Background: A very old marked breed formerly a flying tumbler. Possibly related to the Nun in early times. The Australian Plain Head Helmets are probably second to none in the world. With dedicated fanciers producing strong straight faced birds from carefull crosses with the African Owl and Long Faced Tumbler. Importation in 1995 of Crested Helmets from Canada has opened the way for further development of the breed. The Australian Helmet Club Official Standard for Medium Face Crested and Plain Head Helmets was adopted by ANPA in 1990.
Type: The Helmet should be short, cobby, short feathered with a prominent chest, standing erect on toes on almost straight legs, so that the eyes are perpendicular to the balls of the feet, and the beak parallel to the ground, giving the bird a straight outlook. The bird is to be no longer from breast to tail as it is from head to balls of feet.
Head: When viewed from the side there should be a well-defined curve from the wattle to the neck without any sharp or sudden breaks. The curve from the wattle to the topskull should show a more pronounced curve than from the topskull to the neck, giving a slightly protruding forehead and a higher forehead than backskull. Viewed from the front, the face should be wide directly behind the wattle and the skull should have fullness across the eyes, appearing slightly arched. Any indication of a narrow or pinched face is to be avoided.
Beak: The mandibles should be of equal substance, evenly tapering from the wattle to the tip with an overall length of no more than 12mm and not shorter than 5mm, should have sufficient substance at the wattle to avoid a pinched effect. A stout beak is preferred to a weak beak. The beak setting should be such that the line between the mandibles is parallel to the ground when the bird is in its show stance. There should be no discernible mandible gap. A clear flesh beak is preferred in all colours, while a dark coloured top mandible is acceptable is black and blue.
Wattle: Should blend with the beak to form a smooth connection with the skull. Should not show any coarseness and be a powdered white in colour.
Eyes: Should be bright pearl in colour and have a well defined pupil. Lower edge of the eye should rest on the imaginary line formed parallel to the ground from the wattle end of the beak, and not be too far back in the skull.
Ceres: Should be neat, fine in texture and an inconspicuous colour.
Neck: Medium to short and fairly stout at the shoulders. Viewed from the side it should arch slightly and curve gently into the back.
Body: Medium in size, cobby in appearance. Broad width at front tapering in a wedge like manner to a thin tail. Prominent chest showing a curvaceous outline when viewed from the side. There should be no suggestion of a roached back. To the feel, the body should suggest good muscle tone and firmness.
Wings: Should be tightly folded into the back with the upper portion of wing butts covered by the breast feathers. Wing butts must not be obtrusive. The wings should be riding on the tail, and not crossing or drooping below the tail. The wing tips should extend well towards the end of the tail.
Legs: Medium length, smooth texture, sturdy and almost straight. A long legged appearance is to be avoided. Hocks should blend smoothly into the body. Legs should be bright red in colour and free of grousing or stockings.
Feet: Smooth in texture, bright red in colour. Toe nails should be flesh coloured.
Tail: Should be neat, narrow and straight. There should be twelve feathers. A long cast tail is undesirable.
Crest: Should be shell shaped and prominent. It should stand well above the head and be thick and full as possible without hugging the skull. It should reach from ear to ear showing no breaks along its edge and end in completely formed rosettes. Rosettes should be symmetrical and of corresponding size and shape with their centres in line with the bottom of the eye. The crest should blend into a thick mane in such a way that the continuity of the crest is enhanced.
Markings: All markings should be clear and definite.
Tail: The colour shall extend to the vent in an even manner with a sharp line of differentiation across the rump. The colour shall extend as far above the tail as it does below.
Head, Plain Head -the head markings should be bordered by a line parallel to the ground from the point between the two mandibles, under the eye and around the back of the neck in a level, unbroken line.
Head, Crested -the head markings should be bordered by a line parallel to the ground from the point between the two mandibles, under the eye, to the rosettes and around the head at the base of the shell. There should be no coloured feathers in the crest or its lining.
Colour: The colour of the head and tail shall be the same. All colours shall be lich and bright showing no off colours or smutty feathers.
Black -(Blue, pigment, intense, spread pattern). Glossy jet black with green sheen in both head and tail. No suggestion of a tail bar.
Dun -(Blue pigment, dilute, spread pattern) Rich even shade of brownish steel grey with plenty of green sheen on both head and tail. No suggestion of a tail bar.
Blue -(Blue pigment, intense, bar pattern). Rich even shade of medium blue-grey with a black tail bar.
Silver -(Blue pigment, dilute, bar pattern). Rich shade of light silver grey to fawn with a dun tail bar .
Red -(Red pigment, intense recessive red factor) All even shade of clear, bright, rich chestnut, free from sootiness or any tendency to vary in intensity on the tail. No tail bar. Yellow -(Red pigment, dilute recessive red factor). An even shade of clear, rich, bright golden-buff with no tendency to vary in intensity on the tail. No tail bar.
Ash Red -[Lavender] (Ash red pigment, intense). Head should be an even shade of lavender grey with little tendency to shade to red on the head. The tail should be an even shade of lavender grey with as little flecking as possible and no flecking at all preferred.
Condition: The bird should appear healthy, clean and active.
Points -Plain Head
Head 15 Beak 8 Eyes 4 Wattle 2 Ceres 2 Body 8 Neck 3 Wings 3 Tail 2 Legs & Feet 3 Head Marking 13 Tail Marking 7 Colour 10 Type 15 Condition 5
Points -Crested
Same as for Plain Head except for Crest 10 Rosettes 10
Disqualifications: Bull or cracked eye. Crossed or crooked beak. Dark lower mandibles on any coloured bird.
Notes:
It is strongly suggested that this standard be read with the accompanying drawings in view. At times, difficult to explain or understand characteristics are best left to the Ideal Drawing. The points value allocated to each characteristic of the bird are to be used for judging within each variety. When selection between Crested and Plain Head varieties is performed, comparison techniques rather than points aggregate, should be utilised. The intention is to encourage good coloured, well marked, short, upright birds of good station and outlook. Some trimming is acceptable although the limit of acceptability is left to the individual judge. Points awarded for marking may be reduced or eliminated due to excessive trimming.
