The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[waddles99]

Is there such a thing as too big of a tail? Some of these RIR have tails that are extremely disproportionate. I know the tails are supposed to be at certain angles and nice and full, but what if the tail just is too big?

 

[cmom]

Is there such a thing as too big of a tail? Some of these RIR have tails that are extremely disproportionate. I know the tails are supposed to be at certain angles and nice and full, but what if the tail just is too big?

Here is a picture of a champion at one of the shows. Again not the best picture but maybe it will help.

 

[waddles99]

The father of one of my RIR had a really long tail like that one...but the pullet from him (in my opinion) has a pretty nice tail. Its the bird in the profile pic. Even though her tail angle is closer to 0 than 10 i think her tail is nice and full.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Like number eight? Thanks.

I think you may be on to something. Out of all 9 birds, # 8 stood out to me. I found things I didn't like in all of the others... narrow at the tail, back too short, low wing carry, poor feathering, etc...

To be honest, I was starting to feel sorry for you... until I saw #8. I know pictures don't tell the whole story, and lighting and angles can change what the eye sees, but even so, I found flaws in all of them. Many people make the mistake of trying to pick the best looking bird(s) out of the flock, when it should be just the opposite. The trick to choosing the best bird(s) is to start from the bottom and work your way up. Pick out the one with the most flaws, and it becomes cull #1. Remove it from the others, and find the next bird with the most flaws.

 

[daxigait]

I think you may be on to something. Out of all 9 birds, # 8 stood out to me. I found things I didn't like in all of the others... narrow at the tail, back too short, low wing carry, poor feathering, etc...

To be honest, I was starting to feel sorry for you... until I saw #8. I know pictures don't tell the whole story, and lighting and angles can change what the eye sees, but even so, I found flaws in all of them. Many people make the mistake of trying to pick the best looking bird(s) out of the flock, when it should be just the opposite. The trick to choosing the best bird(s) is to start from the bottom and work your way up. Pick out the one with the most flaws, and it becomes cull #1. Remove it from the others, and find the next bird with the most flaws.

. Thanks. What I hoped for is kind of an evaluation of several of the better ones, and a list of obvious culls. I am hoping to learn from and to see what others see. I hope then to compare that to what I saw to help me learn what I am seeing and not seeing to evaluate my picks if that makes sense.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Is there such a thing as too big of a tail? Some of these RIR have tails that are extremely disproportionate. I know the tails are supposed to be at certain angles and nice and full, but what if the tail just is too big?

You are correct. Some birds have tails that are overdone. If the tail is too big, it shouldn't be used for breeding unless absolutely necessary.

The father of one of my RIR had a really long tail like that one...but the pullet from him (in my opinion) has a pretty nice tail. Its the bird in the profile pic. Even though her tail angle is closer to 0 than 10 i think her tail is nice and full.

Less than 10 degrees is always better than greater than 10 degrees. I like the looks of this girl, she has a good teepee tail, and the the angle (or lack thereof) of the tail compliments the flatness of her back.

 

[daxigait]

I like him too.

 

[cmom]

I like him too.

He will have to grow out more. He doesn't have the shape in the picture but again pictures can be somewhat deceiving.
Here are some of my boys from last year. I think they are a bit older than yours in this picture. I hope Matt posts some input. He has a great eye for the birds.

Here is one of the boys a young girl won champion in the youths with.

This is my girl that took a champion.

 

[waddles99]

You are correct. Some birds have tails that are overdone. If the tail is too big, it shouldn't be used for breeding unless absolutely necessary.

Less than 10 degrees is always better than greater than 10 degrees. I like the looks of this girl, she has a good teepee tail, and the the angle (or lack thereof) of the tail compliments the flatness of her back.

I wish I had the pic to show you. It was spectacular in a way, but it just looked so out of place on him. His tail was about 5 degrees so I think that contributed to his daughter having a pretty much nonexistent tail angle. I know the cocks are supposed to have about 20 degrees. I tried to get some feedback on her at a show last weekend but she was molting so it was hard. Her tail was pretty scrappy. There were so many feathers in her cage it looked like the scene of a hawk attack. Shouldn't have even brought her. The judges only comment was her feathers were too pointed.

 

[daxigait]

He will have to grow out more. He doesn't have the shape in the picture but again pictures can be somewhat deceiving. Here are some of my boys from last year. I think they are a bit older than yours in this picture. I hope Matt posts some input. He has a great eye for the birds. Here is one of the boys a young girl won champion in the youths with. This is my girl that took a champion.

Your birds are beautiful. He is up in the picture since I made a noise to get him to look, but he went way up. I hope Fred and Matt comment, but I know it is asking a lot. The birds were grabbed and tagged and so not very relaxed and photogenic.