is also a genuine good guy.

Walt

 

[culler]

I believe I read in the ABA literature that they give a cash award AT the ABA National meet. Seems as though they sell several of the Bands and I believe they sell out every year.

 

[Robert Blosl]

Thanks Walt for the post I dont know what the heck its called either maybe Mr. Miller has heard of it or maybe there is no term for doing this.
I love my black and white standard which I bought when I was a kid in the 1960s. You can pick some of these up some times on ebay. bob