West of England Tumbler

GENERAL

Standard Picture.  The West of England Tumbler portrayed in the standard picture is a cock bird.

Evaluating Hens.  Hens are generally slighter in head, frontal, and body characteristics then cocks.  This difference is to be taken into consideration and allowed for when evaluating hens to the standard.

Evaluating Faults.  A fault is any deviation from the ideal West as described in the written standard or as portrayed in the standard picture.  All faults not specifically identified as major faults or disqualifications should be evaluated by degree of expression.  If a fault is expressed to a small degree or slightly it should be considered a minor fault.  If the fault is expressed to such an extreme that it is no longer representative of the breed or color it should be considered a major fault.  No birds are to be faulted or awarded for characteristics that are not specifically stated or reasonably implied in the written standard or from the standard picture.

BODY  (15 Points) -- Wedge shaped, broad shoulders, chest full and well rounded.  Body to be medium build and not to appear bulky, stocky or heavy set.  Wing butts and wing line to blend well into the chest so as that the wings and chest appear as one.  The keel is to be straight, not deformed, and to blend well into the body.  While standing at attention cocks should stand approximately 9 inches tall and hens should stand approximately 8 1/2 inches tall.

Weight: (Cocks) = approx. 11 - 12 oz.  (Hens) = approx. 9 - 10 oz.

Major Faults:  Protruding wing butts.

CARRIAGE  (10 Points) -- Upright, erect, bold and jaunty, and alert in appearance. There should be expressed a sense of power (the result of fullness in the head, neck, and chest) but not overly pronounced as to be out of proportion to the body.  While standing at attention the body should be at approximately a 45 degree angle to the floor.  Tip of tail should be approximately  1/2 inch beyond the wing tip.  While standing at attention, tip of tail is to be one quarter to one half inch from the floor and the eyes to be aligned over the front toes.  Bird to be well balanced in appearance with all body parts proportionate to each other and flowing smoothly together presenting the impression of refinement, harmony and balance.

Major Faults:  Refuses to station - continually paces, squats, boats (stands with chest and tail parallel to the floor), or hunkers (stands with head pulled into body).

LEGS & MUFFS  (4 Points) -- Legs are to be well set, of medium length, and not knocked kneed or bow legged.  Muffs should be full and of medium length (approximately 3 to 3 1/2 inches)  and in proportion to the body but not too profuse nor form a half circle.  Front toes should not be exposed but concealed with short feathering.  There should be a definite break between muffs and hocks.

HEAD (8 Points) -- Oval and of medium size. The head should taper in an oval shape to back of  the neck with a fairly high rounded and moderately broad forehead.  The head should show no acute angles, marked flatness but round headed in appearance.  The head should exhibit definite backskull which blends imperceptibility into the neck.  The backskull should not be overly pronounced as to cause a flat headed appearance.  Feathering to have the appearance of forming a smooth, close shell.  There should not be excessive feathering around the eyes presenting an eyebrow or browy look nor excessive feathering around the cheek area presenting a puffy or cheeky look.

NECK (2 Points) -- Of medium length, full, broad at shoulders.  Neck to blend smoothly into chest, shoulders, head and throat with no folds or creases.  Neck to be full in feather but to have a smooth contour free from raggedness, frizziness, excessive looseness, swirls, and breaks (open spaces) in the contour.

EYES (5 Points) -- Iris pearl to white in color, clear, even in color, free of cloudiness and free from gravel (flecks of color).  Iris to fit flush against the eye cere so as no eye muscle is exposed between the iris and the eye cere.  Pupil should be round, centered, black and as small as possible.  Eyes should not be recessed (sunken in).  "Bull or Cracked" eye and yellow, orange, or red colored eyes will constitute an automatic disqualification.

EYE CERE (2 Points) -- Small and threadlike of fine texture.  Eye cere to be closely feathered with no skin exposed between feathering and eye cere.

WATTLE (2 Points) -- Small, close fitting, neat and fine in texture.  Wattle should be powdery white in color.

BEAK (5 Points) -- Medium in length and thickness, free of coarseness, and smooth with no scaling. When bird is standing at attention beak should have a slight downward look.  The line between the lower and upper beak if extended in a straight line should pass through the bottom edge of the eye.

HOCKS (2 Points) -- Short in length and not to be profusely feathered.

