Year Book - The Laced Wyandotte Club
Transcription
Year Book - The Laced Wyandotte Club
The Laced Wyandotte Club CClluubb SShhoow w CChhaam mppiioonn SS & & JJ D Daaccee Year Book 2011 Call 01623 464818 or mobile 07817577864 [email protected] Panel A Poultry Club Judge Contributor to National Poultry Magazines 2 Secretaries Report [email protected] 01691 780245 Dear Members, We are on the brink of another Club Show, with our Regional Show not far off too. I will start with the report on our last Club Show, held at the Federation. I’m sure that most of you who were due to attend the show must have been watching the forecast with growing unease, as I was myself. I was due to travel down on the Saturday morning, leaving around 5am, but on the Thursday we had very heavy snow, with more forecast for Friday. So I hastily decided to book a Travelodge room and go down on the Friday afternoon, and thank goodness I did, as the report from my hubby on Saturday was that my little Focus would never have made it down the drive, let alone down the small lane to the village! After the big rush to beat the snow, it was a great relief walking into the hall on the Friday to see Mark Vaughan putting numbers on the pens, and knowing that at least two Club members had made it. In all there were many members who did manage to brave the weather, including our two judges Derek Alsop and Kerry Wilson, who went on to do an excellent job of judging. Although very understandable, it was a real shame there were so many empty pens. I would also like to congratulate Kerry on the excellent job she did of organising and presenting the cups, which were sparkling. As our now permanent cup secretary, I’m sure they will always be in safe hands. There was a presentation to our retiring President Mr Derek Alsop, which was a superb painting by Judith Allen (a member of the Club) of one of Derek’s past Silver Laced winners, which was presented to him by Bob Woods. I’m sure I speak for all the Club members in wishing Derek all the best, and hopefully he will continue for many more years exhibiting and being a valued senior member of the Club. I also have to thank all the members who volunteered to spend time watching the stand from time to time and to offer an apology to Mr Edward Haden, as I forgot to thank him in the last Newsletter for watching the stand at the National for at least two hours whilst I was stewarding. The show did have a quieter feel to it, with so many exhibitors not able to make it, but overall still a great event as usual and congratulations to all the winners. 3 On a disappointing note, on finding our Club AGM had been moved from the 1pm slot to 5pm which I was sure most would find too late to stay until. I sent a letter asking if at all possible that our 2012 AGM at Stafford could be at a more favourable time. The reply I received back made it clear that this was not going to happen, and that the best we could hope for was the 5pm slot or to be moved if another Club cancels, which will be very unlikely. As a Club we will have to decide if we accept this or finish rotating, and have our AGM at Stoneleigh from now on. This will be for you, the club members, to decide at the next AGM. You will most likely be aware after reading this yearbook that it is dominated by Gold Laced articles; this is firstly the result of the members who have made contributions to this year book being into Gold Laced, and also a subject that is on a lot of members’ minds at this time. So if you wish to see more articles on your chosen colour please send me them to be added to the next publication! I had been hoping to get a website set up since I started as Club Secretary, but just did not have time to do one myself, so I was very excited when a new member Gay Clark rang me out of the blue to offer her services. She told me how she had been at Tim and Val Moss’s house and that they had mentioned to her that the Club was looking to find someone to build a website, and as it just so happens she makes websites for a living! So a big thanks to Gay for all her hard work on the site and also to Tim and Val for finding her. Our new website’s address is: www.lacedwyandotteclub.co.uk Please have a look and let us know what you all think. I would also like to thank Steve Dace for finding us more than 10 new members though his bird sales. Knowing him to be a car dealer, I’m sure they didn’t stand a chance of saying no! I hope you have all had a productive year, with lots of promising youngsters. I look forward to meeting you all again at the two main shows . The AGM will be at the Club show in Stoneleigh on Saturday at 1pm. Lastly thank you to all the Members that contributed to this Year book. Collette Roberts 4 Our retiring President Mr Derek Alsop receiving his Painting Derek joined the Club in 1955, which was then called the Gold and Sliver Laced Wyandotte Club. From the first he became a very proactive member, showing, judging and writing articles. We were only a very small Club in those days, but his enthusiasm for the poultry fancy made him very popular and well known around the shows. He was first appointed to judge our Club show in 1982, which was the last year that was held at Bingly Hall in Birmingham. Derek was far-sighted enough to recognise that we would become a larger and much stronger Club by incorporating the Blue laced and Buff laced varieties, and 5 it was mainly by his instigation that this happened, and we renamed the Club “The Laced Wyandotte Club” in1982. This has proved to be a huge success with a great increase in the numbers of members. By serving on the Poultry Club Council from 1990 to 2003, Derek was able to represent us and to keep us informed of Poultry Club affairs. Derek was elected as our President in 1986, and apart from the few years when he stood down to become Vic President, he has helped steer the Club through the last 25 years, helping to produce the excellent hand book in 1998 and regularly writing interesting articles in the Newsletters. His unfailing service to the Club, always on hand in any crisis, his interest in everyone and his kindness and approachability