Sindhi Breed Standard

The head of the Sindhi Aseel is broad and thick, never fleshy. The skin should be tight and firmly set. The face must be a deep red in colour, largely free of feathers, though small cheek feathers are permissible. The comb should be prominent, sometimes with three ridges as in a pea comb, though less pronounced than in the Atkinson Asil. A slight fold may appear just above the beak where the comb begins. The comb is relatively large, serving to deflect blows away from the head and eyes.

Wattle and lobe development should be minimal, never as pronounced as in Old English Game. The beak must be strong, short, and pearl white in colour; in some cases a faint brown tint may be visible at the base. The eyes should be a deep pearl, or pearl with a slight bloodshot ring. Rarely, a light blue pearl is acceptable. Any off-colour eye is a disqualification. (Young birds may show slightly darker eyes, which should lighten by around 8 months.) Slight white colouring on the lobes is acceptable.

The neck should have a slight curve, covered with medium-length feathers. In some individuals, parts of the throat and neck may be bare, but the skin must remain a deep red. The neck should be muscular and proportionate to the length of the thighs and shanks, ideally equal in measure, producing a well-balanced bird.

The body must be well-muscled, firm, and strong, never fat. The breast and back should be proportional, with well-developed muscles. Thigh muscles may protrude, but must remain symmetrical. The back must not appear skewed or uneven. When held in the traditional manner — gripped firmly around the breast and above the thighs — the bird should remain calm and steady, not startled or restless.

Wings should be firm, strong, and set higher on the shoulders than in Old English Game or the standard Reza Aseel. Shoulders may be carried slightly away from the body and raised, somewhat in the style of the Shamo.

Thighs must be strong and positioned directly beneath the bird, giving the appearance that it stands on its legs, not between them. Thighs must not protrude to the sides. Shanks should be strong, well developed, and pearl white in colour, though a slight reddish or pinkish hue is permissible. In males over two years, the shanks should begin to square off as scales mature; rounded shanks are acceptable in younger birds. Spurs must be white and either straight or downward curving; upward curving spurs indicate impurity. Toes must total four: three front, one rear, with slight crookedness tolerated but not deformity.

The Sindhi Aseel should stand proudly upright, with the tail following the line of the back at roughly 45° in relation to the ground. A slight lift is acceptable, but a horizontal tail is not. The neck should curve when the bird is standing upright, with shoulders carried slightly away from the body and raised, though less exaggerated than in the Shamo. The wings must fully cover the sides of the body and extend to cover the base of the thighs. Wings must never hang down as in the Shamo, nor sit tightly against the body as in Old English Game.

Feathers should be short, flat, and hard to the touch, with minimal down. The tail should be neat and composed of strong feathers; saddle feathers must be present but never extravagant. Two sickles may appear in the centre of the tail, straight with only a slight basal curve. Bare spots may occur on the neck, chest, or wing joints, but exposed skin must always be deep red in colour.

The female’s head should be broad and strong, though slightly more refined than the male’s. Wattles and lobes should be absent or extremely minimal, and the comb small and firm. The beak should be strong and white, and the eyes identical in colour to the male’s. A pronounced brow ridge is desirable, lending a stern expression. Slight white colouring on the lobes is acceptable.

The neck should follow a similar curve to the male’s, but with shorter, tighter feathering.

The body should be firm, slightly elongated, and proportionately feminine compared with the male. All key features should be present but less pronounced. The tail should follow the line of the back, with wing tips pointing toward the tail tip. She should stand upright and proud.

The thighs and shanks must mirror the male’s proportions. Shanks may remain firm and rounded. Spurs are rare but not unknown.

The female should be a feminine reflection of the male: upright, proud, with a curved neck and well-developed chest. Wings are less pronounced than the male’s, but the tail must follow the back line closely.

Feathers should be short, tight, and firm. The wings must match the male in strength. Female traits should be evident: short, strong tail; no hackles or saddle feathers.