FLIGHTS & TAIL (10 Points) -- Flights tightly folded, broad and short coverts closing neatly over and covering the rump (commonly referred to as back coverage).  There should be no razor back flights (flights protruding higher than the shield when the wing is closed).  Tail closely folded and slightly wedged allowing flights to rest on the tail with tips of flights to just touch.  Tail and primary flight feathers to be strong and medium in width.  Tail should be one feather wide.  Twelve tail feathers only.  Thirteen or more tail feathers constitute an automatic disqualification.

Major faults:  Flights held below the tail and razor back flights.

COLOR (10 Points) -- See Specific Color Descriptions for color descriptions.

MARKINGS (10 Points) -- See Specific Color Descriptions for marking descriptions.

CONDITION (15 Points) -- All specimens shall be shown in a natural and healthy condition. Alert, clear and free of parasites.  Feather texture should be medium to hard and smooth and silky in texture and appearance, not coarse, loose, ragged, or frizzy.  Points shall be deducted for lice, lice holes, mites, dirt, grit and feeding stains, molting, feather rot, broken and frayed feathers, feathers not fully grown, deformities and other areas the judge deems as part of condition.

Body condition should be firm feeling versus loose or soft bodied.  Obviously sick birds or birds infested with parasites will constitute an automatic disqualification.  Excessive trimming, excessive plucking, dyeing, oiling or any other method of faking to deceive the judge or artificially upgrade the specimen, shall constitute an automatic disqualification (excludes plucking, trimming, and other activity performed that is a normal part of show preparation).
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TOTAL POINTS...100

 ALL COLORS - Rich, sound, and lustrous in color throughout.  Even shades, well extended into the roots of the quills.  Full bright plumage with an abundance of sheen.  All birds should have clean and bright color without smut, dirtiness, or sootiness.  There should be no yellowish, orangish, or reddish beaks or eye ceres.  All beak colors, other than flesh colored, may show a gradation of color from light to dark or dark to light.  Stained, where used in beak color descriptions, refers to splotches, streaks, or irregular patches of color.

SPECIAL COLOR CLASSES - There are to be no special color classes established for off colored birds (i.e. smoky black selfs or dirty blue bar patterns) or mismarked birds (i.e. a colored self with a couple of white flights or a baldhead with a couple of color patches on its head) nor are they to be shown in Any Other Color (AOC) classes.  AOC classes are to be used for any color or any marking not described in the present standard color descriptions. AOC colors or markings, except mosaics, would have to be reproducible and not just a one time or rare breeding accident.  Mosaics are an exception and, when shown, entered in the appropriate color category AOC class.  If the AOC color is a recognized color in another breed, or breeds, the other breed standard color descriptions may be used in evaluating the AOC color at the discretion of the judge.  Each color category to have its own AOC class (i.e. AOC self, AOC baldhead, etc.)

     Barred  to have two distinct bars medium in width and extending from the lower edge of the wingshield into the upper edge.  There is to be a slight gap between the bars at the upper edge.  Wingshield background to be free of sootiness and ticking. There should be no white in the rump, vent, and hock area.  There should be no sign of a third bar.
     Check (Open Check), checkering to be open, triangular in shape, and carried evenly to the wing butts. Wingshield background to be free of sootiness and ticking.  There should be no white in the rump, vent, and hock area.
     Dark Check (T-Pattern), checkering to be close, almost solid, except each check (feather) is finely but distinctly edged with the lighter background color of the wingshield.  There should be no white in the rump, vent, and hock area.
     Velvets (T-Pattern), checkering is closed creating a solid even colored wingshield free of any lacing.  There should be no white in the rump, vent, and hock area.
     Barless, wingshield to be clear even shade as found in bars but with no sign of any bar. (Balance of description same as barred.)

