Standard of Perfection (Proposed April 2015)
The Basque Hen (Euskal Oiloa) first came into being as a natural breed evenly distributed across farms of the historical territories of Bizkaia, Araba and Gipuzkoa of the Basque Country (Euskal Herria) of Spain. Recovery and preservation of this breed began in 1975 when Dr. Fernando Orozco and his team at the Department of Animal Genetics INIA recognized the devastating impact that the use of hybrid laying hens for commercial production of the regionally preferred brown shelled eggs was having on the native breed. Based on this work, Dr. Jose Antonio Mendizabal drafted the Spanish breed standard. The introduction of Basque fowl into North America is relatively recent and the breed has attracted a following in Canada and the United States as a result of the combination of traits for hardiness, attractive color patterns, a friendly temperament, and good egg and meat producing properties.
ECONOMIC QUALITIES
A dual purpose medium weight fowl for production of both meat and eggs. Color of skin, yellow; color of egg shell varying from very light to a rich brown depending on the individual, strain and stage of production.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
White in the ear-lobes. Shanks other than yellow.
STANDARD WEIGHTS
Cock..........8 lbs Hen...........5.5 lbs
Cockerel.....6.5 lbs Pullet.........4.5 lbs
SHAPE-MALE
COMB: Single, medium in size, straight and upright, firm and even on the head with six well-defined points. Blade slightly raised from the back of the neckline. Surface smooth and without folds or wrinkles.
BEAK: Medium length, strong and well curved.
FACE: Smooth.
EYES: Large and oval.
WATTLES: Long, thin and smooth, with a rounded lower edge.
EAR-LOBES: Medium in size, lying close to the face, smooth and lanceolate.
HEAD: Moderately large, long, wide and deep.
NECK: Moderately long and nicely arched. Hackle abundant and flowing over the shoulders.
BACK: Straight, broad the entire length, moderately long and sloping slightly downward to the tail. Saddle feathers abundant and medium length.
TAIL: Moderate in size. Carried at an angle of 45 degrees (45 °) above horizontal. Main tail feathers broad and overlapping. Sickles of medium length, well arched.
WINGS: Large, well-folded and held close to the body without drooping.
BREAST: Well rounded, held somewhat upright.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body broad, deep, moderately long, carried slightly higher in front than rear. Fluff moderately full.
PLUMAGE: Feathers moderately broad and long, fitted rather close to the body.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs strong and robust. Shanks rather long, thick, heavy. Toes four on each foot.
SHAPE-FEMALE
COMB: Single, medium in size, straight and upright, firm and even on head with six well-defined points. Blade slightly raised from the back of the neckline. Surface smooth and without folds or wrinkles.
BEAK: Medium length, strong, and nicely curved.
FACE: Smooth.
EYES: Large and oval.
WATTLES: Medium length, thin and smooth, with a well rounded lower edge.
EAR-LOBES: Rather small, lying close to the face, smooth and lanceolate.
HEAD: Moderately large, long, wide and deep.
NECK: Moderately long and nicely arched.
BACK: Straight, broad the entire length, moderately long and sloping slightly downward to the tail.
TAIL: Rather small. Carried at an angle of 35 degrees (35 °) above horizontal.
WINGS: Large, well-folded and held close to the body without drooping.
BREAST: Well rounded, of medium depth, held somewhat upright.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body broad, deep, moderately long, carried slightly higher in front than rear. Fluff moderately full.
PLUMAGE: Feathers moderately broad and long, fitted rather close to the body.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs strong and robust. Shanks rather long, thick, heavy. Toes four on each foot.
RED CUCKOO BASQUE (SPANISH NAME MARRADUNA)
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Entirely white or black feathers in the sickle or main tail feathers. Entirely white feathers in the primary or secondary wing feathers.
COLOR-MALE
COMB, FACE, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES: Bright red.
BEAK: Yellow.
EYES: Reddish Bay.
HEAD: Plumage, finely barred with white and golden-red.
NECK: Hackle finely barred with white and light golden-red with a narrow black stripe, irregularly barred with white, extending down the middle of each feather. Front of neck same as breast.
BACK: Barred white and dark golden-red. Saddle finely barred white and lustrous dark golden-red.
TAIL: Main tail alternating bars of black and white. Sickles the same as the main tail with lustrous greenish black. Coverts black and white barring, the white barring gradually turning to dark golden-red approaching the saddle.
WINGS: Front and bows barred white and medium chestnut red. Secondary coverts barred white and dark golden-red. Primaries barred white and black with upper edge golden-red. Primary coverts white and black barred edged with golden-red.
BREAST: White and golden-red barred.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body irregularly barred with white and golden-red similar to the breast. Stern irregularly and indistinctly barred with white and golden-red. Fluff ivory.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs indistinctly barred with white and golden-red. Shanks and toes yellow.
UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Ivory
COLOR-FEMALE
COMB, FACE, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES: Bright red.
