Breed History
The American Giant Runt is one of the oldest and largest known domestic pigeon families and is known for squab production. Why the name Runt? Well, it goes back to their origin in France and Spain where the term runt means common or plain, but even there these huge pigeons are anything but plain or common. American Giant Runts should be as large and heavy as possible and close feathered enough to give the bird a trim look. Actual body structure must determine size and not mere appearance or feather length. Some of these pigeons have been weighed in at over 1.4 kilogram.
The American Giant Runt was developed by crossing the original Runt with several other varieties. The American Giant Runt was the result of USA breeders seeking a shorter, type bird. The overall impression of the Giant Runt is that it is a very large, broad bird, denoting both strength and boldness.
The shape of the top of the skull is oval, neither flat nor round. The back of the skull should be well developed to give the bird a long head. The neck is moderate in length and width in proportion to the size of the bird. The breast is very full and should be as broad as possible to give the bird a chesty look. The body is deep, long and extra full, but not as long as the English Runt. The general type of the Giant Runt is of utmost importance. Type makes the bird and must come first, even before greater size, but it should not be too small.
The original colour of Giant Runts was the wild type blue with dilute "natural silver second" but today they are bred in most pigeon colours, e.g. blue, silver, yellow, dun, black, red, grizzle, ash red and white. Their eyes must be pearl in all colours but bull in whites.
The head and neck (20 points) and type, body, size and breast (40 points) are important.
I started with American Giant Runts during 2007 and during the 2008 and 2009 South African National Championship Shows I exhibited the Champion American Giant Runt with respectively an old cock and young hen. During 2007 I imported two pairs of American Giant Runts, from America with the help of John Nelson. Unfortunately only three birds made it here and shortly after they landed I lost another two, which left my with only a blue barred hen. This hen was mated to my best local cock and a young hen from them was the 2009 Breed Champion.
GIANT RUNT Standard of Perfection GRCA Standard
HEAD
Large, massive and broad, denoting strength and boldness. Top of the skull neither flat or round, but oval as illustrated. Back of the skull should be well developed to give the bird a long head.
BEAK
Should be broad, showing strenght, of medium length. Fairly thick, neither down faced or too straight, but as illustrated. Black coloration in Blue and Black, flesh coloration in all others. (An AOC can have either)
WATTLE
Small, oval, equal in size and fine in texture.
EYE CERE
Neat, not too coarse, as illustrated. (Note= Damson or Plum color in Blues, Red in all others)
EYES
Bright, clear showing health and vigor. (Bull in Whites, Pearl in all other colors) (No more than three points cut for off colored eyes.)
NECK
Medium in length, free from gullet and appearing broad and full towards the breast. Neck feathers to be full enough to give us the neck illustrated. It should flow towards the back.
Wings
Of moderate length and width in proportion to the size of the bird. Folded close to the body and wrapping up over the rump as in a flying pigeon. Wing butts should be held in such a way to give a look of added strenght. Should be thick and strong. Any sign of sails or open back should be cut in points. Low wings are a fault and dragging wings should be cut in points or disqualified.
BACK
Long, very broad at shoulder, straight when viewed from the side, wedge shaped from top view. Rump full enough to carry out this wedge shape. (Rump a very pale color almost white in both Blue and Silver).
TAIL
Medium length with width governed by the wedge shape of the bird. Lines to follow the sweep of the back and tip to be carried above the floor while walking or standing in natural position.
BREAST
Very full and as much breadth as is needed to give the Runt a chesty look. Deep enough to match the keel depth.
KEEL
Very deep, long and straight. Cut in up to 3 points if badly deformed, disqualified
BODY
Long, deep and extra full. Very broad at the shoulders, fairly wide through, but must show a taper. Belly section should be held tight so that no looseness shows in the side views. Most of the weight must come from the body and breast flesh and not from fat
SHANK and TOES
medium in length, thick in bone. Feathers coming apart way down the leg to give the added look of strength. Or as illustrated. Legs set well apart, but no signs of "bowlegs" or point "knock-knees" wanted. Feet and toes free from feathers, but with a slight point cut if slightly feathered. Toenails to be colored the same as the beak.
SIZE and FEATHERING
Runts should be as large and heavy as possible and close feathered enough to give the bird a trim look. Actual body structure must determine size and not mere appearance or feather length. A compact, nicely feathered, heavy boned, full bodied bird should win over a raw boned, larger boned bird of less flesh. If a well put together bird is light in weigth, a judge may ask if the bird has been shiped a distance, and allow for the trip.
GENERAL TYPE MUST FOLLOW THE IDEAL PICTURE
When reading the standard the illustration must be before the fancier. TYPE makes this breed and must come first, even before giant size. But if a perfect typed bird is found to be too small for a Giant Runt, it may be cut in points or even disqualified by the judge. Such a bird should be used for breeding stock just as an extra large, very poor type or sloopy birds can be cut in points or disqualified, no matter how large or small they are.
