Spanish

This is probably the oldest breed in the Mediterranean Class. The large, smooth, white face and ear-lobes are distinct characteristics of this Spanish breed, but these features should not be subjected to abnormal development. Qualities such as size, stamina and activity must be maintained as in all other breeds of poultry. Therefore, the white face and lobes should be developed to attractive but not grotesque proportions. Economic Qualities: A non-sitting fowl noted for the production of large chalk-white eggs.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

THE COCK

Head - Skull long, broad, and deep. Beak long and stout. Eyes full and wide open. Comb single, somewhat small, erect and straight, firm at the base, rather thin at the edge, fitting closely on the neck at the back, of very smooth texture, deep, as large as possible, of very smooth texture, and free from wrinkles, rising well over the eyes but not so as to interfere with the sight, and joining the earlobes and wattles. Earlobes deep and broad, well rounded at the bottom, extending well below the wattles, meeting in front and going well back on each side of the neck, of fine texture and free from folds or creases. Wattles very long, thin, and pendulous.

Neck long and fine, with abundant hackle flowing well over the shoulders.

Body rather long, fairly broad in front, and tapering to the rear.

Breast full at the neck and gradually decreasing towards the thighs.

Back slanting downwards to the tail; short wings carried closely; full tail, not carried too high, and with the sickles large and well curved.

Legs rather long and slim. Shanks free of feathers. Toes (four) slender and straight. Carriage upright, with proud action.

Plumage short and close.

THE HEN

With the exception of the comb (which falls gracefully over either side of the face) the general characteristics are similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual differences.

COLOUR

Beak dark horn.

Eyes black.

Comb and Wattles bright red.

Face and Earlobes white.

Legs and Feet pale slate.

Plumage black with a beetle-green sheen, and free of purple bars.

SERIOUS DEFECTS

• Blue, pink, or red in face or lobes;

• Coarse "cauliflower" face or lobes;

• Cock's comb not erect;

• Side sprigs on comb;

• Lobes pointed at the bottom;

• Black or dark legs and feet;

• Any deformity.

See also Disqualifications.

SCALE OF POINTS

Face and lobes 35

Comb and wattles 15

Type 15

Size 15

Colour 10

Condition  10

Total = 100

WEIGHTS

Cock Weight 7 lb (3.18kg). Hen Weight 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

• 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

•  Standard Bred Poultry, Scranton, Pa. : International Textbook Co., c1912. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89068785245&view=1up&seq=9

• Kramer, R. (1926). Kramers Taschenbuch der Rassegeflügelzucht. 3. Aufl. Würzburg: H. Stürtz.