Northern Ohio
American Singer Club
CHAPTER 32
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Northern Ohio American Singer Club CHAPTER 32 |
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Historical Article "An American Singer Standard" By Armistead Carter Article from American Canary Magazine, September 1941 Issue
Let us assume that the American Singer is here to stay; let us assume (and rightly we believe) that there are numerous fanciers who are willing to work for that ideal, who believe in Thoreau's famous words: "If you have built castles in the air your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them." In our effort to cooperate with making the "foundation" of this ideal we asked Armistead Carter to write an article on a new type bird that might be applicable to the American Singer. Read the following introductory article. Mr. Carter gives his views on what he thinks should be the object to strive towards. Then be sure to read next month's feature article by Mr. Carter in which he goes into great detail regarding the new type as conceived by him. Do not miss the pertinent remarks brought out by this respected old-timer who wishes to do his part to help establish the American Singer. - Editor At the request of a few American Singer fanciers I am here expressing a few thoughts regarding the practical side of breeding what should prove an acceptable bird to all thoughtful breeders. First of all let us consider for a few moments what would be an ideal, and then proceed to outline the breeding of it. All fanciers of this breed have a common object in view, viz.: to produce a bird that is at once the best variety singer, and also a smart attractive bird. now for a bird to have a general attraction it must be lively in action. A dumpy bird excites more sympathy than admiration from the average person buying a bird as a singer; therefore, that puts the Norwich Plainhead out of the question as a suitable bird to cross with the roller. The ultimate end of the American Singer is a bird that will find a ready market among buyers of birds who want a singer, and who know nothing about bird keeping as a fancy. In view of this it would be useless to try to bred into the birds something that is hard to acquire, and when acquired finds its only admirers among fanciers. Take the poultry business. It is both a business and a fancy. Some like to produce a chicken that is attractive only for its shape or plumage, or its gameness and ability to fight. These I would call fanciers for their object is not profit but a desire to excel in their particular breed. As a matter of fact few such fanciers make any profit. On the other hand, what I would call the poultry business man is interested in profit. To make a profit he must produce a bird that is the acme of a food product or a food producer, either because of its edibility as a bird, or from the number of eggs it can be induced to part with in one year. now all show their chickens at the big poultry shows and compete for ribbons, yet the two types have nothing really in common. One is produced exclusively from a marketing standpoint, the other from a fancy standpoint, which means that marketing, edibility or egg production is a minor consideration. In the canary fancy we are in a similar position. Some of us bred them with only the show in mind with profit a secondary consideration. A few breeders of this type excel and do make a profit, but most are satisfied if they can break even. Among these are included the fanciers of Yorkshires, Border Fancies, Scots Fancies, Belgians, Dutch Frills, Lizards, and some roller fanciers, as well as Norwich fanciers, both Plainhead and Crest. In the other class we have the roller and chopper, Hartz mountain, and those who breed for the general market through Pet shops. It is in the latter class that the American Singer should take its place. It should attempt to monopolize this market by producing a bird that has a great variety of song, and yet one that is just as attractive in appearance as any of the show breeds. However, it shouldn't be different in shape and rely on that for its attractiveness, but rather rely on color and general neatness to form its first attraction, and then to excel in song in order to clinch a sale to anyone who is first drawn to it from its attractive appearance. I believe that his puts the case clearly in regard to the object to which we will want to breed. That being the case how to accomplish this object should be of especial interest.
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