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Gloster information |
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| The Gloster Fancy CanaryFor started:The Gloster Canary has been breeding by an Gloster Corona and a Gloster Consort. History:Unlike the older breeds of canary, whose origins are often largely a matter of speculation, the history of the Gloster Fancy has been well documented. It is quite a recent development, as far as the canary fancy is concerned. Dating back only to 1925 it is living proof, that the present-day fancier is possessed of imagination and ability no less than his predecessors of earlier generations.The name of Mrs. Rogerson of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire will forever be associated with this breed. For it was she who first exhibited these small sized, crested canaries, at the Crystal Palace show in 1925. A leading judge of the time, A.W. Smith, recognized them as being something different from the standard, Crested Canaries and saw the potential in them for further development, into a distinct breed. He was instrumental in drawing up the first standard of excellence and in christening the new breed the Gloster Fancy in deference to Mrs. Rogerson's native county. A noted Scottish breeder and judge of Crests, John McLay of Kirkintilloch began to co-operate with Mrs. Rogerson and between them, they succeeded in establishing the basic type. On the authority of A.W. Smith, in his book The Gloster Fancy Canary, it is re-corded, that Mrs. Rogerson's original strain, was developed from the crossing of crested Roller canaries, with the smallest Borders available. Mr. McLay's stock, consisted of small sized Crests crossed with the early "wee gem" type of Border. It is established, therefore, that the Gloster is the result of a blending of three different breeds. Although it owes its basic genes to the three sources, it has now emerged as a bird quite distinct and different from any of its forebears. As with most new varieties, the Gloster was a slow starter but its rise in popularity, has been steady and emphatic until, today, it can rival any of the major breeds in number in most parts of the country. Like the Fife Fancy, it is a lively, hardy and prolific breed and is thus well suited to the beginner. But as with any canary variety, top class exhibition specimens are just as difficult to produce. Requirements of the Gloster Fancy breed:It would be quite wrong to regard the Gloster as merely a miniature edition of the Crested Canary. Apart from the contrast in size, there are many other points of difference. Like all other crested breeds, of course, it exists in both crested and plainhead forms which, when breeding, should be mated together. Nomenclature differs however and in the Gloster two new names were "invented". Thus, the crested bird is known as a Corona and the plainhead as a Consort. However, apart from the obvious difference in head properties, the basic body type is the same for either.The Gloster is one of our smallest breeds, the aims of fanciers always being to produce an exhibition bird with a tendency towards the diminutive. No actual statement of size is made in the official standard however, although about 4 & 3/4 inches, is often regarded as being the upward limit for a good show bird. In spite of its lack of inches, it is a well-built and cobby type of bird. That is to say short and well rounded as opposed to being slim and racy. The body should be quite broad, with a full neck and a back that is well filled. The breast and under parts should also be nicely rounded, in one continuous curve, but although full, not unduly prominent. Wings and tail should he short and carried, tightly braced. In the case of the wings, the flights should meet at their tips and not be either crossed or open. The tail should be well carried and not drop below the line of extension of the rump and vent. Legs and feet should be of moderate length and in correct proportion to balance the rest of the body. Unlike the large Crested canary, the plumage in the smaller bird is of much finer quality. It should be close and firm, giving a good clean-cut outline to the body with no excess of feathering at the thigh or elsewhere. The standard says that they should be of good natural colour. But Glosters are not notably excellent in this respect as compared with say, Borders or Fifes. Although through the recent work of some noted Judges and Exhibitors there is now more emphasis being made on feather quality. They are available in all type canary colours and markings, with green, cinnamon, and white ground birds all quite popular. As with the Crested canary, clear bodied birds with dark or grizzled crests are much admired but nowadays, less frequently seen on the show bench. But type is the overriding factor and must be the first consideration however attractive the markings may be. The crest of the corona follows the normal circular pattern which radiates evenly all round from a small, neat centre. The feathers should be of a fair length in order to form a decent and well-filled crest. But since the Gloster is a bird of closer and shorter feather than the Crested canary, it rarely reaches the stage of drooping down over the beak and eyes without paying the penalty of poor wing carriage. The frontal feathers, however, should at least reach the end of the beak and the standard states that the eye should be discernible. There should, of course, be no bald spot of skin showing and no break in the regularity of the radiation of the crest feathers. Likewise, the unfortunate defects of tufts and horns, and any roughness at the back of the crest, are all to he avoided. In the case of the consort, the head should be bold and well rounded, with a definite rise over the top of the skull, and there should he a decided fullness over the eye but without any tendency towards the overhanging eyebrows as seen in the Crest bred or Lancashire Plainhead canaries. Exhibiting the Gloster Fancy Canary:Beyond the normal show cage training that is needed for all varieties, little need be done in the way of any special preparation. The Gloster is not judged for such things as posture, or position, although 10 points are allowed in the Standard for carriage, which, in this case means a free and lively movement from perch to perch. Some Glosters, in fact, are inclined to be a bit restless, moving across the perches and down onto the bottom of the cage almost without a pause. This of course means that the judge has little chance to assess them fairly. Clearly, any such birds need steadying down to have any chance of success on the show bench. Another annoying habit that is occasionally encountered is that of travelling the perches quite well, but always facing the back of the cage instead of looking the judge in the eye.The crests of the coronas, of course, must always be shown in good condition. Many comments are made, about an exhibitors skill as a hairdresser. But while the odd feather being removed may improve a bird, grooming will never turn an also-ran into a star. The show cage used for the Gloster is an adaptation of the older Crested canary show cage made more suitable for the smaller breed. It is a cage of the box type in which the wire front is curved backwards, or bowed, at the top which thus allows the judge more easily to inspect the crest from above. The cage is 12 inches in length, 10 inches in height and 4-3/4 inches in depth. It is painted in black on the wires and the outside, the inside being in eau-de-nil*. The wire front should be of 23 wires, with a drinker hole centrally placed, and the drinker itself, which is of the common "D"- shaped show cage pattern, should also be in black. There is a seed trough situated at floor level on the right hand side just below the door and the two perches should be 3/8 inches in diameter. The floor covering while the birds are at a show should be of seed. *This colour is now discontinued as such but its equivalent in B.S. colours is obtainable from Breedings area:You can find the Gloster Canary all over the world. It's very popular bird in many country's, on the shows the competition is very big. |
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