Minorca
| Minorca | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Category | Egg Colour | Sitter |
| Spain | Softfeather Light | White | No |
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
THE COCK
Head - Skull sufficiently long and broad to provide a substantial foundation for the comb. Beak stout, fairly long. Eyes full, bright and expressive. Comb (a) single or (b) rose: (a) medium size, perfectly straight, upright and firm, not extending over the front of the beak, the back following without touching the line of the neck hackle, nicely arched and evenly serrated with preferably five wedge-shaped spikes, free from "thumb marks" or side sprigs; (b) medium size, firm, low and square front, oblong shape, tapering towards the leader (which should follow the curve of the neck and not be straight out or upwards), the top covered with small coral like points of even height, free from hollows. Face smooth, the skin taut (wrinkles objectionable), as free as possible from feathers or hairs. Earlobes almond-shaped, medium size (not exceeding 2 1/4 inches (5.7cm) long or 1 1/4 inches (3.2cm) wide at top), of kid-like texture, flat and of firm substance, fitting closely to the head and not extending over the face, and without any tendency to hollowness, slackness, or roundness. Wattles long, of oval shape and fine texture.
Neck long, hackle extending well down to body. Body broad-shouldered, deep, square and compact with a deep keel and straight breast-bone; horizontal carriage ; rather long back; full round breast ; medium length wings carried closely to the sides and with broad flight feathers; fully furnished tail with long broad and nicely curved sickles, and carried well back.
Legs of medium length, but without any tendency to stiltiness. Shanks strong but fine bone, free of feathers, straight and wide apart, no tendency to "knock-knees." Toes (four) long, fine, and well spread.
Carriage upright, active and alert.
THE HEN
With the exception of the single comb (which is carried over one side so as not to obstruct the sight), the lobes (which should not exceed 1 1/2 inches (3.8cm) long and 1 inch (2.5cm) wide,\) and the tail (neatly closed and carried well back) the general characteristics are similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual differences.
COLOUR
THE BLACK
Beak dark horn. Eyes black or dark hazel. Comb, Face and Wattles blood-red. Earlobes perfectly white. Legs and Feet black or very dark slate, the latter in adult birds only. Plumage brilliant green-black.
THE WHITE
Beak white. Eyes red. Comb, Face and Wattles blood red. Earlobes white. Legs and Feet pink white. Plumage lustrous silver-white.
THE BLUE
Beak dark horn. Eyes dark brown (darker brown preferred). Comb, Face and wattles blood-red. Earlobes perfectly white. Shanks blue to slate. Plumage: soft medium blue without lacing, the male being darker in hackles, wing bows and back.
SERIOUS DEFECTS
- White or blue in face;
- Wry or, squirrel tail;
- Feathers on shanks or toes;
- Other than four toes;
- Side sprigs on comb;
- Plumage other than black or white;
- Legs other than black or dark slate in Blacks, or pink-white in Whites;
- Excessive coarseness of head;
- Stiltiness or knock-knees.
SCALE OF POINTS
| Scale Points | |
|---|---|
| Head (face 15, comb 15, lobes 15) | 45 |
| Colour (plumage 10, legs, eyes, and beak 10) | 20 |
| Type | 15 |
| Size | 10 |
| Condition | 5 |
| Breastbone | 5 |
| 100 |
| Scale Points | |
|---|---|
| Head (comb 25, face, lobes, and wattles 15) | 40 |
| Colour (plumage 10, legs, eyes, and beak 10) | 20 |
| Type | 25 |
| Size | 15 |
| Colour | 10 |
| Condition | 10 |
| 100 |
APPROXIMATE WEIGHTS
Weight 7 lb (3.12kg). to 8 1b (3.63kg)., cockerels 6 lb (2.72kg). to 7 1/2 lb (3.4kg).
Weight 6 1b (2.72kg). to 7 lb (3.12kg)., pullets 5 lb (2.27kg). to 6 lb (2.72kg).
Bantam weights to be approximately one third of standard weights.
SOURCES
- 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.] Public Domain accessed from: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009169004
- https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009202629 The Poultry club standards, containing a complete description of all the recognised varieties of fowls, ducks, geese and turkeys, ed. by William W. Broomhead.
- Standard Bred Poultry, Scranton, Pa. : International Textbook Co., c1912. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89068785245&view=1up&seq=9