THE ORPINGTONS 



39 



have recently been paying more attention to weight and 

 shape, which are accordingly improving. 



"The merits and utility of the breed stand apart from 

 its origin and name. Those who objected to the latter, 

 were accused of making a 'virulent attack upon the breed,' 

 but without, as far as we know, any foundation. The fowl 

 itself was recognized by nearly all as a most valuable one, 

 endorsed already by the long experience of the Lincoln- 

 shire breeders as a first-class breed for the market; and 

 speedily found, as soon as kept alive for other purposes 

 than market, to be a most hardy bird and prolific layer. 

 Putting aside claims and proceedings to which there are 

 serious reasons for taking exception, Mr. Cook may be 

 given full credit for 'booming' and making known in other 

 than poultry-fattening circles, what is recognized as one 

 of the most attractive and useful of all classes of poultry, 

 combining the beautiful and popular bufi color, with ad- 

 mirable table and laying qualities. It is probable that the 

 Bufif Orpington, as now known, comes as near to the ideal 

 of an all-round, general purpose fowl as is humanly pos- 

 sible; and it is not a small service, however we may re- 

 gret the methods employed, to have made such a bird 

 popular amongst breeders generally.'' 



Buff Orpingtons Admitted to the Standard in 1903 



Single Comb Buff Orpingtons were admitted to the 

 American Standard of Perfection of 1903, but the 1905 

 edition of the Standard contains the first revised ideal 

 shape illustrations of Orpingtons, the color description 

 being the same in both. No material change is made in 

 the description of buff color in the revised Standard of 

 1910, but changes in shape were made by the Revision 

 Committee at Chicago, 111., April, 1909. These changes 

 will be found in the "Comparison of Type Columns" of 

 Chapter II. of this book. 



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Buff Color 



The Standard color for all American Buff fowls is 

 defined as a rich golden buff, free from shafting or meali- 

 ness, the surface of the head, neck, back, wing-bows, saddle 

 sickles being of a rich golden sheen in the male; the same 

 surface color predominating in the female, the glossy 

 lustre on the surface harmonizing in shade with it in all 

 sections. Under-color is a lighter shade of buff, which 

 must be free from foreign color, while black or gray ap- 

 pearing in wings or tail is a serious defect. A first-class 

 specimen is of one even shade of color from top of head 

 to tip of tail over back and wings and around breast and 

 body. This is the ideal American Standard buff color, 

 hard to attain, but the true guide for the breeder, one that 

 has been instrumental in producing magnificent speci- 

 mens of Buff Cochins, Buff Wyandottes, Buff Plymouth 

 Rocks, Buff Leghorns and Buff Orpingtons in America. 

 There is no flexibility in this Standard color ideal, for it 

 means that only true buff color can win, other points 

 being equal in exhibition specimens. English breeders are 

 less strenuous and considerate over this buff color section 

 than American fanciers as the following definition from 

 the English Standard for Buff Orpingtons will show: 



"Plumage: Any shade of buff from lemon buff to 

 rich buff, on the one side avoiding washiness, and on the 

 other side a reddish tinge. The color to be perfectly uni- 

 form throughout, allowing for greater lustre on the hackle 

 and saddle feathers, and of the wing-bow in the case of 

 the cock only." 



This will explain the variation in color of imported 

 Buff Orpingtons which frequently disappoints American 

 purchasers. But English breeders are great sticklers for 

 type, and size and color take a back seat when a corking 

 good big and shapely Buff Orpington makes his appear- 

 ance. But it is a very good law in breeding all kinds of 

 feathered live stock to get shape or type first and color 

 afterward. 



Size and Weight 



Orpingtons are large fowls, so that size without cor- 

 responding weight is apt to kill the type and the breed. 

 That is the chief reason why many Buff Orpington breed- 

 ers objected to a reduction in the Standard weights of 

 Orpingtons, and justly so. A comparison of weights in 

 England and America shows: 



English American 



Cock:— Between 9 and 10 lbs 10 



when fully matured. 

 Hen:— About 7 or 8 lbs. 8 



when fully matured. 

 Cockerel: — Not given 8J4 



Pullet: — Not given 7 



So on the weight question the English and American 

 Orpington Standard agree. 



Disqualifications 



The English Standard "'passes" Buff Orpingtons for 

 the following: "Serious Defects; other than four toes; wry 

 tail or any deformity; the slightest feather or fluff on legs 

 or feet; long legs; yellow skin; twist or side spikes to 

 comb or comb over to one side; yellow legs or feet; any 

 white or much black in tail or flights; legs any color but 

 white." The American Standard of Perfection gives the 

 following color disqualification: "Positive white in ear- 

 lobes covering more than one-third of the surface; yellow 

 beak or skin; shanks other than white or pinkish white." 

 Other disqualifications for deformities come under the 



