Personally, I think breed names are rather arbitrary constructions. If one were to seperate Oxford OEG and American, where would be the cut-off point? What of those American fowl that are straight from England, without any outcross in them? Similarly, those English Oxford strains which came back from America, Parson's Gingers for example?
Post #17
Mon 22, November 2010
kevin it depends on who your talking too . I know many people in the states who jealously claim their fowl back to the british isles .
Pegawl &George you are both right in a way ,but I have corresponded with numerous American game breeders and they do not want their fowls to be classified as old english,it is confusing enough over here as it is without another breed being thrown in the mix.I know some of the strains look like old english,Ihave suggested this to the Americans,they did not like it,so how can we call them oxfords when the country they come from do not.Plese excuse my ignorance but if I do not ask I will never know.cheers
Post #19
Tue 23, November 2010
sorry kevin , maybe I have not explained myself clearly , my American friends claim their fowl to the british isles they do not call them old english game and why would you there a show fowl .But they are proud that they can trace the linage of their families of fowl backwards in time to england , ireland etc and mostly through their own family associations with the fowl. It seems alot of people left the uk to pursue the old sport in the america's when the ban took place.
the hens show oriental character and the male dosent seem to match his hens except for his hackle , its hard to tell from a photo but they dont really appeal to me , in saying that , if they are what they are claimed to be and bred for the same ends as Atkinson did than you'd think them handy fowl , they do give the apperance of being athletic