has meant The Laced Wyandotte Club has thrived happily. I know I am speaking for all our members when I say a huge “thank you “for all he has done for the Club. Of course we hope he will continue to attend shows and meetings for a good many more years. Margo Haines L A R G E O L D A C E D Y A N D O T T E S U S U A L L Y F O R S A L E LA AR RG GE EG GO OL LD DL LA AC CE ED DW WY YA AN ND DO OT TT TE ES SU US SU UA AL LL LY YF FO OR RS SA AL LE E,, P P R E F E R R E D T M E O F P U R C H A S E D U R N G L A T E A U T U M N PR RE EF FE ER RR RE ED DT TIIIM ME EO OF FP PU UR RC CH HA AS SE ED DU UR RIIIN NG GL LA AT TE EA AU UT TU UM MN N W W H E N B R D S N E A R N G M A T U R T Y WH HE EN NB BIIIR RD DS SN NE EA AR RIIIN NG GM MA AT TU UR RIIIT TY Y.. TTeell 0011775522 883377006666 oorr eem maaiill m mrrbboobbw wooooddss@ @bbttiinntteerrnneett..ccoom m 6 Chairman’s Report I recall our retiring President Derek Alsop saying on more than one occasion that the Laced Wyandotte Club is the best supported Wyandotte club there is. I have not heard of anything to the contrary and look forward to attracting even more members in the future. So a big thanks to Derek for presiding over our club for many many years and keeping matters on an even keel. I must also thank Steve Dace here who has recruited quite a few new members for us via his commercial connections. We have much to do and are working on several fronts with our new and talented Secretary. Collette Roberts has joined myself as Joint Treasurer after her excellent bedding in period as Honorary Secretary, and it is much easier for her now as she receives the subscriptions etc herself, which saves correspondence ‘flying about’ between the two of us. We need to address the dearth of information on our breed (apart from Silver Laced) in the Standards Book. For example, a future judge of our Club Show phoned the secretary to exclaim, “There is nothing in the Standards Book on a certain colour I am judging.” Extrapolation from the Silver Laced to apply to other colours is just not a credible option. I am working on Blue Laced and Buff Laced to submit at the AGM for discussion. So any member who hopefully wants to be involved with the two colours mentioned, please give me a ring on 01623 464 818. For texting purposes etc, my mobile number is 07817 577 864. The most work is needed on the Gold Laced, and I know some members have become frustrated by the Club not really defining what colour is required in the changing modern world. With that in mind, watch this space at the AGM where hopefully we will have a more positive outcome this year to help members. Gaynor Day is beavering away on our website for the club. We have purchased the domain name now (I don’t know really much about that side of things, but don’t tell anyone, lol!) so please visit the website and have a look at how far we (Gaynor!) have progressed so far. Gaynor’s email is [email protected] should you wish to enquire about anything on the website. Collette is working hard on the yearbook and we are grateful to Andrew Richardson (Orpington Breed Secretary) for putting us in touch with a (hopefully) excellent printer, at reasonable remuneration exchange. With spiralling food costs and the time it takes to rear birds etc, I suspect that most of us are keeping a close watch on prices. I find it difficult as honestly I am addicted to breeding. It can and has become an obsession, and those close to me know that is true. Thank goodness for the Colin Mitchells, Keith Thackers and Kerry Wilsons of the breeding world who can turn out larger numbers than most and do it without incurring the ‘black dog’. 7 The old chestnut again of supporting regional Shows: Have a word with your local Show Secretary and see what classes they can put on for you - and more importantly that you can support them - so showing our breed potentially to a wider audience. Just been reading a comment from the very experienced fancier and judge Brian Anderton and in his “Orpington” Chairman comments he wonders whether the internet is going to threaten our yearbooks, amongst other things, with fanciers freely exchanging views on all the social networking sites, resulting perhaps in even fewer (if that is possible) poultry personnel putting pen to paper. I know our secretary gets frustrated (and I don’t blame her) with fanciers (the most frustrating being those who are not even club members) who pontificate on these networking sites but won’t go through the official channels of the AGM and putting their thoughts on paper. Sometimes with their misplaced ‘hot air’ they have the potential to misguide (to put it politely) new and innocent members of our club or those who may have joined but been put off by idle inaccurate chit chat. I am not against free chat - the internet or social networking - but remember there is ‘a time and a place’. By the time the yearbook comes out we will hopefully have a better idea if we have bred any ‘good uns’ - I have been lucky this year, apart from the usual Gold Laced and Buff Laced ‘culls’, and I have finished up with 24 bantam Blue Laced pullets and just half a dozen cockerels. Email me at [email protected] if you have any suggestions, queries or ideas to promote our club. See you around the pens! Richard A. Rowley 8 THE DOYEN BREEDER FROM SUNNY SUFFOLK BIRDS KEPT AND SHOWN Light Silver, Speckled Sussex New Hampshire Red Blue Laced Wyandottes Sumtalers QUALITY STOCK FROM A GENTLEMAN Telephone 01502 713140 9 Tim Moss My first Bantams were given to me by my grandfather when I was 6 years old. He bred and exhibited rabbits, but always had a few bantams of uncertain breeding around the garden. He then acquired some Silver Laced Wyandotte bantams. This was my first sighting of them, and it was love at first sight. He never bred from them, and upon his death when I was 12 years old I inherited them, but they died soon after. My own breeding was mainly producing bantams of no definable origins, although I did try the occasional pure breed, but they never seemed to do very well. It was not until 1974 that two things happened that were to change