The Wyandotte Thread

[tennesseeckn]

Check out http://www.wyandottebreedersofamerica.net/wyandottestandard.htm

So, maybe can answer a question for me. I've entered two shows and am completely new. If a Wyandotte is entered that has perfect type, perfect lacing, perfectly yellow legs and perfect eye color, but had a single comb, would it beat a Wyandotte that has bad lacing and is big and scrawny and lanky, but has a rose comb?

It's completely hypothetical, but I've wondered if a bird could win best of variety or breed without having one of the most obvious characteristics of the breed. Like, when I think of Wyandottes I picture rose combs, when I think of Cochins I picture feathered legs, and so on...

When you mentioned the point system I thought you might be the one to ask.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I too am new to this, but my understanding is that a wrong comb for the breed is a DQ. Marans should not have Pea combs and Wyandottes should not have straight combs. They should be DQ and the other qualities should not matter.

Edited to add From the Marans SOP thread

Disqualification of head

Comb foreign to breed

 

[tennesseeckn]

I too am new to this, but my understanding is that a wrong comb for the breed is a DQ. Marans should not have Pea combs and Wyandottes should not have straight combs. They should be DQ and the other qualities should not matter.

Ahhhh... I've never really paid attention to the difference between a fault and disqualifications. In my mind they both translated to "bad". I'll sleep better tonight knowing that I would be able to recognize show winners.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I will go back to lurking till I can grow me up some wyandottes to play with

 

[WyandotteTX]

As many old Wyandotte breeders have told me......"you have to build the barn first before you paint it".
Referring to having the correct type of a Wyandotte, which would include the comb in my judgement, before you worry about what color it is.
If a bird is marked up great but isnt shaped like or resemble a Wyandotte, how could you call it that?
Please dont mistake my directness as being rude either. Just trying to share some lessons from my years with Wyandottes and breeders.
The Breed of Wyandotte is typified by its broad skull, wide comb and body of curves among other things.
John

 

[sixpugs]

Ahhhh... I've never really paid attention to the difference between a fault and disqualifications. In my mind they both translated to "bad". I'll sleep better tonight knowing that I would be able to recognize show winners.

While they are both bad, no bird is perfect. While it might have a minor fault in the comb, eye color or a couple off colored feathers, it might otherwise be a decent quality bird. A disqualification is what it is...........the bird is out. At my first show, I had a nice little white hen. I never knew to check for stubbs (tiny feathers in the toes, web etc.) Well, the judge was death on stubbs, saw this minute feather and DQ'ed my hen. On the other hand, I had a beautiful Silver Pencilled Rock bantam cockerel. His comb was missing a couple of the points (they're supposed to have 5, he had 3). Now he didn't get DQ'ed, but it cost him the difference between a Best Of Breed & a Reserve Breed. He was that good otherwise.
Breed type is very important, as Wyandottetx said....Wyandottes are a breed of curves. The rounded body, short curved beak, rosecomb are breed hallmarks. The lanky, perfectly marked specimen would not place either, being knocked down for lack of type.
Single combs occur in Wyandottes from time to time. Astute breeders cull them in one way or another. One good thing about an occasional single comb (told to me by an old time breeder) is that the fertility from that line might be a little stronger than lines without them. That does not mean to breed them into your line or keep them and breed them, just don't kick out the production plant for one bad batch!

Jill

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: Not having the right points is not a DQ just a fault. A bad comb on a otherwise perfect bird is ok.....the WRONG comb is a different story. Thing not normal to the breed would be a DQ.... Marans without feathers is a DQ, Some DQ are breed specific and are listed in the SOP with each breed. Some DQ are just across the board on all breeds.

 

[tennesseeckn]

As many old Wyandotte breeders have told me......"you have to build the barn first before you paint it".
Referring to having the correct type of a Wyandotte, which would include the comb in my judgement, before you worry about what color it is.
If a bird is marked up great but isnt shaped like or resemble a Wyandotte, how could you call it that?
Please dont mistake my directness as being rude either. Just trying to share some lessons from my years with Wyandottes and breeders.
The Breed of Wyandotte is typified by its broad skull, wide comb and body of curves among other things.
John

Please don't apologize. I love these types of discussions. I'm a newbie and there aren't a lot of people around here willing to discuss breeding goals. I've got a lot to learn.

I received a single comb SLW from a well known breeder and before I realized it was a cockerel I waged an internal war about whether or not to keep it. I had heard that it helped fertility and that the single comb was recessive. As it was, it didn't matter since I had two other great cockerels with rose combs and great dispositions. They're a little remiss in their job duties and I'm struggling with fertility, but they are just sweethearts.

 

[sixpugs]

Not having the right points is not a DQ just a fault. A bad comb on a otherwise perfect bird is ok.....the WRONG comb is a different story. Thing not normal to the breed would be a DQ.... Marans without feathers is a DQ, Some DQ are breed specific and are listed in the SOP with each breed. Some DQ are just across the board on all breeds.

Since you quoted my post in yours, I will ask you to re-read what I wrote. I never said that NOT having the right amount of points is a DQ. I said I had a bird, that was knocked down for lacking 2 points on his comb and received Reserve Breed instead of Best of Breed. He was an otherwise outstanding representative of his breed and variety. Comb faults are listed by amount of points to deduct for certain imperfections. Saying "a bad comb is ok on an otherwise perfect bird is ok," is misleading. A bad comb (not a DQ bad such as wrong comb) can, in some cases, completely eliminate a bird from contention, depending on the severity of the problem with their comb. I am not talking about a wrong comb here. I think it is in everyone's best interest to read the standard of their particular breed and try to achieve breed type, even if they don't show or plan to......

 

[tennesseeckn]

Since you quoted my post in yours, I will ask you to re-read what I wrote. I never said that NOT having the right amount of points is a DQ. I said I had a bird, that was knocked down for lacking 2 points on his comb and received Reserve Breed instead of Best of Breed. He was an otherwise outstanding representative of his breed and variety. Comb faults are listed by amount of points to deduct for certain imperfections. Saying "a bad comb is ok on an otherwise perfect bird is ok," is misleading. A bad comb (not a DQ bad such as wrong comb) can, in some cases, completely eliminate a bird from contention, depending on the severity of the problem with their comb. I am not talking about a wrong comb here. I think it is in everyone's best interest to read the standard of their particular breed and try to achieve breed type, even if they don't show or plan to......

I don't think she was contradicting you. She was just clarifying the difference between a fault and a DQ for me.

I've read the standards for my breeds over and over again. But, if you're new like me, the terminology doesn't mean a whole lot. I like the diagrams on the Wyandotte club site. What I need is a "Standards for Dummies" book.