Australian Poultry Standards 2nd edition

ORPINGTON

ORIGIN: Britain CLASSIFICATION: Heavy Breed Softfeather EGG COLOUR: Brown
MALE CHARACTERISTICS Carriage Bold, upright and graceful; that of an active fowl. Type Body: deep, broad and cobby. Back: nicely curved with a somewhat short concave outline. Saddle wide slightly rising, with full hackle. Breast: broad, deep and well rounded not flat. Wings: small, nicely formed and carried closely to the body, the ends almost hidden by the saddle hackle. Tail: rather short, compact, flowing and high, but by no means a squirrel tail. Head Head: small and neat, fairly full over the eyes. Comb-Single: small, firmly set on head, evenly serrated. Rose: low and firm on head. The top, free from hollow centre, oval, the surface covered with small, round points; tapering to a well-defined point at thr rear. the entire comb curving to conform to the shape of the skull. Eyes: large and bold. Beak: strong and nicely curved. Face: smooth Wattles: of medium length, rather oblong and nicely rounded at the bottom. Earlobes: small and elongated. Neck Of medium length, curved, compact and with full hackle. Legs and Feet Legs: short and strong, the thighs almost hidden by the body feathers, well set apart. Toes: four, straight and well spread. Plumage Fairly profuse, soft and close, but not loose and fluffy. Handling Firm FEMALE CHARACTERISTICS The general characterisrics are similar to those of the male. Her cushion should be wide but almost flat and slightly rising to the tail, sufficient to give the back a graceful appearance with an outline approaching concave. COLOURS Blue Male: Plumage: hackles, saddle, wing bow, back and tail: dark slate blue. Remainder: medium slate blue, each feather to show lacing of darker shade as on the back. Female: Plumage: medium slate blue, laced with darker shade throughout except for head and neck hackle, dark slate blue. In both sexes: Beak: black. Eyes: black or very dark brown, black preferred. Comb, face, wattles and earlobes: bright red. A dark shaft to the feather is desirable. Shanks and feet: black or blue. Toesails: white Black: Male and Female: Plumage: black with green sheen. In both sexes: Beak: black. Eyes: black or very dark brown, black preferred. Comb, face, wattles and earlobes: bright red. Shanks and feet: black or blue. Toenails: white. Soles of feet: white, a small amount of black permissible. Buff: Male and Female: Plumage: a medium shade of buff, perfectly even throughout. Quite sound to the roots of the feathers. Free from black, white or bronze feathers, and free from mealiness, shafting or lacing. Normal lustre of the male hackles, saddle and wing bow should not be misinterpreted as a darker shade of buff. In both sexes: Beak: white or horn. Eyes: red or orange. Comb, face, wattles and earlobes: bright red. Legs, feet and toesnails: white. Skin: white. Cuckoo: Male and Female: Plumage: slate, feathers in all sections crossed throughout their entire length by irregular light and dark bars that stop short of positive black and white; tip of each feather, dark; free from shafting, brownish tinge or metallic sheen. Excellence to be determined by distinct contrasts with an overall blending of all sections. The male may be one or two shades lighter than the female. Beak, feet and Skin: white. Eyes, Comb, face, wattles and earlobes; red. Shanks: white with some black mottleing permissible. White: Male and Female: Plumage: white. Beak, legs feet and skin: white. Eyes, comb, face, wattles and earlobes: red. WEIGHTS Standard Bantams Male 4.55-6.35kg (10-14 lb) Male 1.41-1.58kg (3lb 2oz-3lb 8oz) Female 3.40-4.80kg (7.5-10.5lb) Female 1.19-1.36kg (2lb 10oz - 3lb) Scale of points Type, size, carriage 40 Condition 3 Head and eyes 15 Colour and plumage 30 Legs, feet and skin 10 Total 100 Serious Defects Side sprigs on comb. White ear-lobes. Feathers or fluff on shanks or feet. Long legs. Any deformity. Yellow skin or yellow on the shanks or feet of any variety. Any yellow or sappiness in the white. Coarseness in head, legs or feathers. General disqualifications and serious defects as per the Australian Poultry Standard (A.P.S.).