everything, and start my journey into purebred poultry breeding: Firstly, I joined the Poultry Club and received a Year Book complete with breeders’ lists. Secondly, I got engaged. For Val’s birthday present I bought her a trio of Silver Laced Wyandotte bantams. (She has since had Marans, peafowl, pygmy goats and puppies!) After two or three years we decided to obtain some exhibition quality Laced. So we contacted Tom Chapple. When we went to see him, we took some of our young birds with us and asked his opinion. He said the best thing to do with them was to add them to potatoes and peas! We had him choose us a trio, and we took them home. This was the start of a long association with Tom, up until his death. When the mood took him, he would talk to us all day long, sharing a lot of knowledge about several different breeds, but on other days we would get a curt ‘Hello’ and off he’d go. Ever since then we have bred and exhibited Silver bantams, also trying large Silvers at one point, but due to keeping too many things, soon let them go. My other main breed until 12 years ago was Marans bantams. I was an active member of their Club, holding most posts, including Secretary. Val was involved with Buff Rock bantams. Having moved house twice, and each time bringing all the birds and their housing with us, we decided for various reasons to part with the Marans and later the Buff Rocks. At this time we concentrated all our efforts on the Silver Laced, Silver Dutch, and one other breed which tends to change every so often. 10 At this point I would like to perhaps explain how our partnership works. I attend to the breeding and decide mainly on the plan. Val is in charge of show preparation and presentation. Where the problems start is when we come to choose the breeding and show stock. As we go for slightly different types, it can be the cause of some heated exchanges! This is the reason we exhibit three pullets in a class at most shows, because usually we both agree on one bird, and then each of us gets to put their own choice of best bird in too. Val has always been involved with dogs, and breeds, shows and does heelwork to music with border collies. Val also breeds Silver Dutch bantams, and I have Gold Laced Wyandottes. I acquired the Gold Laced about six years ago, thinking they needed to be brought to the fore a bit more, as they were rarely seen at shows. People tell of many rare breeds and colours that they don’t show, because there is no competition. My answer to that is this: If people don’t see them, they won’t want them! I know that since we have kept the Golds, several people who have come to us for Silvers have ended up taking both. The present argument about the shade of gold isn’t helping, but will probably run on until something more interesting comes up to argue about. Our breeding flock is usually made up of two pens, mated to produce exhibition birds, and one pen to produce a certain type of bird that may not be of show type itself, but may be needed in the future. For example, if I think the birds are getting too heavily laced, I will produce some birds that are finer laced. All eggs are hatched in an incubator, and then the chicks put on grass at five weeks old. They stay out on grass till they are brought in to be pen trained. Our main show has to be the National Championship show. I attended my first one the last time it was held at Alexander Palace, and have not missed one since. It still holds a certain excitement for me that the Federation show cannot match. Of all the poultry people that I admire past and present, the two that come to mind are a gentleman by the name of Jack George, who few if any of you will have heard of. I didn’t meet him until he was in his late 60’s and he was a true gentleman. The worst he would ever say about anybody was that they were ‘a bit of rouge!’ He never ran anyone down, and was willing to help anyone. He was a pleasure to know, and I still miss him.The other person is Geoff Parker of Wyandotte and Rock fame, who despite his many achievements in poultry is still as humble as when I first met him 30 years ago. We fondly refer to him as the mad professor, and he would probably agree with that description. 11 All the other people I admire are the Secretaries, of both Clubs and Shows, who give up their time so we can enjoy our hobby. Our greatest achievement? Val’s has got to be getting Best Soft Feather bantam at the National with a Buff Rock bantam cockerel. (I like to think I played a small part in it!) But I think what we’re really proud of is to see the numbers grow in Silver Laced classes, from 6/8 birds 30 years ago, to the 40/50 we have now, and to know that a lot of these birds stem from our blood lines. Also to see success enjoyed by people at shows, whom we have given advice to. To any of you who have managed to read this to the end, (He always has waffled on – Val.) may we wish you a long and happy association with the breed. They will drive you to the brink of despair at times, but when it all comes together; there can be few more rewarding sights than a truly excellent Silver Laced. (I freely admit I’m prejudiced!) Tim Moss Minutes of the Laced Wyandotte Club AGM Held on Saturday 18th December 2010 At the Federation Championship Show Present: Steven Dace Ken Leggett R. A. Rowley John Winter Collette Roberts Kerry Wilson Paul Fox Apologies: Tim Moss, Val Moss, Derek Alsop Chairman's Report: Thanked everyone for coming, as the meeting was later then the club wished. Then went on to explain why Peter Ward decided not to carry on with the position of Secretary and how Collette Roberts got offered the position of Acting Secretary. If to carry on rotating the Club and Regional show between The National and Federation shows, Bob Woods wished for the rotation to continue. Thanked Kerry Wilson for all the work she has put in being Acting Cup Secretary and that the cups had never looked so clean. Richard Rowley and Collette Roberts are to sort out if Richard is going to continue as Treasurer or Collette is going to take it on from now on. 12 Treasurer’s report: There was £1600 in the Club’s account