Color   Bars or checks dark as possible with wingshield background to be clear even light shade free of smut or dirtiness.  Head color to be rich even shade, neck feather iridescent dark shade, neck color to match bar or check color as closely as possible.  Color in lower neck and chest to gradually diminish and blend into lighter shade of the body.
     Blue.  Blue bar, check, dark check, velvet, and barless.  Wingshield background and body light blue-gray shading to a rich dark blue-gray in the neck.  Bars or checks dark blue-gray.  Tail bar to match wingshield bars or checks in color.  Neck, chest and bars to be free of bronzing.  Back and rump to be light powdery gray.  Beak dark horn and eye ceres grayish.
    Silver (dilute blue).  Silver bar, check, dark check, velvet, and barless.  Wing-shield background and body light fawn shading to a rich dun in the neck.  Bars or checks to be a rich dun.  Tail bar to match wingshield bars or checks in color.  Neck, chest and bars to be free of bronzing. Back and rump to be light powdery fawn.  Beak medium horn and eye ceres grayish.
     Red (ash red). Red bar, check, dark check, velvet, barless, and silver red bar.  Wingshield background and body light lavender gray (except red baldheads) shading to rich burgundy red (except silver red bar) in the neck.  Bar or checks to be rich burgundy red.  Tail, primaries, and tips of secondaries ash gray in color.  Neck and upper chest to be free of silvering.  Feathering to be free of flecking.  Silver red bars are to be entirely silvery lavender gray free of any reddishness except the bars.  Bars to be a rich burgundy red. Beak dark horn and eye ceres grayish.
     Cream/Yellow (dilute ash red).  Cream bar, yellow check, yellow dark check, yellow velvet, cream barless and silver cream bar.  Wingshield background and body soft cream (except yellow baldhead) shading to an even golden yellow (except for silver cream bar) in the neck.  Bars or checks to be clear golden yellow.  Tail, primaries, and tips of secondaries ash gray in color.  Neck, chest, and body to be free of any silvery or gray overtones.  Feathering to be free of flecking.  Silver cream bars necks are to be a silvery lavender gray, free of any yellowishness except the bars. Bars to be a rich golden yellow. Beak medium horn and eye ceres light gray.
     Brown.  Brown bar, check, dark check, velvet, and barless.  Wingshield background and body light brownish-gray shading to a rich chocolate brown in the neck.  Bars or checks dark chocolate brown.  Tail bar to match wingshield bars or checks in color.  Neck, chest and bars to be free of bronzing.  Back and rump to be light powdery brownish-gray.  Beak medium horn and eye ceres drab.
     Khaki (dilute brown).  Khaki bar, check, dark check, velvet, and barless.  Wingshield background and body light soft tan-gray shading to a rich khaki in the neck.  Bars or checks to be a rich khaki.  Tail bar to match wingshield bars or checks in color.  Neck, chest and bars to be free of bronzing.  Back and rump to be light powdery tan-gray.  Beak light horn and eye ceres light drab.
 

ANDALUSIAN (Indigo Spread Blue).    
     MARKINGS - Wingshield with fine but distinct lacing in each feather.  Bird to be free of flecking and splotches.
     COLOR - Body and tail midnight blue shading to very dark midnight blue, almost black, in the chest, neck and head.  The wingshield a bit lighter than body with dark midnight blue lacing. Color to be free from reddish tint or bronzing.  Beak dark horn to black with grayish eye ceres or beak and eye ceres flesh colored.

BRONZE PATTERNS (Modena bronze and other genetic factors (other than indigo) that turn standard bars, checks, T-patterns, and velvets bronze).  Bronze bars, bronze checks, bronze dark checks, and bronze shields (velvets)
     MARKINGS - Descriptions same as standard pattern bar, check, dark check, and velvet markings descriptions except bars, checks, and dark checks to be laced.  Lacing to be fine but distinct.  Bronze shields (velvets) to have even colored wingshield free of any lacing or sootiness.
     COLOR - Color descriptions, including beak and eye cere, same as standard pattern bar, check, dark check, and velvet color descriptions except the neck and chest may be darkened and the wingshield pattern is changed to bronze.  Bar, check, dark check, and velvet pattern areas to be rich even bronze free of grizzling or whitening.  Lacing to be the same color as what would be the normal shield pattern color for that color, i.e. a bronze bar silver would have bronze bars edged with dun lacing.  Body, chest, and neck is to be free of bronze splotches and patches but may show a bronzy cast.

DEROY (Recessive Red Almond).    
     MARKINGS - Flecks of dark gold to red to appear in the flights and tail.  Flecking may also occur through out head, neck, and rest of body.
    COLOR - Ground color to be rich dark yellow to gold.  Flecks and patches to be rich shades of darker gold to red.  Beak may be flesh colored, light to medium horn, or stained.  Eye ceres may be flesh colored, grayish, or mixed.