SEX and AGE
As this standard is written to cover the adult male at maturity, you will use your own judgement when placing a hen or the younger sexes. The adult female should show less power and more curves than the male. Babies or young females should have less look of strength and more beautiful curves. The ILLUSTRATION is also of a matural male, and adjustments should be made by the judge when viewing it.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Any bird seriously impaired by, or diseased. Badly crippled, too small, any bird not showing true Runt type; badly deformed or far out of condition. Color - Disqualified if white flights in colored birds, or reclassified in the mis-marked class. Cuts will be made for slight color imperfections and such a bird must be entered in its proper class.
POINTS - THE DEDUCTION SYSTEM
Head = 15 points; Neck = 10 points; Back,Shoulders, Rump & Tail = 10 points; Wings = 15 points; Type = 20 points; Body, Breast & Size = 20 points; Legs, Feet & Setting = 10 points; Color = 10 points. NOTE: Any cut above these points disqualifies.
GRCA Approved Standard Colors For Giant Runts
COLORS - We allow ten points for color and markings for all standard colors known,except whites and mismarks which have no cuts in color points. Unless a show will make a special class for the Rare Colors, they will be put in the Any Other Color Class. In placing CHAMPION, if the standard colors are competing, the judge uses color points cuts. But if a Mismark or a White is competing against standard colors, the judge is to disregard the color points on all birds before him/her.
BLUE BAR - A deep even shade of blue in all sections of the body. The neck should be a darker shade with a beetle green shade of sheen. White over the rump. the wings should show two well defined black bars. The tail is tipped with a single black bar to match those on the wings. Golden - red or pearl iris. Damson eye cere. Dark or black beak and toenails.
SILVER - A silvery blue tending to fawn color in all sections of the body, with as little contrast as possible in the shade of the back, breast, wings and tail. The neck should be of a darker shade with a brilliant metallic luster, White or fawn over the rump. The wings to show two well defined bars somewhat darker in color than the body, and the tail should be tipped with a single bar to match those on the wing. Golden - red or pearl iris.
WHITE - Pure white, Dark gravel eyes. Beet red cere. Pinkish white beak and toenails.
RED -Rich deep even shade of red throughout the surface with a red under color. Neck color should show more sheen and luster, from green or beryl shades. light horn colored beak and toenails.
YELLOW - Deep golden sheen. neck showing opalescent blending with golden hues. Orange iris. Red eye cere. horn colored beak and toenails.
DUN - Good even dun color. Beak and toenails the same color as the breast. Golden - red iris. Flesh colored cere.
BLACK - Deep raven black with beetle green sheen. Golden - red iris. Black colored beak and toenails.
GRIZZLE - Recognized only in (Blue Pigment) Intense and Dilute.
BLUE GRIZZLE - Blue Pigment - Intense -Grizzle Factor -Bar Pattern. Head, neck, body, wing and tail color as the basic (blue), with the addition of white flecks superimposed on the top of the standard color (blue). The grizzling effect to be most noticeable upon the body, shoulder, head and neck while nearly absent on the wings bars and tail bars. An evenly distributed uniform grizzling is desired. More white allowed on the head than the body, shoulders and neck. Neck feathers a bit darker shade showing a rich sheen of primary green and secondly purple. Birds that have white main tail or wing feathers, will not be shown in the grizzle class. Pearl or orange eyes. Dark or black beak and toenails.
SILVER GRIZZLE - Blue Pigment - Dilute - Grizzle Factor - Bar Pattern. Head, neck, body, wing and tail the same as the basic (silver), with the addition of white flecks superimposed on the top of the standard color (blue). The grizzling effect to be most noticeable upon the body, shoulder, head and neck while nearly absent on the wings bars and tail bars. An evenly distributed uniform grizzling is desired. More white allowed on the head than the body, shoulders and neck. The neck should be a darker shade with a brilliant metallic luster. Eye color, same as Silver, with horn colored beak and toenails. Birds that have white main tail or wing feathers, will not be shown in the grizzle class.
ASH RED - Ash Red Pigment - Intense - Bar Pattern. The body and wing color can be a variation of ash red. The wings show show two well defined claret - red bars.
ASH RED - Ash Red Pigment - Intense - Spread Pattern. The body and wing color to be a solid color of ash gray, with black or brown flecking. In some birds the flecking will be light or absent.
NOTE - Birds that have white main tail or wing feathers will not be shown in the ash red class. The ash red color should have pearl eyes, horn color beaks and toenails. Light colored birds to have flesh colored beaks and toenails, and dark colored birds to have dark horn beaks and toenails.
