MINOHIKI 蓑曳鶏
The saddle dragger
Minohiki Page One / Page
Two / Head Study / Akazasa and Shojo Colours / Casarocca Strain of Minohiki
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If there are copyrighted images here that belong to you and you do not wish them to be displayed here, please contact me.
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A new gallery with some new, some older images of this fabulous breed!
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Click on the smaller photos at right and below to see them enlarged.
- Above photo courtesy of Julia Keeling. Origin: Japan.
- Above photo courtesy of Julia Keeling. Origin: Japan.
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NEW: PROPOSED STANDARD FOR MINOHIKI
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MINOHIKI (Mino saddle feather, Hiki dragging)
MALE COMB: Triple or walnut comb of any particular form, size may be large but small, tight and finely-textured preferred. A form of walnut, called "Chalice Comb" is prevalent in the province of origin in Japan: a walnut comb with a distinct indention in the centre of the comb, forming a cup or chalice.
FEMALE COMB: In those genetic lines in which the Chalice Comb is prevalent, the hens may have a pronounced, medium-size comb.
BEAK: Medium in length, strong, nicely curved.
FACE: Full, smooth to fleshy. The fleshy types of Minohiki should not develop deep wrinkles as seen in Yamato, but may become distinctly furrowed and groved with age.
EYES: Full, bright red brown
WATTLES: (if present) bright red. Wattles preferred small, regular, finely-texured if present.
HEAD: Medium in length and depth, skull of natural, moderate convexity.
NECK: Medium in length, well arched. Hackle -- long, abundant, flowing well over the shoulders.
BACK: Rather long, upright to gently sloping, broad at the shoulders, sloping distinctly downward to the end of the back where it sweeps upward to the tail. The length, substance, and abundance of plumage creating a well-filled appearance.
SADDLE - Extremely long and abundant with the saddle hackle of the mature cock dragging the ground behind the body. On the body they carry on the unbroken sweep to the tail, covering a portion of the ends of the wings, extending to the tail in a luxuriant drapery. Best saddle length in 2 year old or older males.
TAIL: Main Tail - Long, broad, and overlapping, the longer the better, well concealed by sickles and coverts, continuing the concave sweep of the back.
Main Sickles - Multiple, broad, firm in texture, dragging the ground at least 80 cm behind the body. Firm structure, medium width. A full, dragging tail is desired, but not an exaggerated length.
Lesser (Mutant) Sickles - Multiple stacking rows concentrated around the glandular node at the base of the tail, forming a very full appearance, broad, moderate to firm in texture, very long and abundant, merging with and carrying rearward the drapery of saddle hackles, growing to at least 80cm in length. A full, dragging tail is desired, but not an exaggerated length.
Coverts - moderately broad, moderate to firm in texture, at least reaching, but preferably dragging the ground. A full, dragging tail is desired, but not an exaggerated length.
WINGS: Large, well-folded, carried at an angle, held closely to the body at an angle, continuing toward the shanks. Bows - smooth, prominent, and well rounded. Coverts - feathers broad, forming 2 distinct bars across the wings. Primaries - broad, tapering convexly to stern, completely hidden by secondaries. Secondaries - moderately broad and strong, ends concealed by saddle.
BREAST: Broad, full, carried high and slightly forward
BODY AND FLUFF: Moderately long, medium depth, firm, muscular, with good heart girth, plumage carried closely and neatly. Fluff - medium length, carried without drooping.
LEGS AND TOES: Yellow. Legs set well apart when viewed from the front, and middle of body to provide firm balance and poise for the great length of plumage. Lower shanks and thighs--moderate in length. Spurs - Hard and set low on the leg. Toes--four on each foot, rather long, straight, well spread.
WEIGHT: cock 2500g, hen 1800g (young birds 1350 - 2000 g)
COLOURS: Red Duckwing, Silver Duckwing, Golden Duckwing, 5-coloured (Goshiki), White, or Black-tailled Buff (Shojou)
The distinctive factors of the Minohiki are: red-faced, yellow-legged, cushion to pea-combed, upright body and arched tail stance, extremely long saddle hackle, extremely full and long main tail, medium size. Variations: comb form and size, body type from a moderate to a strongly gamefowl type, less importance is placed on colour.
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