Disqualifications

GENERAL DISQUALIFICATIONS

In consideration of faults, it must be understood that under all disqualifying clauses, the specimen shall always have the benefit of the doubt. Defects that are expressed to a minor degree may result in a points penalty rather than disqualification - at the judge's discretion. A mature female in lay should not be penalised for normal bodily variations or slightly fading colour that is an expected feature of a laying fowl.

These general disqualifications are, for the most part, defects which are transmitted from the parents to the progeny. Some of them have been shown to be definitely inherited in a Mendelian manner. Although these defects, with the exception of disqualifications for weight requirements and colour of skin, may not interfere with the utilitarian purpose of the fowl, they are, nevertheless, objectionable from the viewpoint of appearance. Furthermore, continued selection against these defects in the breeding stock soon results in the birds raised each year being comparatively free of disqualifications.

General Inferiority

• Specimens unworthy of a score or lacking in breed characteristics.
• Faking in any manner shall disqualify the specimen.

Deformities of Shape and Plumage

• Deformed beaks or bills.
• Crooked or otherwise deformed backs.
• A wing showing clipped flights or secondaries, or both, except clipped flights in Canada or Egyptian Geese, or Muscovy, Call or East India Ducks.
• A split wing.
• A slipped wing.
• Twisted feather or feathers in primaries or secondaries of wing and sickles or main-tail feathers.
• Split tails in old birds of any variety.
• Entire absence of main-tail feathers.
• Wry tails.
• Squirrel tail, in any breed except Japanese Bantams.
• Crooked breast or keel bone.
• A scooped or deformed bill in drakes and ducks
• Hen feathered males except in Sebright Bantams and Campines.
• Duck foot in all varieties of land fowl.

Head and Adjuncts

• Positive enamel white in the face of Mediterranean cockerels and pullets except White-Faced Black Spanish.
• Positive enamel white in the ear-lobe of males or females of all American, Asiatic and English varieties, except Dorkings, Red caps and Lamonas.
• In varieties in which positive enamel white in ear-lobes disqualifies, it must be understood that judges shall not disqualify for mere paleness of lobe due to the general condition of the specimen.
• In varieties in which positive enamel white is a disqualification, judges shall disqualify for unmistakable evidence of an attempt to remove the defect.
• Black in the bill or bean of the drake of any white variety of Ducks.
• Absence of crest, beard, or muff in any variety described as Crested, Bearded or Muffed.
• Any appearance of crest, beard, or muff in any variety for which it is not required.
• Blindness, any sort of malformed or defective eye or abnormal pupils.

Comb

Comb faults that are expressed to a minor degree may result in a points penalty rather than disqualification - at the judge's discretion.

• Lopped single or pea-comb, except in Mediterranean, Continental, New Hampshire, Lamona, Dorking and Frizzle females. A comb which merely turns over a trifle from the natural upright position is not to disqualify.
• Lopped rose-comb falling to one side sufficiently to obstruct the sight;
• Rose-combs sufficiently large to obstruct sight.
• Combs foreign to the breed.
• Split comb.
• Side sprig or sprigs on all single comb varieties.
• Absence of spike in all rose-comb varieties.
• A spike or spikes on a cushion comb.

Shanks and Toes

• Decided bow-legs or knock-knees.
• In all breeds required to have unfeathered shanks, any feather or feathers, stub or stubs, or feather-like growth on shanks, feet or toes; or unmistakable indications of feather, feathers, stub, stubs, or down having been plucked from same.
• Entire absence of spurs on cocks.
• Any down, stub or stubs, feather or feathers, or feather-like growth on shank, disconnected from feathers on thigh and below the hock joint.
• Plucked hocks.
• Web feet in any breed of chickens.
• In four-toed breeds, more or less than four toes on either foot.
• In five-toed breeds, more or less than five toes on either foot.

Colour

• Shank, shanks, foot, feet, or toes of colour foreign to the breed.
• Incorrect eye colour for breed.
• Red or yellow in the plumage of any black variety.
• Black in quills of primaries or secondaries of white varieties.
• Foreign color in any part of the plumage of white varieties, except slight gray ticking.

Weight Requirements

Many standards give weight ideals and these should be regarded as a guide. Judges must use their discretion in penalising a bird, remembering that size and type are intrinsic to the breed and should be the primary consideration when noting weight. Birds should not be excessively fat, emaciated and thin, oversized or undersized and the the weight of the bird should support a proportionate and healthy specimen that meets the standard requirements. Bantams are generally to be one-third of the size of the standard and and excessively oversized or overweight bantam should be penalised. Refined, well-sized birds of good breed type and character are desirable and the coarseness resulting from oversized breeding fads should be avoided.

Reference: The American standard of perfection, illustrated. A complete description of recognized varieties of fowls,as revised by [the Association at its 62d-67th annual meetings, 1937-42.] https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009169004