Pekin Bantam Standard (South Africa)
ORIGIN: China/Asia
CLASSIFICATION: True Bantam: Soft feather
EGG COLOUR: White to brown (Sitters)
MASSES
Male: 900 to 1050g
Female: 800 to 950g
A genuine bantam breed, very old, and probably bearing no relationship to the large breed of Cochins. Pekins came to England from China in 1860 when English soldiers brought the first ones (Buffs) from the Summer Palace of the Emperor of China in Peking. In 1884 W.F. Entwistle brought in more Buffs and in 1886 Max Richard Liepsch from Dresden imported Buff Pekins to Germany. In the following years this charming breed was improved by breeders in England, the USA and on the European Continent.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
THE MALE
Carriage: Bold, rather forward but low, the head not much higher than the tail. Ideal type: like a round "featherball".
Body: Short and broad.
Breast: deep and full. Back: increasing in breadth to the saddle, which should be very full, rise well from between the shoulders, and be furnished with long soft feathers. Small short wings tightly tucked, the ends hidden by the saddle hackle. Very short full tail, soft and without hard quill feathers, abundant coverts almost hiding the main feathers, the whole tail forming one unbroken curve with the back and saddle.
Head: Skull: small and fine. Beak: rather short but stout, slightly curved. Eyes: large, bright. Comb: single, small, firm, perfectly straight and erect, well separated, curved from front to back. Face: smooth and fine. Ear-lobes smooth and fine, nearly as long as the wattles. Wattles: long, ample and smooth, neatly rounded.
Neck: Short, carried rather forward, with abundant and long hackle reaching well on the back.
Legs: Short and well apart, stout thighs hidden by the fluff that grows between the saddle and the thighs. Hocks completely covered with soft feathers curling around the joint and standing well out. (Note: Stiff feathers, "vulture hocks" are objectionable, but not a disqualification.) Short thick shanks abundantly covered with soft outstanding feathers. Toes (four) strong and straight, the middle and the outer plentifully covered with soft feathers to their ends.
Plumage: Very abundant, long and quite soft with full fluff.
THE FEMALE
With the exception of the back (rising into a full and round cushion) the general characteristics are similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual differences. Pekin hens are exceptional good mothers.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Twisted or drooping comb; legs other than yellow except where allowed; bare middle and/or outer toe; missing toe or toes; missing toenail or nails; split wings.
COLOUR
In all colours the following apply:
Comb, face, wattles
and ear-lobes: Bright red.
Legs and feet: Yellow (except where specifically stated as different, but, in all cases soles of feet MUST BE YELLOW).
CLASSIFICATION: True Bantam: Soft feather
EGG COLOUR: White to brown (Sitters)
MASSES
Male: 900 to 1050g
Female: 800 to 950g
A genuine bantam breed, very old, and probably bearing no relationship to the large breed of Cochins. Pekins came to England from China in 1860 when English soldiers brought the first ones (Buffs) from the Summer Palace of the Emperor of China in Peking. In 1884 W.F. Entwistle brought in more Buffs and in 1886 Max Richard Liepsch from Dresden imported Buff Pekins to Germany. In the following years this charming breed was improved by breeders in England, the USA and on the European Continent.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
THE MALE
Carriage: Bold, rather forward but low, the head not much higher than the tail. Ideal type: like a round "featherball".
Body: Short and broad.
Breast: deep and full. Back: increasing in breadth to the saddle, which should be very full, rise well from between the shoulders, and be furnished with long soft feathers. Small short wings tightly tucked, the ends hidden by the saddle hackle. Very short full tail, soft and without hard quill feathers, abundant coverts almost hiding the main feathers, the whole tail forming one unbroken curve with the back and saddle.
Head: Skull: small and fine. Beak: rather short but stout, slightly curved. Eyes: large, bright. Comb: single, small, firm, perfectly straight and erect, well separated, curved from front to back. Face: smooth and fine. Ear-lobes smooth and fine, nearly as long as the wattles. Wattles: long, ample and smooth, neatly rounded.
Neck: Short, carried rather forward, with abundant and long hackle reaching well on the back.
Legs: Short and well apart, stout thighs hidden by the fluff that grows between the saddle and the thighs. Hocks completely covered with soft feathers curling around the joint and standing well out. (Note: Stiff feathers, "vulture hocks" are objectionable, but not a disqualification.) Short thick shanks abundantly covered with soft outstanding feathers. Toes (four) strong and straight, the middle and the outer plentifully covered with soft feathers to their ends.
Plumage: Very abundant, long and quite soft with full fluff.
THE FEMALE
With the exception of the back (rising into a full and round cushion) the general characteristics are similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual differences. Pekin hens are exceptional good mothers.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Twisted or drooping comb; legs other than yellow except where allowed; bare middle and/or outer toe; missing toe or toes; missing toenail or nails; split wings.
COLOUR
In all colours the following apply:
Comb, face, wattles
and ear-lobes: Bright red.
Legs and feet: Yellow (except where specifically stated as different, but, in all cases soles of feet MUST BE YELLOW).