SHEEN - For instance, the black - this color should have as much beetle green as possible over its entire plumage. On Blue and Silver the neck sheen should be predominantly green rather than purple and should show as high a gloss as possible, over the entire plumage, whether in self, pattern or mismarks.
The American Giant Runt was developed by crossing the original Runt with several other varieties. The American Giant Runt was the result of USA breeders seeking a shorter, type bird. The overall impression of the Giant Runt is that it is a very large, broad bird, denoting both strength and boldness.
The shape of the top of the skull is oval, neither flat nor round. The back of the skull should be well developed to give the bird a long head. The neck is moderate in length and width in proportion to the size of the bird. The breast is very full and should be as broad as possible to give the bird a chesty look. The body is deep, long and extra full, but not as long as the English Runt. The general type of the Giant Runt is of utmost importance. Type makes the bird and must come first, even before greater size, but it should not be too small.
The original colour of Giant Runts was the wild type blue with dilute "natural silver second" but today they are bred in most pigeon colours, e.g. blue, silver, yellow, dun, black, red, grizzle, ash red and white. Their eyes must be pearl in all colours but bull in whites.
The head and neck (20 points) and type, body, size and breast (40 points) are important.
I started with American Giant Runts during 2007 and during the 2008 and 2009 South African National Championship Shows I exhibited the Champion American Giant Runt with respectively an old cock and young hen. During 2007 I imported two pairs of American Giant Runts, from America with the help of John Nelson. Unfortunately only three birds made it here and shortly after they landed I lost another two, which left my with only a blue barred hen. This hen was mated to my best local cock and a young hen from them was the 2009 Breed Champion.
GIANT RUNT Standard of Perfection GRCA Standard
HEAD
Large, massive and broad, denoting strength and boldness. Top of the skull neither flat or round, but oval as illustrated. Back of the skull should be well developed to give the bird a long head.
BEAK
Should be broad, showing strenght, of medium length. Fairly thick, neither down faced or too straight, but as illustrated. Black coloration in Blue and Black, flesh coloration in all others. (An AOC can have either)
WATTLE
Small, oval, equal in size and fine in texture.
EYE CERE
Neat, not too coarse, as illustrated. (Note= Damson or Plum color in Blues, Red in all others)
EYES
Bright, clear showing health and vigor. (Bull in Whites, Pearl in all other colors) (No more than three points cut for off colored eyes.)
NECK
Medium in length, free from gullet and appearing broad and full towards the breast. Neck feathers to be full enough to give us the neck illustrated. It should flow towards the back.
Wings
Of moderate length and width in proportion to the size of the bird. Folded close to the body and wrapping up over the rump as in a flying pigeon. Wing butts should be held in such a way to give a look of added strenght. Should be thick and strong. Any sign of sails or open back should be cut in points. Low wings are a fault and dragging wings should be cut in points or disqualified.
BACK
Long, very broad at shoulder, straight when viewed from the side, wedge shaped from top view. Rump full enough to carry out this wedge shape. (Rump a very pale color almost white in both Blue and Silver).
TAIL
Medium length with width governed by the wedge shape of the bird. Lines to follow the sweep of the back and tip to be carried above the floor while walking or standing in natural position.
BREAST
Very full and as much breadth as is needed to give the Runt a chesty look. Deep enough to match the keel depth.
KEEL
Very deep, long and straight. Cut in up to 3 points if badly deformed, disqualified
BODY
Long, deep and extra full. Very broad at the shoulders, fairly wide through, but must show a taper. Belly section should be held tight so that no looseness shows in the side views. Most of the weight must come from the body and breast flesh and not from fat
SHANK and TOES
medium in length, thick in bone. Feathers coming apart way down the leg to give the added look of strength. Or as illustrated. Legs set well apart, but no signs of "bowlegs" or point "knock-knees" wanted. Feet and toes free from feathers, but with a slight point cut if slightly feathered. Toenails to be colored the same as the beak.
SIZE and FEATHERING
Runts should be as large and heavy as possible and close feathered enough to give the bird a trim look. Actual body structure must determine size and not mere appearance or feather length. A compact, nicely feathered, heavy boned, full bodied bird should win over a raw boned, larger boned bird of less flesh. If a well put together bird is light in weigth, a judge may ask if the bird has been shiped a distance, and allow for the trip.
GENERAL TYPE MUST FOLLOW THE IDEAL PICTURE
When reading the standard the illustration must be before the fancier. TYPE makes this breed and must come first, even before giant size. But if a perfect typed bird is found to be too small for a Giant Runt, it may be cut in points or even disqualified by the judge. Such a bird should be used for breeding stock just as an extra large, very poor type or sloopy birds can be cut in points or disqualified, no matter how large or small they are.
