Disqualifications

GENERAL DISQUALIFICATIONS

If, in applying the Standard of Perfection, judges find any of the defects described below, they shall disqualify the specimen and state on the proper card or blank the nature of the disqualification; though it must be understood that under all disqualifying clauses, the specimen shall have the benefit of the doubt.

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 color 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.
• 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 in turkeys.
• A scooped or deformed bill in drakes and ducks
• Hen feathered males except in Sebright Bantams and Campines.
• Duck foot in all varieties.

Weight Requirements

• In all breeds having weight clauses, except Leghorns, Anconas, Bantams, and Turkeys, any specimen falling more than two pounds below standard weight.
• In Leghorns and Anconas males falling more than one and one-half pounds, and females more than one pound, under Standard weight.
• In all varieties of Bantams, specimens more than four ounces above Standard weight.
• In all varieties of Turkeys, specimens falling more than six pounds below Standard weight.

Comb

• Lopped single or pea-comb, except in Mediterranean, Continental, New Hampshire, Lamona, Dorking and Frizzle females.
• Lopped rose-comb falling to one side sufficiently to obstruct the sight; rose-combs sufficiently large to obstruct sight. Note:

A comb which merely turns over a trifle from the natural upright position is not to disqualify. To dis qualify, a single-comb must fall below the horizontal plane where the comb begins to lop ; a pea-comb must fall below the horizontal plane on level with top of head.

• Combs foreign to the breed.
• Split comb.
• Side sprig or sprigs on all singlecomb varieties.
• Absence of spike in all rose-comb varieties.
• A spike or spikes on a cushion comb.

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.

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.

Color

• Shank, shanks, foot, feet, or toes of color foreign to the 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.

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