GOLDEN DUNS (Dilute Kite Bronze T-Pattern Blue)
     MARKINGS - Checks not to show through wingshield but may show a tail bar.
     COLOR - Body, head, and neck dark dun saturated with golden or sulfur bronze.  Tail, flights, and muffs dark dun saturated with golden or sulfur bronze extending outward from the quills.  Beak light to medium horn and eye ceres grayish.

GRIZZLE    
     MARKINGS - Same as standard pattern markings.
     COLOR - Color descriptions, including beak and eye cere, same as standard bar, check, dark check, velvet, and barless color descriptions except the head, body, and wingshield background is covered with an even peppery combination of white with the basic color with neither color predominating.  The neck to have a frosty appearance.  Grizzling is nearly absent in the tail bar and wingshield pattern area.

INDIGO (Indigo Blue).
     MARKINGS - Descriptions same as standard pattern bar, check, dark check, and velvet markings descriptions.
     COLOR - Wingshield background and body darker than normal.  Wingshield pattern (bar, check, dark check, velvet), chest, and neck a rich indigo bronze.  Velvets to have rich even indigo colored wingshield.  Tail and primaries steel gray.  Beak dark horn and eye ceres grayish.

KITE (Bronze T-Pattern Blue).   
     MARKINGS - Checks are not to show through wingshield but may show a tail bar.
     COLOR - Body, head, and neck dark/blackish saturated with bronze.  Tail, flights, and muffs dark saturated with bronze extending outward from the quills.  Beak dark horn and eye ceres grayish.

OPAL PATTERNS    
(dominant opal, toy stencil and other genetic factors that turn standard bars, checks, and T-patterns to a light opal (milky) bronze).  Opal bars, opal checks, opal dark checks (light opal (milky) bronze shield with colored lacing).
     MARKINGS - Descriptions same as standard pattern bar, check, and dark check markings descriptions except bars and checks may or may not be laced.  Dark checks to be laced. Lacing to be fine but distinct.
     COLOR - Color descriptions, including beak and eye cere, same as standard pattern bar, check, and dark check color descriptions except the neck and chest may be lightened and the wingshield pattern is changed to light even opal (milky) bronze.  Bar, check, and dark check pattern areas to be a light even opal (milky) bronze free of white.  Lacing to be the same color as what would be the normal shield pattern color for that color, i.e. an opal bar silver would have light opal (milky) bronze bars edged with dun lacing.  Body, chest, and neck to be free of bronzing.

PEARL (Dilute Indigo Spread Blue).
     MARKINGS - Wingshield with fine but distinct lacing in each feather.  Bird to be free of flecking and splotches.
     COLOR - Body and tail light pearl gray shading to a darker gray in the chest, neck and head.  The wingshield a little lighter than body with darker gray lacing. Color to be free from yellowish/reddish tint or bronzing.  Beak medium horn to dun with grayish eye ceres or beak and eye ceres flesh colored.

REDUCED
     MARKINGS - When combined with standard patterns bar, check, and dark checks same as standard pattern markings except bars, checks, and dark checks to be edged with fine but distinct darker lacing.  In all laced reduced patterns each feather in wingshield to be edged with a darker (darker than wingshield) fine but distinct lacing.  Head may have darkish masklike cast.
     COLOR - Reduced can be combined with any color.  It has the effect of lightening or reducing basic colors to light pastel shades while reducing the wingshield pattern to even lighter pastel shades.  Bars and checks should be light even pastel color free of bronzing.  Tip of beak may show darker spot except for reduced recessive yellow, gold, and red.

       Gray Bar (Reduced Spread Blue Bar).  Tail, legs, muffs, head, and body dark gray shading to an iridescent light silvery gray neck.  Bars very light pale gray, almost white, and even in color.  All color including bars to be free of bronzing.  Beak medium horn and eye ceres grayish.
       Gray Lace (Reduced Spread T-Pattern Blue).   
Tail, legs, muffs, head, and body light gray shading to an iridescent light silvery gray neck.  Wingshield light gray with fine but distinct darker gray lacing.  All color to be free of bronzing.  Beak medium horn and eye ceres grayish.
       Peach Lace (Reduced Recessive Red T-Pattern).   
Body is peach colored with reddish tint shading to an iridescent light silvery pale cream neck.  Wingshield pale cream with fine but distinct peach colored lacing.  Beak and eye ceres flesh colored.
       Khaki Lace (Reduced Spread T-Pattern Brown).  Body light khaki shading to an iridescent pale silvery cream neck.  Wingshield pale cream with fine but  distinct light khaki lacing.  Beak very light horn and eye ceres light drab.