at the start of the year. Expenses: £419 as follows: Newsletter - £100 including postage, Federation Aff & judges lunches - £34, PCGB Aff & lunches - £32, Kerry Wilson - £20 for expenses towards cup secretary, leaving the painting - £165, expenses to Peter Ward - £40 for Acting Secretary and rosettes for Club Show - £28. Income: Subscriptions - £329 Closing Balance: £1510 Minutes of the 2009 AGM: minutes read out by the secretary and signed as correct. Secretary's report: Thanked everyone for their support on becoming acting secretary. Stated the Club’s membership was at 125 members, with 10 new members joining in the last few weeks and 5 joining at the show on that day. Stated the National show was a great success, with 46 large and 83 bantams entered, and the vast majority penned. Also said it was great to be asked to steward for Mark Vaughn and found it to be a great learning curve. Thanked all the judges of the two shows and was sure all agreed had done a fantastic job of judging. Lastly wished everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year. Election of Officers: Secretary Collette Roberts - proposed by R. A. Rowley and seconded by Ken Leggett. Cup Secretary Kerry Wilson - proposed by R. A. Rowley and seconded by Bob Woods. All others to remain as before. Regional Show 2011: To be held at the Federation Show Stafford Judges: Tim Moss - Silver/Gold R. A. Rowley - Blue/Buff Club Show 2011: To be held at the National Show Stoneleigh Judges: Bob Woods - Silver/Gold A. Brooker - Blue/Buff A.B.O. 13 Steve Dace wished for extra Classes for Silver Laced pullet breeders, others in meeting did not object, but Richard Rowley wished to discuss with senior members and other committee members who were not present before making a decision. Gold Laced was discussed, with Bob Woods saying that he felt that the Gold Laced would be more suited to being one pen mated if all could agree on the colour to be shown, as this would encourage more to breed and show them. We all agreed that a decision on the colour of Gold Laced needs to be sorted soon for the sake of the breed. The meeting was closed. Results of the Club Show Held at the Federation Championship Show Judges: Mr Derek Alsop (Gold and Silver), Miss Kerry Wilson (Blue and Buff) Judge’s Report on Gold and Silver Laced: First I would like to say thank you to the Club and its members for once again giving me the opportunity to judge the Club show; it is an honour for any member to do so. This is my 55th year of membership to the Club and also my retirement as your President. For how many years I can not remember I have been a life member of the Club, so I will still of course take a keen interest in the affairs of the Club, which is the oldest Wyandotte Club. I would like to say a personal thanks to the Club and particularly to Richard Rowley, for arranging the portrait of my Club show winner and champion, which was presented to me by Bob Woods at the Club stand during the presentation of trophies. It now has a prominent position on my lounge wall. As my driver had to leave early I was unable to give my personal thanks, and for the same reason I was unable to give the details of all the birds, so I have contained myself to more general remarks. I would also like to add how well Kerry Wilson carried out her duties as a club judge for the first time. 14 The Club Stand was one of the best ever. Great credit goes to our new Secretary Collette for all her hard work, and the Club cups have never sparkled like that before. It was just a great shame that the snow prevented so many members and their birds from attending. Now for the birds: What a great entry of large Silvers and Golds. The wonderful turnout was the best for many years, just a pity there were so many empty pens in both large and bantams, but the entry of 18 large Silver females was the largest for many years and Bob Woods was delighted to see 10 Gold females entered. Best Large Gold laced Male Best Large Silver Male 15 Large Gold Laced Male st 1 C. Roberts nd 2 S. Dace rd 3 S. Dace th 4 R.R Woods Large Gold Laced Female st 1 C. Roberts nd C. Roberts rd S. Dace 2 3 th 4 st A.L Dickinson nd S. Dace rd S. Dace 2 3 8 Entries and a full class All the birds were of a good size ,there was some variation in the ground colour and I chose the best laced and type as the winner, but a good class for numbers ,all were of a good type. S. Dace Large Silver Laced Male 1 Judges Comments 7 Entries The winner was by far the best bird with a good bright top colour and ground colour of the breast feathers and a good size, as were the others which were to dark for me 7 Entries only 4 penned. All of a similar appearance, good size but all failed on lack of silver back and wing bars. th 4 M. Vaughan Large Silver Laced Female st 1 S. Dace – Club Show Champ nd S & J Dace rd A.L Dickinson 2 3 th 4 S & J Dace This would have been a really good class if all the birds had been present, however I thought that those that did arrive were very good. I thought that they were better type than the bantams. Mr Dace’s hen won and went on to be club show champion, a worthy winner and for him two years on the run. 16 Bantam Gold Laced Male st 1 W. D Moon – Res Champ Bantam Gold Laced Female st 1 B. Leigh nd T&V Moss rd T&V Moss th S. Matthews 2 3 4 Bantam Silver Laced Male st 1 I & J Brewis nd P.E Gooding rd J. Tacey th T&V Moss 2 3 4 Bantam silver Laced Hen st 1 A. Bunn nd J. Tacey rd R. Heath 2 3 th 4 I & J Brewis Comments 4 Entries with only one penned, however I found a bird that was almost what a cock breeding bird should look like. In excellent condition, could have had a little clearer lacing but the ground colour was spot on. I liked this bird and we agreed it should be the best other sex 7 entries Nice to see 7 entries of females, a mixture of ground colour, the winner was the best of them, with I thought the best type, some lacing on darker birds was very broken. 12 entries of which only 4 were penned All of these did not have the required silver back and wing bars. The best laced cock was first; I would of like to have seen the rest of the class penned. 