60 



RHODE ISLAND REDS 



Let us see what other defects there are to look for. If 

 we find a thumb mark, which is a sort of dent or hollow place, 

 in a single comb, it must be cut not less than one point. 

 If the rear of the comb turns around it should be cut from 

 one-half to one. If we find the comb too large or "beefy" 

 the cut should be one-half to one and one-half. If it is too 

 coarse in texture, the cut should be one-half to one. So, a 

 comb that gets off with a, cut of one or one and one-half is 

 a pretty good comb. Side sprigs on single combs disqualify 

 the specimen. 



In judging the rose comb some of the most common 

 defects and cuts are as follows: If too coarse or over-size, 

 cut one-half to one and one-half. Hollow centers should 

 be cut from one to two; smooth, or lacking in corrugations 

 cut one-half to one and one-half. Telescope spikes should 

 be cut two and one-half. A spike that is too long and 

 does not conform to the shape of the head should be cut 

 from one-half to one. Entire absence of spike will dis- 

 qualify the specimen. A lopped rose comb, that is one fall- 

 ing over far enough to touch the fowl's head will disqualify. 

 A comb so large as to obstruct the sight * will also disqualify. 

 When one considers all these points he will notice that the 

 comb is quite an important section and worthy of consider- 

 able study. 



f When holding the fowl with point of beak directly in front of one's 

 eye, if the fowrs eyes cannot bo seen we say the sight is obstructed. 



Head 



The head section is valued at four points divided two 

 each for shape and color. It should be of medium size, 

 carried horizontal and slightly forward. Should it appear 

 too long and slender giving it the "gamey" or "snaky" ap- 

 pearance the cut should be one-half to one. If it should 

 be too broad across the top giving the skull a Brahma ap- 

 pearance, as is sometimes the case in old birds, the cut 

 should be one-half. Once in a great while you will find a 

 specimen that is bald, caused by the male bird or perhaps 

 by the depluming mite; a bird in such a condition should be 

 cut one-half point for shape or it may be covered with the 

 cut under "condition." 



Beak 

 The beak is also val- 

 ued I at four points, 

 two each for shape 

 and color. It should 

 be of medium length, 

 slightly curved and 

 reddish-horn in color. 

 Should it be too long 

 and straight, cut one- 

 half. If too dark or 

 too light, cut one-half 

 or three-fourths. De- 

 formed beaks will 

 disqualify. 



Eyes 



This section is 

 valued at four points 

 divided two for 

 shape and two for 

 color. They should 

 be large, oval and 

 reddish bay in color. 

 R. I. Reds are quite 

 apt to have off-col- 

 ored eyes. Those 

 that are green or 

 greenish-yellow, gen- 

 erally spoken of as 

 "fish-eyes" should be 



The bird pictured above would be cut one 

 point for symmetry, because, he lacks twen- 

 ty-five per cent of being a perfect or typ- 

 ical shaped R. 1. Red and as symmetry^ is 

 valued at 4 points the cut should be 1 point. 

 He is too short in back; too lone in legs; the 

 tail is too hi^h and pinched and the keel is 

 too short giving the bird a Langshan ap- 

 pearance which is far from desirable. 



In cutting for shape this bird should, in 

 our opinion, be cut 1 point for back shape; 

 1 for tail shape; i breast; I or 1 body and 1 

 on legs. 



cut one point each. 

 Those that are red, 

 but have a golden 

 rim aroun^ the iris 

 should be cut one- 

 fourth to one- 

 half each. If an 

 eye shows perma- 

 nent injury but 

 retains its form 

 it should be cut 

 one-half to one. 

 If the eye is de- 

 stroyed and mis- 

 sing the cut should 

 be one and one- 

 half. 



Wattles and Ear- 

 lobes 

 This section 

 is valoied at five 

 points, two for 

 shape and three 

 for color. If the 

 wattles are frost- 

 bitten so that 

 they are disfigured 

 the cut should be 

 one-half to one. 



ftU^ 



The wattles on the above bird should be cut 

 at least i point as one of them is contracted or 

 smaller than the other. Wattle and ear-lobe 

 shape is valued at 2 points. 



The comb on the above specimen should be 

 cut, in our opinion, 2 points. It is lacking one 

 serration which would call for a_ cut of i; the 

 four serrations that it has are irregular or un- 

 even which should get a cut of i; the blade is 

 uneven which should be cut i and the general 

 shape of the comb is unbalanced, the front 

 being considerable higher than the rear, which 

 should be cut i making a total of 2 points. 



If they are un- 

 even in size, wrinkled, folded or coarse in texture, the 

 cut will be one-half to one. If they are torn or partly mis- 

 sing from injury, etc., cut from one-half to one. 



The ear-lobes are important as we have here another 

 disqualification. If they are more than one-half positive 

 white the specimen is disqualified. Positive white means a 

 white, sometimes spoken of as an enameled white, through 

 which you cannot get the blood to circulate. Many birds 

 develop a paleness of the comb it confined in a warm room 

 for a few days and when judging we generally hold the bird's 

 head down for a minute or two and rub the lobe and if it is 

 not positive white you can thus cause the blood to rush 

 to the head and flush the lobe. If, after such treatment, 

 it still remains pale the cut should be from one-half to one 

 as in degree. If the lobe shows a positive, enamel white 

 covering less than one-half the lobe, cut from one-half to 

 two and one-half. If the lobes are large, wrinkled or ill- 

 shaped, cut from one-half to one. If they are scarred or 

 injured, cut from one-half to one. 



Neck 



Neck section is valued at eight points, three for shape 

 and five for color. 



The Male — Neck should be of medium length with an 

 abundant hackle flowing well over the shoulders and be 

 rounded or full. If we find a neck that, in show-room par- 

 lance, is known as "not filled," that is, some of the feathers 

 not matured, giving the neck the scrawny or slender appear- 

 ance noted before, cut from one-half to one. 



It sometimes happens, in an immature specimen, that 

 the neck will be too long and out of proportion; such a neck 

 should be cut one-half to one and one-half as in degree. The 

 color of the male neck should be, "rich, brilliant red" with 

 an under-color of red. There seems to be considerable dis- 

 pute as to the proper shade of red. It is hard to describe 

 on paper but it is easily understood that a dark red is not a 

 brilliant red nor is a buff a brilliant red. The male neck 

 should be nothing but red and if any ticking or lacing is 

 found in this section it should be cut from one-half to two 

 and one-half points. Smut, slate or white in the under- 