RIBBON TAILS   
     MARKINGS - Tail bar in each tail feather to be entirely white.  When tail is spread the white tail bars to form an even white ribbon across the entire width of the tail.  Tips of all primary flights to show distinct finch markings.
     COLOR - See appropriate pattern color description.

STRAWBERRY - (Spread Ash-Red Check or T-Pattern).
     MARKINGS - Light background smeared somewhat evenly through body and wingshield with darker shades of color.  May be flecked.  If flecked flecking should be apparent through out body and wingshield.
     COLOR - Light lavender background throughout smeared with rich red.  May be flecked with blue, black, and/or brown.  Beak dark horn and eye ceres grayish or beak and eye ceres flesh colored.

TORTOISE SHELL
     MARKINGS Base color to be splashed somewhat evenly with grizzle and white throughout head, neck, chest, body, and wingshield.  Flights, tail, and muffs colored and interspersed with grizzle or with grizzle and white.
     COLOR
       Bronze Tortoise Shell (Grizzle Bronze Blue).   
Head, neck, chest, and body to be bronze, interspersed with grizzling and white and may be flecked with dark gray-blue, dark bronze, and dark/blackish kite.  Flights, tail, and muffs to be either dark blue-gray saturated with bronze or kite, and interspersed with grizzle or grizzle and white.  Tail may show a tail bar.  Beak dark horn and eye ceres grayish. Beak may be stained.
       Sulfur Tortoise Shell (Dilute Grizzle Bronze Blue).    
Color description same as bronze tortoise shell except the bronze/kite and blue-gray is replaced with sulfur and dun.  Beak light to medium horn and eye ceres grayish.  Beak may be stained.
       Brown Tortoise Shell (Grizzle Bronze Brown).   
Head, neck, chest, and body to be bronze interspersed with grizzling and white and may be flecked with dark bronze and/or dark brown.   Flights, tail, and muffs to be dark brown saturated with bronze and interspersed with grizzle or grizzle and white.  Tail may show a tail bar.  Beak medium horn and eye ceres drab.  Beak may be stained.

WHITE PATTERNS (dominant opal, toy stencil and other genetic factors that turn standard bars, checks, and T-patterns to white).   
White bars, white checks, white dark checks (white shield with colored lacing).
     MARKINGS - Descriptions same as standard pattern bar, check, and dark check markings descriptions except bars and checks may or may not be laced.  Dark checks to be laced. Lacing to be fine but distinct.
     COLOR - Color descriptions, including beak and eye cere, same as standard pattern bar, check, and dark check color descriptions except the neck and chest may be lightened and the wingshield pattern is changed to white.  Bar, check, and dark check pattern areas to be white as possible and free of bronzing.  Lacing to be the same color as what would be the normal shield pattern color for that color, i.e. a white bar silver would have white bars edged with dun lacing.  Body, chest, and neck to be free of bronzing.

YELLOW TICKS - (Dilute Spread Ash-Red Check or T-Pattern).   
     MARKINGS - Light background smeared somewhat evenly through body and wingshield with darker shades of color.  May be flecked.  If flecked flecking should be apparent through out body and wingshield.
   COLOR - Light cream background throughout smeared with rich yellow.  May be flecked with silver, dun, and/or khaki.  Beak medium horn with grayish eye ceres or beak and eye ceres flesh colored.

