Frillback (Lockentauben)

Description

Showing

Surprisingly, the Frillback does not require a tremendous amount of preparation for show since you really cannot fix a poorly curled bird.

Many fanciers will use a wooden popsicle stick to gently comb and lift the feathers away from the bird’s body. Dirty muffs and tail feathers should be cleaned on white birds. Per the breed standard, misplaced colored or white feathers can be plucked (i.e. a stray white feather on a black self bird). Like all breeds of show pigeon, excessive nail and beak growth should be filed. Black birds can be kept out of sunlight prior to a show to prevent bleaching. Also many suggest removing bathwater several days prior to the show to allow the feather bloom to return. If the bird has a crest it can be shaped with the fingers if needed.

To keep birds in best condition, I personally like to remove them from the loft a week before the show. I then place each individual bird in a deeply bedded rabbit or guinea pig cage with an upturned flowerpot in the middle of the cage to sit on. This keeps them clean, insures that they are getting enough food, makes it easier to catch them on show day, and seems to reduce stress. I find that this also helps to get them used to being in a show cage.

Breeding

The Frillback is well known for being slow to mature, and because of this they are often late breeders, with the first round of eggs being infertile. Using artificial lights and ensuring optimum health of the birds can help remedy this. Birds with large muffs (particularly seen in red grizzle, crested white, and shield-marked varieties) can be trimmed to avoid squeakers being inadvertently pulled out of the nest bowls. Some breeders also trim the vent feathers to aide with breeding. Frillbacks do not tend to make nests, so many times a nest will have to be constructed for them. Each bird is an individual; some will be fantastic parents while others will require the help of a feeder. I myself prefer to let my Frillbacks raise only one squab while a feeder pair raises the other.

Breeders should know the base color of every bird in his or her loft, and keep a record of it. There are three bases, blue, red, and brown, and many modifiers that act on these bases. Most fanciers suggest starting with the best quality bird that you can afford, and this is wise advice if you want results fast, however if you are committed to the breed and prepared to spend many years developing your bloodline then you do not have to start with the best-of-the-best -- after all Frillbacks did not start out with the perfect perms they have today. I myself have a wide range of quality in my loft due to my efforts to secure unrelated birds. I think it is great to have high-quality birds from some of the top breeders, however if you have too many related birds you will just be adding to the problem of inbreeding.

*Genetics
http://www.freewebs.com/wingsoftomorrowloft/frillbackgenetics.htm
*Color Study
http://www.freewebs.com/wingsoftomorrowloft/colorstudy.htm

Temperament
It would seem that the average Frillback is prone to stress-related ailments. In general the Frillback is a nervous and flightly breed, easily upset, most likely because of extreme inbreeding. The German variety, due to the Trumpeter influence, is markedly calmer than American-bred birds. In fact, my German-bred Frillbacks are extremely tame and do not seem to get upset by anything, having a regal, confident, and sometimes lazy poise. Consistant handling from a young age, and exposure to the show cage, is essential to ensure that the bird does not become stressed at shows or give the judge any trouble. This bird is not typically suggested for beginners.

Availability and Cost
There is far more demand for Frillbacks than actual Frillbacks, and because of this there is not enough culling going on in America, which results in the breeding of mediocre birds. Many fanciers are happy to give away a pair to someone just getting started, often times with the stipulation that you must join the American Frillback Club. A Frillback, like any other pigeon, can cost anywhere from $5 to upwards of $150 a bird, depending on quality.

References
http://www.frillback.com/
http://www.geocities.com/pm66052/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/americanfrillbackclub
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/americanfrillbackclub2

HEAD -Plainhead, Crest, Eye, Beak, Wattle..................................................................... 15
COLOR-Luster, Shade, Richness, Markings.....................................................................15
BODY -Neck, Breast, Back, Legs, Wings, Tail..................................................................10
CURL - Coverage, Length, Ending. Closing, Ringlet, Curl................................................,.....50
MUFF-Length, Hock, Shape, Feather Curl............................................................10
TOTAL POINTS........................100

RECOGNIZED COLORS
SELF - White, Black, Recessive Red and Yellow.
PATTERN - Recessive Red and Yellow in Mottle, Rosewing, or Whiteside.
GRIZZLE - Red, Yellow, Blue, Silver.
SHIELD MARKED - Red, Yellow, Blue Black Bar, Silver Dun Bar, Mealy Ash Red Bar, Ash Cream Bar.
ARC-Any rare color
ARCP-Any rare color pattern.

RECOGNITION PROCEEDURES FOR NEW COLORS OR PATTERNS

(A) There must be at least Three (3) exhibitors entering Frillbacks within each color group or pattern. They must be entered in Three (3) of the Five (5) AFC District shows (per year) for a period of Three (3) years. Each year the judging scores must increase with proper progress.
(B) At the completion of this process the Color Committee will present the request for consideration to the AFC Master Judges for proper genetics and markings for review, as appropriate.

GENERAL IMPRESSION
The type is that of a strong wide breasted medium high-stationed Field Pigeon. The plumage is somewhat loose. The main characteristic or distinctive feature is the curled feather of the wing shield.

SIZE
Slightly larger than most color pigeon breeds, having larger wings and longer tail. The length of wing and tail feathers to be in proportion to the rest of the body size.

HEAD
Medium large slightly arched Shell crest and plainhead are present in all colors. The following is the point breakdown of 15 points for head areas:

Crested: Beak and Wattle, 1; Eye, 3; Head (Shape), 1\ Shell Crest, 8 = 15 points.
Plainhead: Beak and Wattle, 2; Eye, 3; Head (Shape), 10 = 15 points.

