Sultan

Origin:  Turkey

Category:  Softfeather Light

Egg Colour:  White

Sitter:  No

Sultans are a very elegant and pleasing variety.Their exceedingly ornamental appearance has gained them many admirers, and in the eighteen hundreds they were established favourites at shows. They are cheerful, lively, and prolific birds, an ornament to any aviary, and easily kept in confinement.

They have been called Serai-Taook. Serai, as is known by every reader of Eastern lore, is the name of the Sultan's palace; Taook is Turkish for fowl; the simplest translation of this is, 'Sultan's fowls,' or 'fowls of the Sultan; a name which has the double advantage of being the nearest to be found to that by which they have been known in their own country, and of designating their country of origin.

In general habits they are brisk and happy-tempered; but not kept in as easily as some other breeds. They are abundant layers; their eggs are moderate to large in size and white in colour; they are non-sitters and small eaters. A grass run with them will remain green long after the crop would have been cleared by either Brahmas or Cochins; and with scattered food they soon become satisfied, and walk away.

As adults Sultans are hardy fowl, with the exception of the tendency to cold, to which all crested birds are subject if unsheltered during rainy weather. Sultans are small feeders, have quick, lively, and eccentric ways, and make most interesting pets.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Sultan partakes of the character of the Polish in its chief characteristics, in compactness of form and good laying qualities, but with more abundant furnishing, and shorter legs, which are vulture-hocked and feathered to the toes.

In form they are very plump, full-crested, short-legged, and compact; the plumage pure and unsullied white throughout, and very abundant; their tails are ample, and carried erect; their thighs are short, and furnished with feathers which project beyond the joint, or, as it is termed, are vulture-hocked.

Their legs are short, white, and profusely feathered to the feet, which are five-toed. The comb consists of two small spikes, situated at the base of a full-sized globular crest; the wattles are rudimentary, both sexes being amply bearded. No fowls are more abundantly decorated — full tail, abundant furnishing, boots, vulture hocks, beards, whiskers, and full round Polish crests. Good birds of this variety possess the vaulted skull.

A Sultan cock should have a full, round, globular crest, not branching out on either side, like too many of our modern Polish, and leaving an open space in the centre, but formed of closely set, silky, arched feathers, not concealing the eyes, but leaving them unobscured. The small red wattles ought to be smooth, but are generally a little wrinkled and shrivelled. The comb is small and spiky with two tiny horns. The beard and whiskers should be very full, and wattles scarcely visible.

Both sexes have the neck full and arched: that of the cock is clothed with a full ample hackle. The tail is furnished with abundant sickle feathers, the throat is fully muffled, the breast plump, the body square and compact; the legs closely feathered, and furnished with those accessory plumes which constitute what is known as vulture hocks.

THE COCK

Head: Skull: Of medium size, with a decidedly pronounced protuberance on top, and crested.

Crest: Large, globular, and compact, and composed of feathers similar to those of the hackles.

Beak: Short and curved, and having large nostrils rising above the curved line of the beak.

Eyes: Bright.

Comb: Of the horn type, V-shaped, very small and almost hidden by the crest.

Face: Covered with thick muffling.

Muffling: Very full, the beard and whiskers joining, running into the crest.

Ear-lobes: Small and round.

Wattles: Very small and hardly perceptible.

Neck: Somewhat short, carried well back, and covered with abundant hackle.

Body: Square and deep.

Breast: Prominent.

Back: Short, straight, and broad, and drooping to the tail.

Wings: Large, long, and carried low.

Tail: Long and fine, and carried open, the sickles very long, with abundant hangers and coverts.

Legs: Legs : Short, the thighs stout and furnished with heavy vulture hocks to cover the joints, and the shanks heavily feathered inside and out.

Toes: five toes on each foot of moderate length, and completely covered with feather.

Carriage: Very sprightly.

Plumage: Long, abundant and fairly soft.

THE HEN

The general characteristics of the hen are similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual differences.

COLOUR

Beak: Pale blue or white.

Eyes: Red.

Comb, Wattles, and Ear-lobes: Bright red.

Legs and Feet: Pale blue.

Plumage: Snow white.

WEIGHTS

Weight of Cock — 6 lb.

Weight of Hen - 4 lb.

DEFECTS

• Wry tail

• Other than five toes

• Coloured Plumage

• Any other Deformity

See also Disqualifications

SOURCES

• The poultry book: comprising the breeding and management of profitable and ornamental poultry, their qualities and characteristics; to which is added "The standard of excellence in exhibition birds," authorized by the Poultry club. By W.B. Tegetmeier. With coloured illustrations by Harrison Weir. Published: London, G. Routledge and sons, 1867. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/011617672

• Wright's book of poultry by Wright, Lewis, 1838-1905; Lewer, Sidney Herbert, 1862. Publication date 1912. Publisher London ; New York : Cassell