SILVER LACED U'YANDOTTES. 



SILVER WYANDOTTE MALE. 

 Symmetry. 



This one word means more than all else when the 

 awarding of prizes is under consideration, and when a judge 

 Ignores it he ignores the most important eight points in the 

 entire scale of points. No matter how much he may know 

 about the, awarding of prizes, if he doesn't know the full 

 meaning of symmetry he has not yet learned the ABC 

 part of poultry judging, and is not qualified to award prizes 

 at any exhibition where the American Standard of Perfec- 

 tion is used as a guide. This one section, properly under- 

 stood, is the keystone of the poultry judging structure. 

 Without it the scoring of fowls is a farce, and when we see 

 judges cutting eve^y bird alike on symmetry, no matter how 

 good or how inferior the specimen may be, we cannot help 

 but think the judges should go to school a while and learn 

 something about the work they are accepting money for and 

 doing wrong. Our Standard describes symmetry as "Per- 

 fection of proportions; the harmony in all the parts or sec- 

 tions of a fowl, viewed as a whole, with regard to the stand- 

 ard type of the breed it represents." 



"The harmony in all the sections, valued as a whole, 

 with regard to the breed it represents" — that's the whole 

 thing in a nutshell. No two breeds have the same shape, 

 and perfect symmetry in one is defective in the other. A 

 perfect outline is perfectly symmetrical. One single part 

 of that outline out of place destroys the symmetry to what- 

 ever extent the part is defective. A bird may be good in 

 neck, back, breast and body, with a tail entirely too long 

 for the breed it represents or carried at such an angle 

 that the entire symmetry of the specimen is destroyed. 



The framers of the Standard realized fully the impor- 

 tance of symmetry, and in their general description of Wy- 

 andotte shape they have given a text that is not surpassed 

 in the general description of any breed. 



"Th« Wyandotte has a shape peculiarly its own; it is 

 emphatically a bird of curves. Fanciers should strive to 

 maintain this short, broad back and deep, round body. 

 These characteristics exceed in value the color considera- 

 tions and are found in the typical Wyandotte at all ages, 

 whether alive or dressed. Its Curved, close-fitting comb 

 adds to the symmetry of the breed." 



In scoring Wyandottes, always remember this one im- 

 portant point — that it is a bird of curves; that it is short 

 in neck, back, body and tail. The breast is broad, deep, 

 round with a low set keel. These are Wyandotte charac- 

 teristics that are found in no other breed, and it is only 

 within the past few years that we have found specimens 

 that conform closely to this Standard description. 



Where neck is long, or too straight, the out is from 

 % to 1; when scantily feathered % out; where back is too 

 long or too narrow % to 1 out; where back is roached 1 

 to 1% out; tail too. long or too high % to 1% out; breast 

 flat and narrow ^4 to 1 out; body too long or too narrow % 

 to 1 out. If legs fail to join properly onto body, or are too 

 long, making the specimen look stilty, % to 1 out; knock- 

 knees % to 1%, as in degree. 



Weight. 



This section in all the American varieties is vastly im- 

 portant, due to the fact that the framers of the American 

 Standard have decided that the best type of specimens are 

 those nearest to the standard weight in both males and 

 females. 



Tie standard weight for all varieties of Wyandottes is : 

 Pullets, 5%; hens, 6%; cockerels, 7%; cocks, 8%, and in 

 instructions to judges the Standard says; "In all varie- 

 ties of fowls, old and young,' except Bantams, also in all 

 varieties of turkeys, ducks and geese (except ducks prized 

 for their small size), when specimens are equal in score, 

 the prizes shall be awarded to the specimen approaching 

 nearest to standard weight. If both pecimens are over- 

 weight, yet have an equal score, the one nearest standard 

 weight shall be awarded the prize. All American varieties 

 shall be cut for excess of standard weight at the same rate 

 per pound, or fraction thereof, as underweight; provided, 

 however, that one pound of excess shall be allowed." 



This last clause in the Standard was brought about by 

 some breeders striving to breed the Wyandottes and Plym- 

 outh Rocks beyond their natural size, and in that way spoil- 

 ing the type of the breed. One pound leeway, we have 

 found in the three years' time the Standard has been in ef- 

 fect, is enough, and overweight, or overfat, birds should be 

 discounted if we expect to maintain the symmetrical out- 

 lines so much desired in the Wyandottes, as well as other 

 varieties of the American breeds. 



In scoring this section the Standard instructions are 

 to cut two points per pound for any deficit from Standard 

 weight, or in that proportion. As an illustration, should a 

 bird be one pound under weight, it would be discounted 2 

 points, while if one pound over weight, no discount .will be 

 allowed; but it two pounds over weight, then it would be 

 discounted 2 points, but if one pound over weight and 

 another specimen with the same score, correctly at weight, 

 the latter would win over the heavier bird. A bird being 

 three-quarters of a pound under weight would be dis- 

 counted 1% points; one-half pound under weight, 1 point; 

 one-fourth pound under weight, % point. 



Condition. 



This section is valued by the Standard at six 

 points, and refers to the health of the specimen, condition 

 of plumage, shape of comb, wattles, ear lobes and legs. 

 Should a bird be sick to the extent of endangering other 

 specimens, it should be debarred from the exhibition room. 

 If symptoms of roup, or swelled head, appear, the bird 

 should be cut from % to 2 points, as in degree. If bird 

 shows signs of injury, caused from fighting or frost, the 

 out is from % to 1 point. If plumage is soiled or broken, 

 showing clearly thai the owner has been careless in pre- 

 paring the bird for exhibition, the cut is from % to 1. 

 Scaly legs should be discounted from % to 1; torn wattles 

 14 to 1. Dirty plumage does not add to the attraction of an 

 exhibition and should be punished to whatever extent the 

 judge considers the bird is lacking in proper finish for ex- 

 hibition purposes, ranging from % to 2 points, as in degree. 



Head. 



This section, while having a valuation of six points, is 

 not often discounted. However, there are defects that show 

 up in quite a few specimens, especially in the varieties 

 where foreign blood has been introduced in order to secure 

 correct color. 



We present here a number of defective heads which 

 will enable the reader to gain a good general idea as to 

 what defects might be met with in the several varieties 

 of the Wyandotte family. 



In Fig. 1 is shown what we 'consider a well proportioned 



head for this breed, and 

 one that fills the Stand- 

 ard requirements. The 

 description of ' this sec- 

 tion is: "Head — Short, 

 strong and rather 

 broad." 



In Fig. 2 is shown 

 a head that is too long 

 and narrow; the beak 

 is straight, more after 

 the style of the game. 

 There is not enough 

 room above the eyes — 

 in fact, it is wrong in 

 every way and should 

 be discounted 2 points. 

 Fig. 3 shows a head that Is too long, both in head 

 and beak; also too narrow and shallow over the eyes. 



A head like this should 

 be discounted 1 point. 



•The eyes are also in- 

 cluded in head section, 

 and it is well to consid-, 

 er them in connection 

 with other defects. If 

 the eye is blind, % out; 

 if eye is entirely miss- 

 ing, leaving a hollow 

 socket, the cut is 1. 

 In color, the Standard 

 calls for "rich red or 

 bay." If eye is light, 

 failing in the bright 

 color so much admired 

 by breeders of this va- 

 riety, the out is Vz; if showing , a white watery color- 

 often termed by poultry judges "fish eye" — the out is Vz 

 to 2, as in degree. 



Comb. 



This section in all varieties of the Wyandottes is one 

 of the most important from an exhibition or breeding 



