Sumatra

Origin:  Asia

Category:  Hardfeather Light

Egg Colour:  White

Sitter:  Yes

The Black Sumatra fowl is a native of Sumatra, and is a fowl of graceful form and distinct carriage, with the richest of lustrous, greenish black plumage throughout. Its particular characteristic is the long, drooping tail of the male, which has an abundance of long sweeping sickles and coverts. Length and breadth of feather; single, double, or triple spurs on cocks, and practically no wattle development, are Sumatra breed characteristics. Economic Qualities: Exhibition, and dual purpose fowl for the production of meat and eggs.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

THE COCK

Head - Skull small, rather short, and somewhat rounded. Beak strong, of medium length, slightly curved. Eyes large and very bright, with a quick and fearless expression. Comb pea, low in front, fitting closely, the smaller the better. Face smooth and of fine texture. Earlobes and Wattles as small as possible and fitting very closely.

Neck rather long, and covered with very long and flowing hackle.

Body rather long, very firm and muscular; broad, full, and rounded breast.

Back of medium length, broad at shoulders, and very slightly tapering to tail.

Saddle-hackle very long and flowing. Stern narrower than shoulders, but firm and compact; strong, long, and large wings, carried with fronts slightly raised, the feathers folded very closely together, not carried drooping or over the back; long drooping tail with a large quantity of sickles and coverts, which should rise slightly above the stern and then fall streaming behind, nearly to the ground, sickle and covert feathers not too broad.

Legs of strictly medium length, thick and strong. Thighs muscular, set well apart. Shanks straight and strong, set well apart, with smooth, even scales, not flat or thin. (Note - There is no objection to two or more spurs on each leg, it being a peculiarity of the breed for this to occur.)

Feet broad and flat. Toes (four) long, straight, spread well apart, with strong nails, the back toe standing well backward and flat on the ground.

Plumage very full and flowing, but not soft or fluffy.

Carriage straight and upright in front, pheasant like, giving a proud and stately appearance.

THE HEN

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

COLOUR

Beak black.

Eye very dark red, dark brown, or black (black preferred).

Face, Comb, Earlobes and Wattles, black or "gipsy" faced (black being preferred).

Legs and Feet dark olive or black (black preferred).

Plumage black with as much green sheen as possible.

SERIOUS DEFECTS

• Single or rose comb;

• Dubbing;

• Other than four toes;

• Any deformity.

See also Disqualifications.

WEIGHTS

Cock Weight 5 lb (2.27kg).

Hen Weight 4 lb (1.8kg).

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