BEAK: Yellow.
EYES: Reddish Bay.
HEAD: Golden-red.
NECK: Dark golden-red. Lower neck feathers with a black stripe extending down the middle of each feather are slightly and irregularly barred with white. Front of neck similar to breast.
BACK: Golden-red.
TAIL: Main tail black edged with golden-red. Shaft golden-red.
WINGS: Front and bows dark golden-red. Bar and secondaries golden-red. Primaries golden-red with lower web of first few primary feathers black transitioning to golden-red. Primary coverts black edged with golden-red. When the wing is folded in the natural position only the golden-red color shows.
BREAST: Light golden-red.
BODY AND FLUFF: Light golden-red with faint and indistinct white barring. Stern irregularly and indistinctly barred with white and light golden-red. Fluff ivory.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs light golden-red. Shanks and toes yellow.
UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Ivory
RED BASQUE (SPANISH NAME GORRIA)
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Entirely white feathers in the sickle or main tail feathers. Entirely white feathers in the primary or secondary wing feathers.
COLOR-MALE
COMB, FACE, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES: Bright red.
BEAK: Reddish horn, shading to yellow at point.
EYES: Reddish Bay.
HEAD: Plumage, brilliant red.
NECK: Hackle, lustrous red.. A narrow black stripe extending down the middle of each feather. Front of neck same as breast.
BACK: Brilliant deep chestnut red in upper parts shading to lighter red in the lower saddle, slightly darker than hackle.
TAIL: Main tail black. Sickles rich, lustrous greenish black. Coverts lustrous greenish black, gradually turning to red approaching the saddle. Lesser coverts red.
WINGS: Front, bows, and coverts deep chestnut red. Primaries black then upper edge red. Primary coverts black edged with red.
BREAST: Medium chestnut red.
BODY AND FLUFF: Medium chestnut red similar to the breast. Fluff ivory.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs medium chestnut red. Shanks and toes yellow.
UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Ivory
COLOR-FEMALE
COMB, FACE, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES: Bright red.
BEAK: Reddish horn, shading to yellow at point.
EYES: Reddish Bay.
HEAD: Plumage medium chestnut red.
NECK: Medium chestnut red. Lower neck feathers with a black stripe down the middle of each feather edged with medium chestnut red. Front of neck similar to breast.
BACK: Medium chestnut red.
TAIL: Main tail black edged with medium chestnut red. Shaft medium chestnut red.
WINGS: Front, bar and secondaries and bows medium chestnut red. Primaries medium red with lower web of first few primary feathers black transitioning to medium red. Primary coverts black edged with medium chestnut red. When the wing is folded in the natural position only the medium chestnut red color shows.
BREAST: Medium chestnut red.
BODY AND FLUFF: Medium chestnut red. Fluff ivory.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs medium chestnut red. Shanks and toes yellow.
UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Ivory
ECONOMIC QUALITIES
A dual purpose medium weight fowl for production of both meat and eggs. Color of skin, yellow; color of egg shell varying from very light to a rich brown depending on the individual, strain and stage of production.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
White in the ear-lobes. Shanks other than yellow.
STANDARD WEIGHTS
Cock..........8 lbs Hen...........5.5 lbs
Cockerel.....6.5 lbs Pullet.........4.5 lbs
SHAPE-MALE
COMB: Single, medium in size, straight and upright, firm and even on the head with six well-defined points. Blade slightly raised from the back of the neckline. Surface smooth and without folds or wrinkles.
BEAK: Medium length, strong and well curved.
FACE: Smooth.
EYES: Large and oval.
WATTLES: Long, thin and smooth, with a rounded lower edge.
EAR-LOBES: Medium in size, lying close to the face, smooth and lanceolate.
HEAD: Moderately large, long, wide and deep.
NECK: Moderately long and nicely arched. Hackle abundant and flowing over the shoulders.
BACK: Straight, broad the entire length, moderately long and sloping slightly downward to the tail. Saddle feathers abundant and medium length.
TAIL: Moderate in size. Carried at an angle of 45 degrees (45 °) above horizontal. Main tail feathers broad and overlapping. Sickles of medium length, well arched.
WINGS: Large, well-folded and held close to the body without drooping.
BREAST: Well rounded, held somewhat upright.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body broad, deep, moderately long, carried slightly higher in front than rear. Fluff moderately full.
PLUMAGE: Feathers moderately broad and long, fitted rather close to the body.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs strong and robust. Shanks rather long, thick, heavy. Toes four on each foot.
SHAPE-FEMALE
COMB: Single, medium in size, straight and upright, firm and even on head with six well-defined points. Blade slightly raised from the back of the neckline. Surface smooth and without folds or wrinkles.
BEAK: Medium length, strong, and nicely curved.
FACE: Smooth.
EYES: Large and oval.
WATTLES: Medium length, thin and smooth, with a well rounded lower edge.