7 Entries only 4 penned I was aware of some split breasts here and after judging the pullets thought that some of the hens were better, perhaps it was the long cold spell that prevented the hens from completing their moult which kept the numbers down. 17 Bantam Silver Laced Pullet st A. Bunn nd J. Day rd T & V Moss 1 2 3 th 4 R. Heath With 30 entries and with the best pens for judging what a wonderful display this would have been, however there were many empty pens which did spoil the display, but this was the class that in previous years had provided the judge with the most difficult problems. At first glance I thought I was in for a difficult time but on going through them the first time found many with split breasts, many with to some feathering, particularly on the breast. Some birds breast lacing exhibited a lackness in the density of the lacing. There seems to be a lacking in the proper type with a lack of depth and too prominent tail feathers. However I did find four that I thought were the best and the one that one was just better than the rest. Best Gold Bantam Female 18 Best Silver Bantam Female I was looking forward to judging this Club show, and with such a good entry even more so, so it was with some disappointment that there were so many empty pens, due to the bad weather, however I did enjoy judging your birds, but would like to caution all breeders of Silvers, do watch this split breast feather, please do not use a cockerel to breed with if it has this fault, for it will take you years to get rid. Try and breed cocks with the required silver backs and wing bars. In general all birds were shown in excellent condition and Margo Haynes would have been delighted to have seen such a good entry of large silver hens. My best wishes to all our members and to the older ones, thank you for your friendship for all these years. Derek Alsop Judges Report on the Blue and Buff Laced As a relative newcomer to the Laced Wyandotte Club it was a great honour and compliment to be asked at the 2009 AGM if I would judge the Blue and Buff Laced classes at the 2010 Club show at Stafford. After the initial shock I started looking forward to the event enormously! How wonderful 19 to have the opportunity to examine closely birds from some of the country’s best breeders and exhibitors. It was a responsibility to be taken very seriously though when you consider that most breeders spend the previous year making up breeding pens and carefully nurturing the resulting youngsters with the goal of winning at the Club Show. As the day drew nearer the terrible weather looked like it was going to jeopardise the event. I was extremely concerned that I might not be able to make the journey but as Judge and Trophy Secretary it was essential I should get there whatever it took!! On the day sadly quite a number of exhibitors were unable to get to the show due to road conditions etc but our journey was luckily without too much drama. So after meeting up with my friend Paula Wilde who was to be steward I set about the task of judging. I started with the Large Fowl. First a class of 4 Blue Laced males. It seemed to be that a general area for need of improvement from the males I saw, both Large and Bantam, is their front- the majority are rather ‘cut away’ there. The LF possibly have the excuse that they need more time to mature but not the bantams. All in all I had a very enjoyable time judging and hope those that took the trouble to put their birds before me were, on the whole, satisfied with the results! Thank you! Kerry Wilson Best Large Blue Laced Female 20 Best Large Buff Laced male Large blue Laced Male st 1 S. & J. Dace nd 2 S. & J. Dace rd 3 C. Roberts th 4 S.& J. Dace Judges Comments 1st Had the best ground colour and good lacing although a bit shaded, ok type, good leg colour. 2nd rather immature and long legged, rather heavy lacing, excellent leg colour, nice comb. 3rd Good lacing but ground colour a bit orange. Rather cut away front. High leader. 4th Best type great pity he had a wry tail. Neck/saddle hackles not matching and round comb leader Large Blue Laced Female st C. Roberts nd S. & J. Dace rd C. Roberts th S. & J. Dace 1 2 3 4 Then a good class of 6 Blue Laced females- 1st had good type, ground colour good and even, good neck striping but needed more lacing on thigh. 2nd Nice type, bit too much white in earlobes, good condition. 3rd bit uneven colour and comb leader high. 4th Nicely marked neck, another with white in lobes. 21 Large Buff Laced Male st 1 nd 2 S. & J. Dace S. & J. Dace Large Buff Laced Female st 1 S. & J. Dace nd S. & J. Dace rd S. & J. Dace 2 3 Bantam Blue Laced Male st 1 M. Vaughan nd M. Vaughan rd M. Vaughan th R.A Rowley 2 3 4 The Buff Laced male class only numbered two but my winner was a very striking bird of exceptional type. He was nicely laced but had rather uneven colour. 2 nd bird was huge and leggy, probably needs more time. Of the 3 Buff Laced Females, I placed 1st a lovely big and typey bird, her ground colour could have been more even but her lacing and neck striping were good, 2nd was a hen with very nice type, size and markings but sadly another that had a slightly crooked tail, 3rd was lacking condition and feather although another of very good type . Starting with a good sized class of 9 Blue Laced males. The first three places I put up birds of similar type, a little bigger than some of the others in the class but they had better type and colour, especially nice dark even ground colour, well worked combs, but they had rather pale legs I allowed this as they were older birds. 1st won over the 2nd and 3rd on type. 4th was a good colour (feather and legs), well marked smaller bird but he was a little light framed and short legged. 22 Bantam Blue Laced Hen st 1 K.J Leggett nd M. Vaughan rd M. Vaughan 2 3 th 4 E.W Boothman Bantam Blue Laced Pullet st J. Day – Best Novice nd R. A Rowley rd M. Vaughan th K.J Thacker 1 2 3 4 Bantam Buff Laced Male None Penned Blue Laced Hens, 4 present, as always with this slow maturing breed the hens show better type than the pullets even if their lacing is often no longer so precise. 