By John H. Robinson, Poultry for Exhibition
There are buff varieties in the following breeds: Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Cochin, Leghorn, Minorca and Buff Cochin Bantam; and buff laced varieties in the Polish and Polish Bantams.
In the solid buff varieties what is required is a “rich golden buff” uniform all over the bird. In the buff laced varieties the plumage is a rich buff laced or edged with a paler buff. This color pattern has the rather unique distinction of being the only common and popular one in which no color fault has ever been made a disqualification. The defects in it have always been treated in the Standard as serious defects—but not as disqualifications. I have known instances; however, where judges applied general formulas for color disqualifications to buff birds, and I imagine there have been many such, and also that many exhibitors in selecting have supposed that the common rules about foreign color in plumage applied.
Most Common Defects
Lack of uniformity in shade of buff; presence of black or white, or of both. There is little to choose between these faults. Black and white, if quite strongly marked, greatly mars the appearance of a buff bird even in the eyes of a novice not critical about uniformity in shade of buff. The presence of these foreign colors seems to him a much more serious fault than any unevenness of shade which he observes. But to the critical breeder and judge of buff color general evenness and soundness of color with a little black or white, or black and white, in the sections where these faults are most apt to appear is much more to be desired than absolute freedom From foreign color, for lack of uniformity of buff color spoils the appearance of the whole bird; while at the minimum at which it is comparatively easy to keep them black and white appear as mealiness in the flight feathers ,where they are more or less concealed. Even a slight peppering of black, or a little mealiness on the coverts or in other sections may be tolerated rather than the presence of several shades of buff in the different sections of the plumage, and sometimes on the same feather. Lack of uniformity of buff color in different sections has been in a marked degree eliminated from the best strains of nearly all buff varieties, a class of buffs at any good show now usually presents a very pleasing uniformity of shade, when seen from a little distance. But comparatively few of the most even looking birds appear sound in color when closely inspected, and it seems obvious to anyone familiar with the behavior of buff color in reproduction that the most common cause of such unevenness of color is the mating of specimens too far apart in shade of color not what is commonly considered an extreme mating, but still with more difference between the colors of the parents than is desirable if soundness of color is to be obtained. In general, there is a tendency for the light and dark shades of parents that were themselves quite uniform in general shade of color to take the form of lacing, a light lacing on a darker buff surface, and very often this darker center is divided by “shafting” as light as the edging, making a very uneven surface. In some cases the lacing appears very regular. In others it is irregular and more or less mixed with irregular blotches of light color. The difference between the two shades of buff appears to be much exaggerated by exposing the birds to sun and weather. The plausible explanation of this is that the parents differed in respect to fading, and that the birds may inherit the capacity to hold one shade better than the other.
There is frequently a dark, instead of a light edge on a buff feather. This is most conspicuous on the backs of females. It is quite invariably a glossy edging, and appears to occur oftenest in lines in which the males have good luster in the male plumage. It is less objectionable than the white edging because it does not give the slightly washed out appearance that goes with the other fault.