SELFS

MARKINGS - All one solid uniform color.  To be free of colored feathers other than the base color.  There is to be no checker or barred pattern showing through the color and no lacing on tail and wing tips.
COLOR - To be free of: off color on the rump, underside, and vent area; fading out of color intensity in flights, tail, and muffs; bronzing in the neck and chest area; and stained beaks.
     Black (Spread Blue).   
Glistening jet black with beetle green and purple sheen.  Beak black with grayish eye ceres or beak and eye ceres flesh colored.
     Dun (Dilute Spread Blue).  Deep gun metal gray with greenish sheen.  Beak dark horn with grayish eye ceres, or beak and eye ceres flesh colored.
     Red (Recessive Red [includes Red Agates]). 
Rich blood red.  Beak very light or flesh colored.  Eye ceres flesh colored.
     Gold (Pale Recessive Red).  Shade of color midway between red and yellow but with deep orange cast.  Beak very light or flesh colored.  Eye ceres flesh colored.
     Yellow (Dilute Recessive Red [includes yellow agates]).   
Rich butter scotch yellow.  Beak very light or flesh colored.  Eye ceres flesh colored.
     Brown (Spread Brown).   
Rich chocolate brown.  Beak horn with drab eye ceres, or beak and eye ceres flesh colored.
     Khaki (Dilute Spread Brown).    
Rich khaki color.  Beak light horn with light eye ceres, or beak and eye ceres flesh colored.
     Lavender (Spread Ash-Red Bar or Milky Spread Blue, etc.).  Even lavender gray, free of any reddishness in the bar or chest area.  Beak horn with grayish eye ceres, or beak and eye ceres flesh colored.
     Mauve (Dilute Spread Ash-Red Bar or Dilute Milky Spread Blue, etc.).  Very pale even ash or very pale gray, free of any off color in the bar or chest area.  Beak medium horn with grayish eye ceres, or beak and eye ceres flesh colored.
     White (absence of color pigment). 
Pure snow white.  Beak and eye ceres flesh colored.

MOTTLES

MARKINGS

     Shield Mottle.
Entire bird, including primaries, to be colored except wingshield.  Wingshield to be colored interspersed with whole white feathers throughout the wingshield.  Quantity of white feathers should be about the same on both sides.
        Major faults: white in tail or primaries.

     Mottle.  Bird more than 50% colored with whole white feathers interspersed fairly evenly throughout the entire body.  Bird should be at least 20% white through out the head, neck, body, and wingshield. Primaries, muffs, and tail may be colored, colored interspersed fairly evenly with white feathers, or white interspersed fairly evenly with colored feathers, but should not be solid white.  Quantity of white feathers should be about the same on both sides.
     Splash.  Bird more than 50% white with whole colored feathers interspersed fairly evenly throughout the entire body.  Bird should be at least 20% colored through out the head, neck, body, and wingshield. Primaries, muffs, and tail may be colored, white, colored interspersed fairly evenly with white feathers, or white interspersed fairly evenly with colored feathers.  Quantity of colored feathers should be about the same on both sides.

     Rosewing.  6 to 12 white feathers upon each shoulder arranged at equal distance within a circular form, both sides alike.  All else solid colored.

     Whitesides.  Wingshield, including finger feathers, to be white.  Secondaries may be all white or all colored.  Primaries and all else to be colored. Major faults: white in tail or primaries.

COLOR - See appropriate self or pattern color description.  Stained beak is allowable in all colors other than red, gold, and yellow.  Stained beaks in reds, golds, and yellows will constitute a loss of points.

MARKED

MARKINGS - All birds with fixed pied markings other than baldheads.
     Badges.  Head markings to be a moderately broad white blaze running up the middle of the face, a white dot over each eye, and a white chuck (or beard) extending to just beyond the eyes.  There is to be a white pear shaped whisker beginning at the base of the beak on each side and extending into the chuck.  The primary flights and the muffs below the hock joint to be white.  The tail and rump to be either colored or all white, but not mixed.  The rest of the bird to be colored.  Beak and eye ceres to be flesh colored.
     Beards.  Beards to have a white crescent shaped chuck (beard) extending from where the mandibles meet in a straight line to the bottom of each eye and running downward to about a half inch below the beak.  Ten primary flights and the muffs below the hock to be white.  The tail and the rest of the bird to be colored.  Beak and eye ceres to be flesh colored.
     Saddlebacks.  Head markings to be the same as the badge.  Neck, breast (to a line across the keel), back, and tail to be colored.   Colored back to form a clear, well defined V-shaped saddle extending from the top of each shoulder in an even outline to the rump.  Wings, underbody, rump, hocks, and muffs to be white.  Beak and eye ceres to be flesh colored.
COLOR - See appropriate pattern or self color description.