The Old English Game Standard

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MALE CHARACTERISTICS 

Carriage   

Proud, defiant, sprightly, active on his feet, ready for any emergency, alert, agile, quick in his movements..

Type Back: 

Short, flat, broad at the shoulders, tapering to the tail.

Breast: 

Broad, full, prominent, with large pectoral muscles, breastbone not deep or pointed.

Wings: 

Large, long and powerful, with large strong quills, amply protecting the thighs.

Tail: 

large, up and spread, main feathers and quills large and strong.

Belly: 

Small and tight.

Head Head: 

Small and tapering, skin of face and throat flexible and loose.

Eyes:

Large, bold, fiery and fearless.

Beak: 

Big, boxing,crooked or hawk-like, pointed, strong at the setting on. Comb, Wattles and Earlobes: of fine texture. Small and thin in undubbed chickens and females. (It is customary to dub Old English Game young males.)

Neck: 

Large boned, round, strong and of fair length. The neck hackle covering the shoulders.

Legs and Thighs: 

Short, round and muscular, following the line of the body or slightly curved.

Feet  Shanks: 

Strong, clean boned, sinewy, close scaled, not fat and gummy like other fowls, not stiffly upright or too wide apart, and having a good bend or angle at the hock.

Toes: 

Thin, long, straight and tapering, terminating in long, strong curved nails. Hind toe of good length and strength, extending backwards in almost a straight line.

Spurs: 

Hard, fine, set low on the leg.

Plumage:  

Hard, sound, resilient, smooth, glossy and sufficient without much fluff.

In Hand: 

Clever, well balanced, hard yet light fleshed, corky, mellow and warm, with contraction of wings and thighs to the body

FEMALE CHARACTERISTICS

With the exception of the tail, which is inclined to fan-shaped and carried well up, the general characteristics are similar to those of the male, allowing for the natural sexual differences.

WEIGHTS

Fowls

Male         1.80-2.50kg     (4-5.5 lb)

Female     1.36-2.00kg     (3-4.5 lb)

Bantams

Male         740-910g     (26-32oz)

Female     625-790g     (22-28oz)

It is not considered desirable to breed males over 2.70kg (6lb) or females over 2.25kg (5 lb).

SCALE OF POINTS

Head (including beak and eyes)         

                                  10 

Neck          

                                  6

Body (including breast, back and   belly)         

                                  20

Wings           

                                  7

Tail         

                                  6

Shanks, spurs and feet        

                                  10

Thighs          

                                  8 

Plumage and colour          

                                  9 

Handling  (symmetry,   cleverness, hardness of flesh and feathers, condition and constitution)

                                   15

Carriage, action and activity       

                                   9

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Total              

                                   100

Disqualifications and Serious Defects

Thin thighs or neck; flat sided; deep keel; pointed, crooked or indented breastbone; thick insteps or toes; straight or stork legs; flat shins; soft flesh; broken, soft or rotten plumage; bad carriage or action; any indication of weakness of constitution.