In response to the question about qualification of a new breed or variety, the full and official details are in the APA bylaws, which are printed in each copy of the APA yearbook. In a nutshell:
Applications are made to the APA proposing the new breed or variety, and require the following items:
• Application fee (currently $50 per variety, but look for this to increase some time soon)
• Proposed breed or variety description, written in a style that matches the current Standard
• Signed affidavits from at least 5 breeders stating that they have each bred the breed or variety for 5 years, and that they breed at least 50% true. This is the confirmation, in theory, of the 5 year rule, and the APA generally takes the affidavit signer’s word. There have been some shenanigans in the past, however, and so the APA may begin contacting affidavit signers to confirm what they indicate on the paperwork.
• Show certificates, which are essentially forms that are completed to document that the breed or variety has been shown at APA sanctioned shows over the past two years. The APA may contact the judge placing the birds to discuss their quality and other items.
Once the Standard Committee reviews all of this, and determines everything is in order, then they set the date and place for the qualifying meet. That is where the supporters of the new breed or variety need to put at least 50 birds on display, with birds shown in each class (cock, hen, cockerel, pullet). The qualifying meet judge (chosen by the Standard Committee) judges the meet and makes his or her recommendation to the Standard Committee and APA board as to whether the breed or variety merits admission to the Standard. The APA board has the final vote on the matter.
With specific regard to the “Lavender” variety, this should be pretty straightforward. The convention in the ABA and APA is to call this version “Self Blue” and so the text would likely match what we already have available. The real work would be getting the 50 birds of sufficient quality to display at a qualifying meet. Most qualifying meets have been successful, but there have been a few where they had enough birds, but they were turned down for inadequate type/color.
For other questions, please feel free to contact Sam Brush at slbrush@verizon.net
