Official Carneau Standard
All judges before judging Carneau, must be familiar with this standard, judge Carneau with it and produce this copy upon demand of any American Carneau Association member exhibitor at the annual or district meet.
The official picture is the ideal for station and conformation of the exhibition Carneau. The written standard shall describe the "Ideal Carneau."
WEIGHT: All ages 30 to 37 ounces.
HEIGHT: Thirteen and one quarter inches.
WIDTH: Extremity of chest over wing butts – six inches.
LENGTH: Tip of tail to chest extremity – nine and three quarters inches, measured
horizontally.
Scale of Points:
Head -- 16 pts.
Beak -- 4
Wattles -- 2
Eyes -- 3
Eye Cere - 2
Neck -- 7
Breast -- 8
Body -- 15
Wing -- 6
Keel -- 6
Back -- 7
Tail -- 5
Legs -- 7
Feet -- 2
Plumage - 10
Total = 100 pts.
HEAD (16 pts.): Massive, broad, rounding from wattle to above eye, then gradually decline to nape of neck, with a point one-half inch above the top of wattle being the furthermost forward point and the highest point being directly above the eye. Prominent frontal, well developed back skull, broad between the eyes, all parts of head in perfect keeping and proportion with the body. There shall be no break where back skull joins neck or where the neck meets back, but shall constitute a smooth regular, curve. Head to be free of tumbler-like appearance or from slender or snake-like shape.
BEAK (4 pts.): Stout, medium in length, to be carried in a horizontal position showing no signs of hawk beak, crookedness, or other ill shape. In all colors except black and dun, the beak shall be light or flesh color. Black shall have black beaks and duns the same color as the breast feathers. In reds, yellows, and whites stains, horn color, or black spots shall cut in points with a greater cut for young birds than in yearlings or old birds.
WATTLES (2 pts.): Smooth, free from wrinkles or coarseness; white or very light cream in color.
EYES (3 pts.): Prominent, round, and bright; set approximately two-thirds forward from back of skull, the centers of the eye being about on the level with the top of the wattle and approximately one inch down from the top of the head. The color, orange shading to red, pupil black. Pearl eye, bull eye, cracked eye, or a marked variation in color from one eye to the other will cut in points.
EYE CERE (2 pts.): Round, fine in texture, bright red in color and showing no conspicuous coarseness. In black Carneau, either black or red eye cere shall be permitted and of like value in points.
NECK (7 pts.): Strong, thick, medium length, well proportioned to body and head, showing no angularity or swan like appearance. Gradually enlarging from throat or nape of neck to the well developed broad breast. There shall be no break where neck joins back. Neck shall not cut back excessively under the back. Any tendency for the bird to pull its beak down into the feathers at front of neck is undesirable.
BREAST (8 pts.): The breast is the part of the pigeon, being in front of the legs and extending to the lower part of the neck. It is often referred to a chest. As used herein, it does not include that part of the body around the keel or behind the legs. The breast shall be prominent, broad, showing good symmetrical proportion to the rest of the body. The foremost part of the breast shall be slightly behind the point of the beak.
BODY (15 pts.): Solid, compact, broad, and wedge-shaped. Deep and corresponding to the curve of the breast, showing good symmetrical proportions.
WINGS (6 pts.): Strong, held snugly to the body, rump, and tail. Butts shall fit closely to body and not be conspicuous. Flight feathers shall be approximately one inch shorter than tail feathers and shall be carried over tail feathers, fitting closely to back and showing no hollowness there. Roach wing or wing feathers crossing over back are not desirable.
KEEL (6 pts.): Deep, heavy, the length should be approximately the width of chest as defined herein. This relation produces a cobby appearance. Keel should be straight and show no sign of deformity.
BACK (7 pts.): Broad across shoulders. Approximately straight in line from shoulders to tip of tail at 55 to 60 degree angle from the horizontal. Entirely free of signs of hog back or sway back. Back should be wedge shaped from the broad shoulder to the point of the tail.
TAIL (5 pts.): In keeping with body and back, extending approximately one inch beyond flights, clearing floor when bird is in show position. Wedge shaped and nearly square at end indicative of broad back, carried in line with back and showing no evidence of having wry tail.
LEGS (7 pts.): Stout and straight, set well apart at keel, free from feathers, bright red in color. To be two and one half inches from center of one shank to the center of the other. Bird to be well up on legs, free from squatty or crouch like appearance. A vertical center line of legs would be tangent to curve of bird’s back skull.
FEET (2 pts.): Large, well proportioned to size of shank, free of feathers, well spread, straight toes, bright red in color, toes and toe nails free of deformities.
PLUMAGE (10 pts.): Close fitting, must be free from conspicuous off color. The deeper the coloring pervades the upper color or fluff, the more valuable the birds in points. Neck color show slightly more lustre and sheen, free from beryl shade. The feathers shall not show any frazzle condition in any section. Wider, broader feathers are preferable as compared to longer, slender feathers. Dimples in face and neck do not cut in points. Birds should be in full natural plumage. The feathers over the back and including wings, rump, and tail should blend in smooth continuous sweeping curves, free from hollowness or abrupt breaks in contour.
COLOR: Colored birds to be cut from one to ten points for fault color either surface or under color. These 10 points to be floating and not to upset the original 100 point total.
RED CLASSES: Color rich, deep red chestnut color resembling the horse chestnut when ripe in the burr. The deeper the color pervades the under color or fluff the more valuable the bird is in points. Neck showing more sheen and luster, free from beryl shades. Off color in either exterior or in under color or fluff will cut in points. All feathers to be free of frazzle. Eyes – orange color shading to red. Beak – cream or flesh. Legs and feet bright red. Toe nails cream or flesh.
YELLOW CLASSES: Color deep clear golden yellow showing sheen. Cinnamon color is not desirable. Neck shading opalescent blending with golden hues. Off color in either exterior or under color or fluff will cut in points. All feathers to be free of frazzle. Eyes – orange color shading to red. Beak – cream or flesh. Legs and feet – bright red. Toe nails – cream or flesh.
WHITE CLASSES: Clear white in all sections. Off color in either exterior or under color or fluff will cut in points. All feathers to be free of frazzle. Eyes – orange color shading to red. Beak – cream or flesh. Legs and feet – bright red. Toe nails – cream or flesh.
BLACK CLASSES: Deep raven black with beetle green sheen. Off color in either exterior or under color or fluff will cut in points. All feathers to be free of frazzle. Eyes – orange color shading to red. Beak – black. Legs and feet – bright red. Toe nails – black. Eye cere – bright coral or black.
DUN CLASSES: Good even dun color throughout. Off color in either exterior or under color or fluff will cut in points. All feathers to be free of frazzle. Eyes – orange shading to red. Beak – color of breast of bird. Legs and feet – bright red. Toe nails – same color as the beak of the bird. Eye cere – bright red.