1st Was nice colour with clear lacing for a hen. 2nd A neat hen, again with good lacing. 3rd Nice even colour and good wings. 4th Nice colour, but ingrown leader. Blue Laced pullets, a lovely class of 15 present, quite difficult to pick the prize winners, a few discounted for very brown wing flights, some had solid blue necks , some were a little narrow ? But lacing and feather colour as well as leg colour generally was very good, The winning pullet had a presence about her, she was in lovely condition, very good dark ground colour and lovely neat lacing, good neck marking. 2nd was a pullet with beautiful clear pale blue lacing but neck not quite as good as 1st. 3rd another good coloured/marked pullet, little lacking in pen training! 4th was a super typy pullet with good colour. she had best type in class, but let down by presentation It was very disappointing that most the Buff Laced Bantam pens were empty, neither of the two males entered were present 23 Bantam Buff Laced Female st 1 nd 2 K. Thacker W. Pearson Only two of 7 females. These two females had good colour and lacing and both had nicely marked necks but they both also had greyish heads indicating they had Blue Laced ancestry. It would have been nice to have been able to judge some good sized classes of Buff Laced, it is surprising that they are not more popular Best Bantam Blue Laced Male Best Bantam Buff Laced Female 24 Gold Bantams It is unlikely that anyone particularly admires very dark gold hens. They are after all dark brown and not gold at all, and do not have the glowing rich colours that shines in the sunlight. Yet the show pens rarely display any other shade. This has always been so, even right back to the 1940s and earlier when we only had large Wyandottes. Whereas Gold males were popular and plentiful and very colourful, the female show birds became darker, fewer and very inbred until the large ones died out altogether. Since there has been much controversy lately regarding the Golds, many people must be baffled about how we got into this situation. There is nothing wrong with the wording of the Breed Standard which stipulates that Golds, both male and female, should be “RICH GOLDEN BAY,” (bay being another word for brown). The reason this has happened lies in fashion, and the judging of Gold hens. The lighter birds tend to show a pale shaft up the centre of each feather, and this has always been heavily penalised. Also as hens became darker, the tails and black lacing showed intense beetle green which was considered desirable, never mind that they often had heavy black neck hackles, a fault which was usually overlooked. With the introduction of fresh blood into the bantam, the type has improved immensely in the dark strains, and there seems to be a renewed interest in improving the Golds generally. However let us hope that the beautiful bright golden colouring is not allowed to die out. Margo Haines 25 PPaarrttrriiddggee W Wyyaannddoottttee CCoocckk aanndd PPuulllleett B Brreeeeddeerrss SSiillvveerr LLaacceedd W Wyyaannddootttteess B Buuffff W Wyyaannddootttteess (( aa ssppeecciiaalliittyy)) LLaavveennddeerr w wyyaannddootttteess R Reedd W Wyyaannddootttteess B Blluuee LLaacceedd w wyyaannddootttteess SSiillvveerr ppeenncciilllleedd W Wyyaannddootttteess G Goolldd llaacceedd W Wyyaannddootttteess B Buuffff LLaacceedd W Wyyaannddootttteess PPyyllee W Wyyaannddootttteess Australorps Andulusions Telephone: 01706 219926 26 General characteristics: Male Carriage: Graceful, well balanced, alert and active, but docile. Type: Body short and deep with well rounded sides. Back broad and short with full and broad saddle rising with a concave sweep to the tail. Breast full, broad and round with a straight keel bone. Wings of medium size, nicely folded to the side. Tail medium size but full and spread at the base, the main feathers carried rather upright, the sickles of medium length. Head: Short and broad. Beak stout and well curved. Eyes intelligent and prominent. Comb rose, firmly and evenly set on head, medium in height and width, low, and square at front, gradually tapering towards the back and terminating in a well defined spike [ or leader] which should follow the curve of the neck without any upward tendency. The top should be oval and covered with small and rounded points; the side outline being convex to conform to the shape of the skull. Face smooth and fine in texture. Ear-lobes oblong, wattles medium length, fine in texture. Neck: Of medium length, well covered with soft feathers; the fluff fairly close and silky. Shanks medium in length, strong, well rounded, good quality, and free of feather or fluff. Toes, four, straight and well spread. Plumage: Fairly close and silky, not too abundant or fluffy. Female The general characteristics are similar to those of the male, allowing for the natural sexual differences. Colour The Silver Laced Male plumage: Head silvery-white. Neck silvery-white with clear black stripe through the centre of each feather [white shaft is permissible], free from ticks. Saddle hackles to match neck. Back silvery-white, free from yellow or straw colour. Shoulder tip white laced with black. Wing bow silvery- white; wing coverts evenly laced, forming at least two well defined bars; secondaries black on inner and wide white strip on outer web, the edge laced with black; primaries or flights black on inner web and broadly laced white on outer edge. Breast and underparts; the web white with well defined jet- black lacing, free from double or white outer lacing, lacing regular from throat to back of thighs, showing green lustre. A shaft may be found in the laced feathers and is permissible but not undesirable. Undercolour dark slate. Tail; true tail feathers, sickles and coverts black with green lustre. Thighs and fluff black-slate with clear lacing round the hocks and outer side of thighs. 