|
|
Large fowl Origin: Great Britain Classification: Light, rare Egg colour: Tinted Weight: Large fowl; male 2.5 – 2.95kg, female 2 – 2.5kg.
The Marsh Daisy was created around the 1880s, by Mr J Wright of Southport, using an Old English Game bantam cock crossed onto cinnamon Malay hens. A cock from that crossing was mated to hens which were a black Hamburgh/white Leghorn cross. A white rose-combed male produced from that cross was, in turn crossed back to the hens of the Hamburgh/Leghorn cross. No other blood was introduced until 1913, when a Mr C Moore bought some hens from Mr Wright and crossed them on to a pure Pit Game cock. Wanting to secure the white lobe and willow leg stock, it was crossed with Sicilian Buttercups. This was the basis for what we now know as the Marsh Daisy; a moderate layer and good forager. There are no known bantams in this breed.
Characteristics Male Carriage: Upright, bold and active. Type: Body long, fairly broad, especially at the shoulders, with square and blocky appearance. Almost horizontal back. Well-rounded and prominent breast. Full tail, carried at 45° from the vertical. Head: Skull, fine. Beak short and well curved. Eyes bold and prominent. Comb rose, medium size, well and evenly spiked, finishing in a single leader 1.25cm (½”) long in line with the surface, not as high as a Hamburgh’s, or following the nape of the neck as the Wyandotte’s. Face smooth. Earlobes almond-shaped. Wattles of fine texture and in keeping with the comb. Neck: Fairly long, fine. Hackle flowing and falling well on the shoulders to form the cape. Legs and feet: Moderately long. Shanks and feet light-boned, free from feathers. Toes, four well spread. Plumage: Semi-hard, of fine texture; profuse feathering to be deprecated.
Female Similar to the male, allowing for normal sexual differences.
Colours Black, buff,brown, wheaten, white. In both sexes and all colours, beak, horn. Eyes rich red with black pupil. Comb, face and wattles red. Earlobes white. Legs and feet pale willow green; toenails horn.
Defects Want of type, less than one third white lobe. Red plumage, legs other than willow green.
|
Marsh Daisy