The Australian Langshan originated from the Chinese Langshan which developed as a distinctly Australian variation in this country. They birds produce eggs of splendid quality. They are also a good table bird with white flesh of a sweet flavour and texture. They are a worthwhile dual-purpose breed that also excel as an exhibition fowl.

THE COCK

Head - Skull: Small and full over eyes.

Beak: Fairly long and slightly, curved.

Eyes: Large.

Comb: Single, medium size, straight and upright, free from side sprigs; evenly and well serrated, with 4 to 6 spikes of fine texture and , blade to be well clear of the back of the head and neck giving a fly-away appearance.

Face: Smooth and of fine texture.

Earlobes: Small and well rounded.

Wattles: Medium size and fine in texture.

Neck: Medium length, with full flowing hackle.

Body: Back: Fairly broad, of medium length and rising with a good sweep to tail.

Saddle: Abundantly furnished with hackles.

Breast: Fairly deep and well rounded, with level keel.

Wings: Medium length, closely carried.

Tail: Medium size, carried up and outwards to an angle of about 15 degrees but no more than 35, medium width, fairly close, furnished with plenty of side hangers and two sickle feathers slightly longer.

Legs - Thighs: medium length, covered with soft, short feathers.

Shanks: Medium length, fine boned, standing well apart, and feathered down the outer sides (not too heavily nor too scantily).

Feet - Toes: Four, straight, slender, and well spread, the outer toe being feathered.

Carriage : Graceful, neat, and extremely active.

THE HEN

With the exception of the fluff, which should be rather more abundant, the general characteristics similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual differences.

COLOUR

Beak: Light to dark horn.

Eyes: Dark brown or hazel.

Comb, face, and wattles and earlobes brilliant red.

Legs and feet: Blue black, showing pink between scales, the web and bottom of feet pinkish white (the deeper the pink the better); toe nails, white

Plumage - Closely feathered. Dense black with brilliant beetle-green gloss, free from purple tinge or blue tinge.

Carriage - Graceful, neat, and extremely active.

Weight - Cock, 7 to 8 lb (3.12kg - 3.63kg); cockerels, 6 to 7 lb (2.72kg - 3.12kg).

Weight - Hen, 5 to 7 lb (2.27kg - 2.72kg); pullets, 5 to 6 lb. (2.27kg - 2.72kg).

SERIOUS AND LESSER DEFECTS

• Yellow legs, beak or eyes;

• Five toes;

• Permanent white in earlobes;

• Slate or blue legs in young birds;

• White feathers,

• Vulture hocks,

• Wry or squirrel tail,

• Any other deformity,

• Lop comb,

• Side sprigs.

• Want of size

• Want of symmetry

• Want of condition

• Absence of richness of colour

• Defective head and comb,

• Defective legs and feet,

• Absence of thin skin and white flesh,

• Absence of fine bone,

• Feather on middle toe,

• White feather tips.

SOURCES

• CHINESE LANGSHAN (1918, November 16). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 12. Retrieved October 5, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132728001

• THE CHINESE LANGSHAN (1923, May 31). Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas. : 1883 - 1928), p. 3. Retrieved October 5, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153410468

• The Australasian book of poultry by Compton, A. J; Publication date 1899. Publisher Melbourne, George Robertson and Co. https://archive.org/details/australasianbook00comp/page/n19

• The Australian Poultry Standards, 2nd edition. Published 2012. Victorian Poultry Fanciers Association Ltd.