27 Female plumage: Head silvery-white. Neck silvery-white with clear black stripe though the centre of each feather [white shaft is permissible], free from ticks. Breast and back; undercolour dark slate, web white with regular, well defined jet black lacing, free from double or outer lacing and showing green lustre. A shaft may be found in the laced feathers and is permissible but undesirable. Wings same as back on the broad portion; secondaries and primaries as in the cock. Tail black showing green lustre, the coverts black with a white centre to each feather. Thighs and fluff black or dark slate. The other varieties are identical to the silver laced except for the differences in ground colours and markings[ i.e. lacing and stripings], and are as follows: The gold laced Ground colour rich golden bay; markings black. The blue laced Ground colour red-brown; markings clear blue; yellow in male neck hackle is not acceptable. The buff laced Ground colour rich buff; markings white. Note: In all colours and sexes, regularity of lacing to count above any breadth of lacing. Brightness and uniformity of ground colour to be considered of more value then any particular shade. Birds to be passed over for serious defects as in all colours, and points to be deducted for lack of presentation. Serious defects Feathers on shanks or toes. Permanent white or yellow in ear- lobes, covering more than one third of the surface. Comb other than rose or flopping or obstructing the sight. Shanks other than yellow. Any deformity. Slipped wings (which should be penalised strongly). Eyes not matching or other than bright bay. Conspicuous peppering on ground colour of laced. Any form of double lacing. Scale of points for all laced colours Lacing (including striping) 35 Colour 25 Head 10 Type 20 Condition 10 100 Weights Large: Cock not less than 4.08kg (9lb); Cockerel not less than 3.62kg (8 lb) Hen not less than 3.17kg (7lb); pullet not less than 2.72kg (6lb) Bantam: Male not to exceed 1.70kg (3 ¾ lb) Female not to exceed 1.36kg (3 lb ) 28 Kerry Wilson Breeder and Exhibitor of Silver Laced and Blue Laced Wyandotte Bantams I also keep- Wyandotte Bantams in- Buff, Columbian, Barred, Silver Pencilled, Partridge, White and Lavender, Old English Game Bantams in- Grey, Brown-Red and Blue Furnace. Black Australorp Bantams and Ancona Bantams Telephone: 01582 840219 www.wyandottebantams.weebly.com 29 Thoughts on Gold Laced Wyandottes What a pleasure it was to see a decent line up of these noble birds at Stafford. Even more pleasurable to me is to see good quality large gold’s in the hands of young enthusiastic people who will I hope keep them for a lifetime and continue to exhibit them. Gold bantams are also in good hands and as I have just retired I intend to swell the ranks in anticipation of the day when my well worn lumbar spine forces me to give up lugging large Gold’s around (not too soon I hope). That hardy perennial discussion came up yet again at the club meeting, namely the correct colour of gold exhibition males and females. There is the opinion ,long held by some ,that an exhibition gold cock should be a very light ,bright shade of gold and that exhibition females should be a much darker gold. Implied in this opinion is the absolute necessity of double mating: in effect making two breeds for a breeder to choose from. Shall I breed cockerels or pullets or shall I maintain one or more breeding pens of both? You may not want to do this and you may reach for the breed standard to try and resolve the issue. There you will find that the correct ground colour of a gold laced Wyandotte is a rich golden bay. This is where the problem of interpretation comes in allowing some judges to insist on the different shades alluded to above for males and females. It is my belief that insistence on different ground colours for males and females is harmful to the breed and I hold up the plight of the exhibition male silver laced Wyandotte as an example of what happens if double mating is insisted on. Most people like breeding mainly pullets as they don’t fight or crow so keeping a breed which necessitates the raising of a lot of cockerels to find show winning examples is not popular. Large silver males are in very few hands now and in silver bantams a true white shouldered male is seldom seen. I do not want gold laced males to go down the same road and I therefore breed all my golds without double mating. Yes I do keep several breeding pens of golds to keep up the genetic health of the breed but I believe that there should be room for an element of breeder choice possible in gold laced ground colour. As long as it can be described as rich golden bay I can accept it and would judge a bird on uniformity ,richness ,lack of shaftiness and absence of moss,smut or other any other black in the ground colour. We are not alone in having this argument. The Australian laced Wyandotte club has obviously had the same discussion and appear to have reached a similar conclusion to mine.I would exhort gold breeders to think this through and I look forward to hearing counter arguments. I hope you have had a good breeding season and look forward to seeing you at the shows. I am judging at the National and exhibiting at the Federation Bob Woods 30 NEW MEMBERS LIST March - December 2011 A big welcome to all our new members! K. Arnold Garthmor Barn, Tyn-Y-Groes, Conway LL32 8TH G. Clark 31 Main Street, Blackfordby, Derbyshire, DE11 8BB F. Dace Deeview, Coleshill, Fechan, Bagillt, Flintshire, CH6 6DH C. Gibson Easter Callander, Stirling, Dullater, FK17 8HQ A. Glover Holtby Grange Farm,Holtby Lane, Holtby, York, YO19 5XQ A. Godridge 10 Glebe Road, Claverdon, Nr Warwick, CV35 8NX S. Haggan 46 Ash Street, Chimney Pot Park, Manchester, M6 5NA S. Huxley Station View, Llynchys, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 8LJ I. Kelly R. Leece 3 Newgate, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5LL C. Mahon 1 Wharf House, Barton Turn, Barton Under Needwood, Staffs, DE13 8DZ S. McConaghy M. Reece 17 Hidcote Way, Daventry, Northhants, NN11 8AE S. Jones-Richards Bone Farm, Heamoor, Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 8UJ M. Simmonds The Gables, Southhamton Road, Cadnam, Southhampton, SO40 2NF 31 The Poultry Club of Great Britain’s current Book of Standards says Of Gold Laced Wyandottes: “Ground colour rich golden bay, markings black” This is, to put it mildly, not