EAR-LOBES: Rather small, lying close to the face, smooth and lanceolate.
HEAD: Moderately large, long, wide and deep.
NECK: Moderately long and nicely arched.
BACK: Straight, broad the entire length, moderately long and sloping slightly downward to the tail.
TAIL: Rather small. Carried at an angle of 35 degrees (35 °) above horizontal.
WINGS: Large, well-folded and held close to the body without drooping.
BREAST: Well rounded, of medium depth, held somewhat upright.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body broad, deep, moderately long, carried slightly higher in front than rear. Fluff moderately full.
PLUMAGE: Feathers moderately broad and long, fitted rather close to the body.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs strong and robust. Shanks rather long, thick, heavy. Toes four on each foot.
RED CUCKOO BASQUE (SPANISH NAME MARRADUNA)
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Entirely white or black feathers in the sickle or main tail feathers. Entirely white feathers in the primary or secondary wing feathers.
COLOR-MALE
COMB, FACE, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES: Bright red.
BEAK: Yellow.
EYES: Reddish Bay.
HEAD: Plumage, finely barred with white and golden-red.
NECK: Hackle finely barred with white and light golden-red with a narrow black stripe, irregularly barred with white, extending down the middle of each feather. Front of neck same as breast.
BACK: Barred white and dark golden-red. Saddle finely barred white and lustrous dark golden-red.
TAIL: Main tail alternating bars of black and white. Sickles the same as the main tail with lustrous greenish black. Coverts black and white barring, the white barring gradually turning to dark golden-red approaching the saddle.
WINGS: Front and bows barred white and medium chestnut red. Secondary coverts barred white and dark golden-red. Primaries barred white and black with upper edge golden-red. Primary coverts white and black barred edged with golden-red.
BREAST: White and golden-red barred.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body irregularly barred with white and golden-red similar to the breast. Stern irregularly and indistinctly barred with white and golden-red. Fluff ivory.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs indistinctly barred with white and golden-red. Shanks and toes yellow.
UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Ivory
COLOR-FEMALE
COMB, FACE, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES: Bright red.
BEAK: Yellow.
EYES: Reddish Bay.
HEAD: Golden-red.
NECK: Dark golden-red. Lower neck feathers with a black stripe extending down the middle of each feather are slightly and irregularly barred with white. Front of neck similar to breast.
BACK: Golden-red.
TAIL: Main tail black edged with golden-red. Shaft golden-red.
WINGS: Front and bows dark golden-red. Bar and secondaries golden-red. Primaries golden-red with lower web of first few primary feathers black transitioning to golden-red. Primary coverts black edged with golden-red. When the wing is folded in the natural position only the golden-red color shows.
BREAST: Light golden-red.
BODY AND FLUFF: Light golden-red with faint and indistinct white barring. Stern irregularly and indistinctly barred with white and light golden-red. Fluff ivory.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs light golden-red. Shanks and toes yellow.
UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Ivory
RED BASQUE (SPANISH NAME GORRIA)
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Entirely white feathers in the sickle or main tail feathers. Entirely white feathers in the primary or secondary wing feathers.
COLOR-MALE
COMB, FACE, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES: Bright red.
BEAK: Reddish horn, shading to yellow at point.
EYES: Reddish Bay.
HEAD: Plumage, brilliant red.
NECK: Hackle, lustrous red.. A narrow black stripe extending down the middle of each feather. Front of neck same as breast.
BACK: Brilliant deep chestnut red in upper parts shading to lighter red in the lower saddle, slightly darker than hackle.
TAIL: Main tail black. Sickles rich, lustrous greenish black. Coverts lustrous greenish black, gradually turning to red approaching the saddle. Lesser coverts red.
WINGS: Front, bows, and coverts deep chestnut red. Primaries black then upper edge red. Primary coverts black edged with red.
BREAST: Medium chestnut red.
BODY AND FLUFF: Medium chestnut red similar to the breast. Fluff ivory.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs medium chestnut red. Shanks and toes yellow.
UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Ivory
COLOR-FEMALE
COMB, FACE, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES: Bright red.
BEAK: Reddish horn, shading to yellow at point.
EYES: Reddish Bay.
HEAD: Plumage medium chestnut red.
NECK: Medium chestnut red. Lower neck feathers with a black stripe down the middle of each feather edged with medium chestnut red. Front of neck similar to breast.
BACK: Medium chestnut red.
TAIL: Main tail black edged with medium chestnut red. Shaft medium chestnut red.
WINGS: Front, bar and secondaries and bows medium chestnut red. Primaries medium red with lower web of first few primary feathers black transitioning to medium red. Primary coverts black edged with medium chestnut red. When the wing is folded in the natural position only the medium chestnut red color shows.
BREAST: Medium chestnut red.
BODY AND FLUFF: Medium chestnut red. Fluff ivory.
LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs medium chestnut red. Shanks and toes yellow.
UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Ivory
