According to the the American
Standard of Perfection, published by the American Poultry Association, the perfect
Cubalaya looks almost like the perfect Sumatra, only with different
colors. Other experts disagree. The Cuban standard, says Horst
Schmudde, author of Oriental Gamefowl:
A Guide for the Sportsman, Poultryman And Exhibitor of Rare Poultry
Species And Gamefowl of the World, calls for the
ideal to have a "lobster tail." In a recent email he
explained, "a good lobster tail - males or hens - show the
lower tail feathers overlapping the next upper pair and so forth
(not seen in any other breeds - except in Ko-Shamos)." He
adds that "Most Cubalaya males don't develop their abundant
lobster tail until their second or third year. (Look at the pictures in my book)."
Below are photos of one of my cockerels, Charlie, at 18 weeks.
At this age he shows the lobster tail effect somewhat better
(IMHO) than does Fosdick. He hatched
from an egg Sam Brush sent to me.