really a lengthy description on what is required and thus perhaps leading to the present confusion in the club amongst members on what particular shade they like or would prefer. Talking to a relatively new but very successful exhibitor, I was told: “I’ve been to a few AGMs and all we do is go round in circles when the Gold Laced standard is discussed!” So I propose to bring photos to the AGM of several different shades of Gold or “rich golden bay,” so that we can discuss and perhaps vote on and then ballot all members as to which colour they prefer. We will have to accept that whatever colour is preferred by the majority will not please everyone, but unless we do something like this (or any other practical idea a member may have) then we will go round in circles for ever - like we have been doing for some time! I would appreciate the retiring President’s view on this. Those closely involved with Gold Laced know what shade they prefer so it may not be advisable to list names here. But basically asking around Gold Laced breeders, it is split between the dark mahogany ground colour (like the Gold Laced that come out of Blue Laced breeding) and the light ground colour of the cock breeding females. As I write this I am trying to arrange to have these colours illustrated in the yearbook currently being compiled. If this proves not to be possible, and either way, I have colour photos to bring to the AGM to hand out to attendees. To further (but not intentionally) complicate matters, I know some breeders who have produced a bay ground colour in between the dark and light, photos of which I also intend to bring to the meeting. I am aware that the numbers of Gold Laced have declined, so to get the ‘in-between’ shade has not always been by design but rather by necessity because birds have not 32 always been available to breed true cock breeders or pullet breeders. In fact one argument is that not least because of small numbers, the club should adopt a colour that reflects just ONE breeding pen! DARK MAHOGANY GROUND COLOUR From a distance the bird can appear black and the colouring is difficult to appreciate, with the very dark mahogany ground colour not being able to be distinguished very well from the black outer lacing on the feathers. Apparently the Vice Chair of the Poultry Club and new member of the Laced Club, Edward “John Wayne” Boothman, said that he was very pleased with the Blue Laced bantam trio he had from myself, as the offspring produces very dark Gold Laced Wyandottes which can be shown as pullet breeders. Well, this is just WRONG! Not if it is desired to try and get a pure strain of Gold Laced. The pullet breeding females of Gold Laced are very dark mahogany ground colour and are preferred by a good percentage of well established members, not least including the relatively new but very successful ‘entrant’ to our club, Steve Dace. VERY LIGHT BROWN GROUND COLOUR From a distance this Gold Laced Wyandotte is more clearly recognised but the undesirable shaftiness in the feather can be more easily seen .This is the colour of the cock breeding females, that some (again) well established club members would like to see adopted as the main show colour, not least because then both show colours (male and female) could ‘come off’ the same pen, which might encourage more fanciers to breed them. And as such would increase the at present poorly supported Gold Laced classes. This is a view shared by experienced club members and judges Colin Mitchell and Edward Hayden. ‘MIDDLE OF THE ROAD’ i.e. INBETWEEN COLOUR My neighbour (and new club member) Philip Shaw saw some of my Gold Laced and fell in love with them, so with the help of Edward Hayden and (indirectly) that of ex Secretary Liz Vernon Millar, has bred a bevy of Gold Laced bantams this year, which I noticed over the fence the other day. To be honest, liking what I call the ‘middle of the road’ colour, I took some photos, one of which is enclosed in the yearbook to compare at the side of 33 the ‘very dark ground colour’ pullet breeders and the ‘very light ground colour’ cock breeders. The yearbook will go out to all members, and comments will be appreciated. Photos will be handed out at the AGM this year (printing done thanks to our “web site” guru Gay) and after discussion at the AGM, a possible ballot sent out to all members with next year’s newsletter. Richard A Rowley O Ou urr C Cllu ub bS Sh ho ow ww wiillll b be eH He elld da att T Th he eN Na attiio on na all ssh ho ow w2 20 0tth h//2 21 1sstt N No ovv 2 20 01 11 1w wiillll b be eh he elld da att National Show Ground Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire CV8 2LZ Contact for schedules Anne Bachmet Keepers Cottage 40, Benvarden Road Dervock Ballymoney Co. Antrim BT53 6NN Tel: 02820 741056 E-mail: [email protected] Club AGM will held at 1pm on Saturday room 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- O Ou urr R Re eg giio on na all S Sh ho ow ww wiillll b be eH He elld da att T Th he eF Fe ed de erra attiio on nS Sh ho ow w1 18 8tth h//1 19 9tth hD De ec c2 20 01 11 1 w wiillll b be eh he elld da att Staffordshire County Showground Weston Road Stafford ST18 0BD Contact for entries A D Keep 11 Oakley Road Clapham Bedfordshire MK41 6AN Tel 01234 342656 34 W Weellll D Doonnee TToo A Allll N Noorrtthh ooff E Ennggllaanndd –– R R..A AR Roow wlleeyy P Peeeebblleess –– M Mrrss M M.. S Shheeaarreerr N Noorrffoollkk –– LL.. K Keetttteerriinngghhaam m M Moorreettoonn iinn M Maarrsshh –– K K.. W Wiillssoonn {{B Beesstt iinn S Shhoow w}} M Moooorrggrreeeenn -- K K.. W Wiillssoonn LLiicchhffiieelldd –– R R.. A AR Roow wlleeyy W Wiiggttoow wnn –– P Paauulliinnee P Paauull C Coouunnttrryyssiiddee LLiivvee –– R R.. A AR Roow wlleeyy R Rooyyaall w weellsshh –– D D.. E EP Piiccttoonn JJoonneess N Niiddddeerrddaallee –– R R.. A AR Roow wlleeyy Please note; sorry if your win is not listed, but I can only publish results I receive. 35 Club Stand at the Federation Show Chairman / J. Treasurer: R.A Rowley Secretary /J. Treasurer: C. Roberts Committee: R. Wood, M. Vaughn, C. Mitchell Yearbook editor by C.Roberts 36 Sub-edited by N. Heffron