The Fairest Fowl: Portraits of Championship ChickensChickens are bewitching birds: lush plumage, gleaming feathers, perfect thighs. But few meet the standard of perfection of the American poultry show, the beauty pageant of the barnyard and the true test of poultry pulchritude. In The Fairest Fowl, photographer Tamara Staples celebrates the champions of the chicken world at their best. Dozens of stunning portraits capture the quirky personality and undeniable grace of these noble birds as you've never seen them before. Location photography of the shows, details of the judging process, strategies from poultry farmers, and profiles of each prize breed set the scene and offer insight for the discerning chicken aficionado. And an appreciation of Staples' photography by public radio's Ira Glass of This American Life explores the finer points of chicken portraiture. Finally, chickens receive the respect they're due. |
Contents
THE WORLD OF CHAMPION CHICKENS | 9 |
THE GOOD BOOK | 13 |
THE CHICKENS | 22 |
TRYING TO RESPECT A CHICKEN | 103 |
Common terms and phrases
American Poultry Association Australorps Bantam Cock Bantam Cockerel Belvidere bird Blackhawk Poultry Show breast breeder Bright-red comb chicken CLASS CLEAN LEGGED BANTAMS Cock STANDARD WEIGHTS Cockerel 22 oz Cockerel Cock STANDARD COMB CLEAN LEGGED Cornish dark horn earlobes England Fanciers Poultry Show Faverolles FEATHER LEGGED BANTAMS Figure Frizzle Georgia ADMITTED golden bay Hen Pullet STANDARD Houdan Illini Poultry Show Illinois ADMITTED Indiana State Fair Ira Glass Large Fowl Cock National Poultry Show Ohio ADMITTED Ohio National Poultry Peach State Fanciers Perfection in 1874 photograph Pit Game plumage poultry fancy Poultry Show 1998 Pullet STANDARD WEIGHTS reddish-bay eyes ROSE COMB CLEAN Shamo shanks and toes Show 1997 Belvidere Show 1998 Columbus Show 1998 Commerce show chickens SHOWN Blackhawk Poultry SHOWN Illini Poultry SHOWN Ohio National SHOWN Peach Sicilian Buttercups Silver Laced Wyandotte Silver Sebright slate undercolor STANDARD BREEDS Standard of Perfection tail Tamara Staples wattles Wyandotte male yellow beak