SEX and AGE
As this standard is written to cover the adult male at maturity, you will use your own judgement when placing a hen or the younger sexes. The adult female should show less power and more curves than the male. Babies or young females should have less look of strength and more beautiful curves. The ILLUSTRATION is also of a matural male, and adjustments should be made by the judge when viewing it.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Any bird seriously impaired by, or diseased. Badly crippled, too small, any bird not showing true Runt type; badly deformed or far out of condition. Color - Disqualified if white flights in colored birds, or reclassified in the mis-marked class. Cuts will be made for slight color imperfections and such a bird must be entered in its proper class.
POINTS - THE DEDUCTION SYSTEM
Head = 15 points; Neck = 10 points; Back,Shoulders, Rump & Tail = 10 points; Wings = 15 points; Type = 20 points; Body, Breast & Size = 20 points; Legs, Feet & Setting = 10 points; Color = 10 points. NOTE: Any cut above these points disqualifies.
GRCA Approved Standard Colors For Giant Runts
COLORS - We allow ten points for color and markings for all standard colors known,except whites and mismarks which have no cuts in color points. Unless a show will make a special class for the Rare Colors, they will be put in the Any Other Color Class. In placing CHAMPION, if the standard colors are competing, the judge uses color points cuts. But if a Mismark or a White is competing against standard colors, the judge is to disregard the color points on all birds before him/her.
BLUE BAR - A deep even shade of blue in all sections of the body. The neck should be a darker shade with a beetle green shade of sheen. White over the rump. the wings should show two well defined black bars. The tail is tipped with a single black bar to match those on the wings. Golden - red or pearl iris. Damson eye cere. Dark or black beak and toenails.
SILVER - A silvery blue tending to fawn color in all sections of the body, with as little contrast as possible in the shade of the back, breast, wings and tail. The neck should be of a darker shade with a brilliant metallic luster, White or fawn over the rump. The wings to show two well defined bars somewhat darker in color than the body, and the tail should be tipped with a single bar to match those on the wing. Golden - red or pearl iris.
WHITE - Pure white, Dark gravel eyes. Beet red cere. Pinkish white beak and toenails.
RED -Rich deep even shade of red throughout the surface with a red under color. Neck color should show more sheen and luster, from green or beryl shades. light horn colored beak and toenails.
YELLOW - Deep golden sheen. neck showing opalescent blending with golden hues. Orange iris. Red eye cere. horn colored beak and toenails.
DUN - Good even dun color. Beak and toenails the same color as the breast. Golden - red iris. Flesh colored cere.
BLACK - Deep raven black with beetle green sheen. Golden - red iris. Black colored beak and toenails.
GRIZZLE - Recognized only in (Blue Pigment) Intense and Dilute.
BLUE GRIZZLE - Blue Pigment - Intense -Grizzle Factor -Bar Pattern. Head, neck, body, wing and tail color as the basic (blue), with the addition of white flecks superimposed on the top of the standard color (blue). The grizzling effect to be most noticeable upon the body, shoulder, head and neck while nearly absent on the wings bars and tail bars. An evenly distributed uniform grizzling is desired. More white allowed on the head than the body, shoulders and neck. Neck feathers a bit darker shade showing a rich sheen of primary green and secondly purple. Birds that have white main tail or wing feathers, will not be shown in the grizzle class. Pearl or orange eyes. Dark or black beak and toenails.
SILVER GRIZZLE - Blue Pigment - Dilute - Grizzle Factor - Bar Pattern. Head, neck, body, wing and tail the same as the basic (silver), with the addition of white flecks superimposed on the top of the standard color (blue). The grizzling effect to be most noticeable upon the body, shoulder, head and neck while nearly absent on the wings bars and tail bars. An evenly distributed uniform grizzling is desired. More white allowed on the head than the body, shoulders and neck. The neck should be a darker shade with a brilliant metallic luster. Eye color, same as Silver, with horn colored beak and toenails. Birds that have white main tail or wing feathers, will not be shown in the grizzle class.
ASH RED - Ash Red Pigment - Intense - Bar Pattern. The body and wing color can be a variation of ash red. The wings show show two well defined claret - red bars.
ASH RED - Ash Red Pigment - Intense - Spread Pattern. The body and wing color to be a solid color of ash gray, with black or brown flecking. In some birds the flecking will be light or absent.
NOTE - Birds that have white main tail or wing feathers will not be shown in the ash red class. The ash red color should have pearl eyes, horn color beaks and toenails. Light colored birds to have flesh colored beaks and toenails, and dark colored birds to have dark horn beaks and toenails.
SHEEN - For instance, the black - this color should have as much beetle green as possible over its entire plumage. On Blue and Silver the neck sheen should be predominantly green rather than purple and should show as high a gloss as possible, over the entire plumage, whether in self, pattern or mismarks.