PLAINHEAD
The head should be medium large, but in proportion to the size of the body. The shape should be slightly oval with a well-rounded forehead. There should be a definite stop of the forehead at the wattle. There should not be any flat areas of the head.

SHELL CREST
Shell shaped, positioned upon the back of the head, high and erect, full with feather, thick and have small Rosettes on each side of the crest The crest feathers should stand straight up, not bugging the head, and be even across at its base.

EYES
Not large, located in a direct line with the beak. Red or orange colored iris is desired on all colors and patterns except shield marked. The shield marked pattern should have bull or black eye on all colors. Pearl, cracked or gravel eyes are major faults.

BEAK
The beak is long and slender, held straight out. curved on the tip, frequently the upper beak is slightly longer that the lower beak. Beak color is dark on red and blue grizzle; black on blacks; light on yellow and horn on silver; flesh colored on whites, recessive red and yellow; mottles, rosewing and whiteside. Flesh colored on all shield marked colors. Wattle is thin, small and covered with white powder on all colors.

BODY
Strong in appearance
NECK
Full, protrudes from the shoulders. Has very little throat but well cut away. Feather creases a fault.
BREAST
Broad, nicely plump, somewhat set forward, protruding
BACK
Wide across the shoulders, slightly arched and sloped
LEGS
Medium long with muscular appearance, powerful.

TAIL
Wide feathers, rather long and borne relatively loose. The tail should not exceed over the width of the two feathers. Almost, but not dragging the ground. Each feather must have a definite wave or wrinkle.

WING
Wide wing shield. The body is well covered. Wings to be closed over the back and rest on the tail. Whig tips should not cross. Wing butts closely aligned with the body. Each wing feather must have a definite wave or wrinkle. Wing and tail feathers should not be excessively long in length.

MUFF
Muff or foot feathering is preferred, two to three inches in length, full and forming an arc shape. Feathers of the hock and foot feathering must have a definite wave or wrinkle, the feather ending with a curl or frill. Extremely long muff is a fault.

FRILL/CURLS
Most important factor in judging. The feathers should not be so fluffy or straight that a well-defined curl can't be formed. The curl should cover the entire wing shield, dense on the shoulders, so that no open areas stand out Curl should be completely closed in the bar area. The last row of curl, toward the tail, should run the entire length of the wing, and be long in length, thick, wide and the feather ending should form a closed curl ending with a round ringlet at the end. Feather cur) should also be present at the ends of the foot feathers or muff and at the ends of the hock feathers. The flight feathers of the wing and tail feathers should have a definite wave or wrinkle. ATTENTION: The amount, size, closed curl, curl ringlet, total wing and curl coverage cannot be stressed enough. Remember the breed's name, FRILLBACK.

DISQUALIFICATIONS
Disease, physical deformity of any kind, poor condition, any artificial alteration or added appearance other than natural growth, or faking in any manner, all above at the judge's discretion.

WHITE
Pure white, without yellow tinge. Color faults: Black or bull eyes, not a clear beak color, colored feathers.

BLACK
Jet-black color with as much beetle green luster as possible over the entire plumage. The major goal is to obtain an even shade over all the body, flights and tail. Color faults: Grayish brown or dull color, flight feathers dull compared to other black areas, visible bars, tail bar, light colored beak.

RECESSIVE RED
Self-red. An even shade throughout of clear rich, bright red. Beak flesh colored. Color faults: blue or gray tints in the red.

RECESSIVE YELLOW
Self-yellow. An even shade throughout of clear, rich bright yellow. Beak flesh colored. Color faults: Blue or gray tints in the yellow.

SHIELD MARKED
All colors to have a White body with the shield being colored. Must have colored secondaries and 7-10 White Primaries...Note: Up to 12 White Primaries are tolerated along with small amounts of colored feathers in the thigh.

RED GRIZZLE
Rich red. Head very light grizzle color, without whole white feathers or splashing. Neck, breast and bars must be rich red. The flight feathers, when closed, should present a white appearance, but when opened out the inner web of each feather should exhibit a rich red grizzle. The tail should have a clear white appearance. A slight reddish color is permissible in the rump. Wingshield light to dark grizzle. Color faults: Bluish breast or rump and color in the feathers of the closed flights and tail, light beak, overall light red color.

YELLOW GRIZZLE
Color and markings are the same as the red grizzle, but the ground color should be a beautiful rich yellow. Color faults: Dark colored beak, any color in the feathers of the closed flights, tail and rump.

BLUE GRIZZLE
Blue grizzle appears in both light and dark blue. The neck is darker metallic green than the breast and shield. The wing bar is dark gray-black to entirely black. The tail and wings are blue, with a darker bar. The head neck and wing shield feathers should be blue with part of the feather being white, which forms the sprinkling of white or grizzle pattern. Basic blue shade should be the same wherever on the bird. Flight feathers should not have any red tone or any white parts. Any red feathers or rust at all on the wing shield or bar should not be present Color faults: Too much white on the head, neck or flight feathers, weak shade of blue, and rust or red on the wing shield.

SILVER GRIZZLE
The dilute of blue grizzle. Color and markings are the same as the blue grizzle, but the ground color should be a beautiful fawn color with no tendency toward a creamy color. The wing and tail bars shall be dun. Beak horn color. Color faults: Too much white on the head, neck, or flight feather, weak shade of silver, and rust or red on the wing shield.

PATTERN
Recessive red or yellow self with pattern wing shield.
Rosewing- Self colored bird with & to 20 white feathers on tie wing shoulders.
Mottle - Self colored bird with the wing shield mixed with white feathers and half colored feathers.
Whiteside - Self colored bird with the wing shield entirely white.