Periodic revision of the Standard is a healthy sign of advancement.  An effort has been made to further clarify, especially in the color descriptions, the Standard wording.

We hope to impress in the minds of all members that the Modena is a balanced bird with many equally important sections; that we should recognize and search for desirable traits and not be overly concerned with minor faults; that in the evaluation of each bird, the judge must adhere to the scale of points regardless of personal preference.

Shape of Body…..………………20

Station……………………………20

Head, Neck and Eye……………20

Color and Markings…………..…20

Legs…………………………….. 10

Condition……………………….. 10

Total…………………………… 100

Using a given figure of nine and one-half inches as the ideal Modena height, seven inches as the ideal length, and five inches as the ideal width, to be broken down as follows: The ideal length of the neck shall be three inches from the top of the skull to the low point at the back. The body profile shall be four and one-half inches from the low part of the back to the bottom of the body. The legs shall be two inches below the body. These measurements are to be considered the ideal and should be used as such in all judging. Overall balance shall be more important than the exact physical dimensions.

Bands shall be .340" inside diameter and ¼" height.

Chest broad, round and prominent, back wide at the shoulders, short and well rounded, not flattened, body to be deep, short, broad and cobby with rump broad enough to support the wings. The shape shall be well rounded in a graceful curve when viewed from any angle. The legs to be located in the direct center of the profile.

Proud and erect, with head held high, though not strained or stretched as from fright. Eye and wing juncture with body shall be on a perpendicular line. The tail to be curved upwards at an angle that would be level at the bird’s neck at approximately one-half the distance from the low point of the back to the top of the skull, or approximately one and one-half inches. The flights to rest as flat as possible on the tail.

HEAD:

Shall be of medium length, approximately two and one-half inches from front to back on a level line of the eye and approximately one and one-half inches wide. Top of skull to be well rounded. Curve of head shall be graceful from beck to neck.

The beak shall be short and broad, approximately five-eighths of an inch from the feather line above the wattle to the tip of the beak. Dark colored birds to have dark horn beaks, light colored birds to have flesh colored beaks. Both types to be free of any discoloration. The wattles shall be small of fine texture. Recessive Red to have light horn beaks.

To be very bright and prominent; iris shading from orange to orange red with plenty of luster. Whites to have either "bull" colored or orange eyes. Eye to be approximately seven-eighths inches from top of skull to the center of the eye.

To be fine and even in texture, with color shading to blend in with the color of the bird so as to be as inconspicuous as possible. Ceres in whites to light red.

Of medium length or approximately three inches from the low point of the back to the top of the skull. It shall graduate in fullness from top to chest. No distinct gullet, but not pinched at the throat. Neck shall be tilted slightly back with no trace of neck shaking or over styling. The "stout bull-neck" is most desirable.

Short, deep, tightly folded, carried well cocked up. Wing butts shall blend smoothly with the chest, with the tips lying upon the tail. Flight feathers to be short and broad. Covert feathers to meet on the back so there is no hole or open back showing.

Shall be as deep as possible, fairly short and curved with the contour of the body from front to back.

Very short and broad webbed. To be folded tightly. Tail to be curved in a graceful curve. Tip to be approximately one and one-half inches above the low point of the back. Tail shall be approximately one-quarter inch longer than the wing flights.

The legs to be approximately two inches in length and very straight. The legs, feet and toes to be bright red and free of any feathering, feathers down to band permissible. The toes to be fine texture and well spread out. Dark horn colored nails to be on dark colored birds and light flesh colored nails on light colored birds. Legs to be wide apart as possible to keep the bird in proportion.

Color in all classes is to be very rich, lustrous and pure with much sheen. All self-colored birds to be evenly colored throughout. Where two or more colors are present on the same feather, these colors should be in sharp contrast to each other.

Feathers to be medium hard and smooth. Body to be well filled with firm flesh.