Malay Game

Origin:  Asia

Category:  Hardfeather Heavy

Egg Colour:  Tinted

Sitter:  Yes

The Malay, as its name implies, originated in Asia, from which country it came to England as early as 1830. A giant among other breeds of poultry, it was given considerable prominence by early writers who regarded it as one of the old pure breeds of poultry. Its chief characteristics are great length of leg, and the sinister expression caused by a broad skull and projecting beetle eye-brows. Exhibition and table fowl are valuable for crossing with other breeds to provide table birds. Color of skin, yellow; color of egg shells, dark brown.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

THE COCK

Head - Skull very broad with well-projecting (beetle) eyebrows, giving a cruel and morose expression. Beak short, strong, and well hooked. (Note.—The profile of the skull and the beak approaches in shape a section of a circle.)

Eyes deep-set. Comb shaped like a half-walnut, small, set well forward, and as free as possible from irregularities. Face smooth. Earlobes and wattles small.

Neck long and upright with a slight curve, thick through from gullet to back of skull, the bare skin of the throat showing some way down the neck; the hackle full at the skull but very short and scanty elsewhere.

Body wide-fronted, short, and tapering; broad and square shoulders, the wing-butts prominent, well up, and devoid of feathers at the point.

Back short; sloping, and with convex outline, the saddle narrow and drooping; deep and full breast, generally devoid of feathers at the point of the keel; large strong wings, carried high and closely to the sides.

Tail of moderate length, drooping but not whipped, the sickles narrow and only slightly curved. The outline of the neck-hackle, back, and tail (upper feathers) should form a succession of curves at nearly equal angles.

Legs long and massive. Thighs muscular with very little feather and leaving the hocks perfectly exposed. Shanks free of feathers and beautifully scaled, flat at the hocks and gradually rounding to the spurs, which should have a downward curve. Toes (four) long and straight, with powerful nails, the fourth (or hind) toe close to the ground.

Carriage fierce and gaunt, very erect, high in front, drooping at stern, straight at the hock, and a hard, clean, cut-up appearance from behind.

Plumage short and scanty, hard and narrow.

Handling firm-fleshed and muscular.

Weight about 11 lb (5kg).

THE HEN

With the exception of the tail (carried slightly above the horizontal line, well "played" as if flexible at the joint, rather short and square and neither fanned nor whipped) the general characteristics are similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual differences. Weight about 9 lb (4.01kg).

COLOUR

Beak yellow or horn.

Eyes pearl, yellow, or daw.

Comb, Face, Throat, Wattles and Earlobes brilliant red.

Legs and Feet rich yellow.

THE BLACK-RED

Plumage of the Cock - Hackles, Saddle and Back rich dark red. Wing-bow rich red. Secondaries bright bay. Flights black inner web, red outside edging. Remainder lustrous green-black.

Plumage of the Hen - Any shade of cinnamon with dark purple-tinted hackle, quite free of ticks, spangles, or pencilling, or white in tail and wings. Partridge-marked and Clay hens are also allowed.

THE PILE

Plumage of the Cock - Hackles, Saddle and Back rich red. Wing-bow rich red. Secondaries bright bay. Flights white inner web, red outside edging. Remainder white.

Plumage of the Hen - Hackle gold. Breast salmon. Remainder white.

THE SPANGLED

Plumage of the Cock - Breast, Under-parts, Thighs and Tail an admixture of red and white. Remainder each feather somewhat resembling tortoise-shell in the blending of red or chestnut with black, and with a bold white tip. The flight feathers and tail as tri-coloured as possible.

Plumage of the Hen - Rich dark red or chestnut boldly marked with black and white.

THE WHITE

Plumage pure white free from any yellow, black, or ruddy feathers.

OTHER VARIETIES

The foregoing are the principal varieties, but others are also kept. The above colours and markings are ideal, but type and quality are the most important points in the Malay fowl.

SERIOUS DEFECTS

• Any clear evidence of an alien cross;

• Diminutive size;

• Single or pea comb;

• Bow legs;

• Knock knees;

• Bad feet;

• Any defect not sufficiently penalized by the deduction of the maximum number of points allowed in the above scale.

See also Disqualifications

STANDARD WEIGHTS & HEIGHTS

STANDARD WEIGHTS

Cock 9 lbs (4kg) Hen 7 lbs (3.2kg) Cockerel 7 lbs (3.2kg) Pullet 5 lbs (2.3kg)

STANDARD HEIGHTS

Cock 26 in (66cm) Hen 18 in (46cm) Cockerel 18 in (46cm) Pullet 15 in (38cm)

MALAY BANTAMS

The shape, color and disqualifications except for weight of Malay Bantams shall be the same as for the corresponding variety of Malays.

STANDARD BANTAM WEIGHTS

Cock 26 oz (737g) Hen 24 oz (680g) Cockerel 24 oz (680g) Pullet 22 oz (624g)

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.] https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009169004

• The Poultry club standards, containing a complete description of all the recognised varieties of fowls, ducks, geese and turkeys, ed. by William W. Broomhead. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009202629