Undesirable as these faults are, birds that have them only in a minor degree that appear sound colored at a little distance or in poor lights, and are generally even in color are much better birds to show than those of extra good sound color but with different shades in one or more sections. In fact, judges generally will favor birds that to those not familiar with their practice, appear to lack something of “rich golden buff” rather than those showing any difference of color between sections. Most judges are also especially severe on birds in which the hackle is of a pronouncedly different shade from the back. Some difference in the shade of the tail will usually be tolerated, especially if the tail is a little dark. Many males have tails that are of a chestnut shade. If this is fairly sound in color, and the colors of saddle, lesser coverts and the remainder of the tail are graded and blend without showing too abrupt a break from back to tail color, a bird with a reddish tail may be placed well, when a bird with a like fault in the hackle, or across the back and wings, would not get looked at a second time. Absolutely good sound buff color all over the bird is extremely rare. Many of the best bred birds have it on the outer surface of the body (all parts) but fail in wings and tail: Many specimens that one not trained in the examination of buff color would say were even in, shade “from head to tail” are found to be uneven when the head of the bird is bent back so that a direct comparison of the color of the hackle with that of the middle of the back and the saddle can be made. Where the difference is so slight it is really imperceptible when the bird is in a natural position, the perfect blending of shades between the back and neck sections deceives the eye and gives the impression of absolute uniformity. The judge does not trust to his eye alone but tests the uniformity of color by comparison of the extremes. In general, it may be said that a bird that appears a good uniform buff as it runs in the yard, and that upon examination is found to have no serious faults in the concealed parts of the plumage has a chance of being placed in any but the very strongest competition in buff varieties. At the best shows, and where club shows occur, it usually takes a bird of good color all through, only one or two sections at all off, to get a place. Probably more quality in color is required to win in strong competition in Buff Orpingtons than in any other buff variety, for the practice of shading birds while their show plumage is growing is general among the leading Buff Orpington breeders. They either have uncommonly good natural shade, or provide what is required. The Buff Cochin, being far the oldest of the buff varieties and highly improved in color before any of the rest appeared, and being bred now almost exclusively by fanciers of long experience with it, has uniformity of color better established than any other buff variety, and in the stocks of fanciers few birds are found that are not of pretty good exhibition color, the exceptions being the darker birds used to keep color From running too light. Buff Cochin Bantams, being much more popular and in the hands of many novices, do not present the same uniform good color. Buff Minorcas are new, with good buff color very rare. Buff Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes and Leghorns are extremely variable, but with few birds shown anywhere that appear to have had the care taken with the plumage while growing that would preserve the shade of color in its original value. Most buff birds will show better color in the coops in the showroom than in a strong outside light, because the slight differences in color are not perceptible in modified light. For this reason a novice in showing buff birds often underrates the value of birds he sees in a bright light in the yards, as compared with some he has seen in a subdued light at a show, and 1 have known men to buy a bird at a show to improve the color of their stock, only to find when they took it home that in a clear light it was inferior to their own. While the description in the Standard has remained unchanged since 1898 the shade of buff in favor varies more or less From time to time. Different judges also have their preferences for particular shades, and in general, rather light birds get the preference at eastern shows, while in the West medium birds are favored. In some show seasons buff birds of all varieties appear unusually sound and even in color, while at other times it is hard to sound and even in color, while at other times it is hard to find a specimen that shows prime finish and quality in color. The difference is probably attributable to weather conditions. To establish the cause with any degree of certainty would require a more thorough inquiry into the conditions affecting different flocks than it is practical for anyone to make. The point of interest to an exhibitor is that when color generally is better or worse in his Buffs than he expected it to be, the probability is that most of his competitors are in the same position. The Buff laced varieties are rare. Little interest is taken in them, and anything that is passably representative of the type usually is given an award when shown.
Under Color
The Standard requires under color a lighter shade of buff than the surface. This means lighter than the Standard color for the surface, not lighter in any case than the surface of the particular bird under consideration. The distinction is of more importance from the breeder’s than from the exhibitor’s standpoint, but in some cases may he of consequence to the exhibitor especially when showing under a judge who has a strong bias in favor of good under color. It is often stated that the under color is invariably lighter than the surface. That is true as a general rule, but it has exceptions, and these exceptions are most likely to be found in birds with light lacing on the surface. In such cases, and particularly in score-card shows, the strength of the under color may offset the weakness of surface color. As a rule, at comparison shows, superior under color will not place a bird ahead of one equally good in surface color ,unless a decision comes to the under color , after the judge has been unable to decide between the birds on any external point. The most common defect in buff under color is lack of buff color. In some specimens, particularly in old females, it is white or nearly so. This is not a fatal handicap to an otherwise exceptionally good bird, for in buff varieties the penalties for white in under color cannot be applied as in black and black-red varieties, and it is practically impossible to avoid having a good deal of what else where would be called positive white in the under color of buff birds as long as very light buff is favored in judging. Slate in the under color of buff varieties is a fault that belongs to their early stages of development. There is no excuse for it today in any but the new Buff Minorca.
Color of Shanks and Beaks
All buff varieties, except the Orpington, Minorca. , and the buff laced varieties of Polish, have yellow legs and beaks, and in these faults of color are rare. In the Orpingtons and Minorcas the tendency is to yellowish shanks, so that except where they have been long carefully bred for proper color in this sections many otherwise good birds have to be discarded for exhibition purposes.