THREE TYPES OF RHODE ISLAND RED FEMALES 

 The above picture shows three distmct types of R. I. Reds seen in nearly every class of Reds exhibited. The one in the center ia a typical 

 shaped Red, showing the oblong shape desired in this breed. The one on the right is a fine shaped Plymouth Rock, while the one on the left is a 

 typical Wyandotte. Give these two outside types a perfect R. I. Red plumage and you would not have a Red, yet many breeders are exhibiting types 

 similar to these two and cannot understand why they do not win when they have such good color. Remember shape is 52 points; weight and 

 condition 4 points and color 40 points of the 100. 



We shall now take up the breed, -section by section, ex- 

 plain what and how it should be, what the most common 

 defects are and how much they are generally cut. 



Symmetry 



Symmetry is the first section listed on the score card 

 and scale of points and is valued at four points having been 

 reduced in value from eight points. What is symmetry? 

 Webster defines it as "A due proportion of the several parts 

 of a body to each other; or the union and conformity of the 

 members of a work to the whole." 



Under comparison judging and upon 

 some score cards it is described as "Typ- 

 ical Carriage," which is defined in the 

 Standard as "expressing a characteristic, 

 in color or form, representative of a breed 

 or variety." "Representative of a Breed 

 or Variety," — please remember that, as it 

 is the main point we wish to make. 



This section always has been the 

 subject of much discussion, but if we 

 understand the Standard requirements 

 of a fowl, study each section, also the 

 general outline of the fowl, how the 

 parts or sections should fit together in 

 harmony, in fact, get the ideal ' shape 

 fixed in our mind as shown in the Stand- 

 ard drawings and description, then the 

 minute we get a good look at a bird we 

 know whether it is typical of the breed it 

 represents or has symmetry. 



In the R. I. Reds we have a breed that can be described 

 as oblong. 



As we study the pictures of the perfected models men- 

 tioned herein we can readily see where the R. I. Reds, repre- 

 sented by these pictures, fit the requirements. 



General Shape 



The head should be of medium size, carried horizontal 

 and slightly forward, with a beak of medium length and slight- 

 ly curved. The eye is oval, large and prominent. Single 

 combs should be medium in size, set firmly upon the head, 

 perfectly straight and upright, with five even and well de- 



58 



Side view of a good Rose comb. 



the Iwad well and is fairly well pebbled 

 It should be cut about one point because 

 it is a trifle smooth and tapers too ab- 

 ruptly to the spike giving it, somewhat, 

 the appearance of a strawberry comb. 

 The wattles should be cut one-half point 

 for being wrinkled or folded. 



fined points; the front and rear ones being smaller than 

 those in the center, blade smooth, and not conforrning to 

 the shape of the head too closely. Rose combs should be 

 low, firm on the head, oval in shape and surface covered 

 with small points, terminating in a small spike at the rear 

 and conforming to the shape of the head. 



The neck is of medium length and the male neck should 

 have an abundant hackle that flows over the shoulders mak- 

 ing a graceful connection with the back. The female neck 

 is also of medium length with a moderately full hackle. 

 There should be a nice graceful connection with a back that 

 is broad and long, carried horizontal, with, 

 the least concave sweep to the tail. 



The saddle fe£.thers should be of 

 medium length and abundant, on the 

 male. The tail of the male should be of 

 medium length, well spread and carried at 

 an angle of forty degrees from the hori- 

 zontal, making the fowl look longer than 

 it really is. The sickle feathers are 

 also of medium length and extend beyond 

 the stiff, or main tail feathers to give it 

 a round, finished appearance, ' helped 

 out by the lesser sickles and tail coverts 

 which are also of medium length and 

 It fit? abundant. 



The tail of the female should be 

 "rather short, moderately spread, carried 

 at an angle of thirty-five degrees from 

 the horizontal." The breast should be 

 deep, well rounded, while the body should 

 be broad, deep and long with a keel-bone that is long, 

 straight, extending well forward which carries out the 

 oblong appearance. The thighs are of medium length 

 and rather large, with the shanks of medium length, 

 straight, strong and well spread. 



Note that the R. I. Red is described as medium all the 

 way through. 



■\\'e believe that a fowl should be judged for symmetry 

 and shape before it is disturbed. Approach the cage quietly 

 and observe the bird as a whole. Do the parts, or sections, 

 harmonize, join together nicely? Has it a well finished ap- 

 pearance? Does it hold its head up and look the typical 



