Foreword: The primary purpose of any standard is to guide the breeder in his quest to produce uniform specimens that most nearly resemble the ideal. If follows then that this standard must also be the guide for the men chosen to judge our shows, and consistent evaluation in all sections of our scale of points is our goal.

 We hope to impress in the minds of all members that the Modena is a balanced bird with many equally important sections; that we should recognize and search for desirable traits and not be overly concerned with minor faults; that in the evaluation of each bird, the judge must adhere to the scale of points regardless of personal preference.

Size: Using a given figure of nine & one half inches as the ideal Modena height, seven inches as the idea length, and five inches as the ideal width, to be broken down as follows: The ideal length of the neck shall be three inches from the top of the skull to the low point at the back. The body profile shall be four and one half inches from the low part of the back to the bottom of the body. The legs shall be two inches below the body. These measurements are to be considered the ideal and should be used as such in all judging. Overall balance shall be more important than the exact physical dimensions.

Shape: Chest broad, round and prominent back wide at the shoulders, short and well rounded, not flattened, body to be deep, short, broad and cobby with rump broad enough to support the wings. The shape shall be well rounded in a graceful curve when viewed from any angle. The legs to be located in the direct center of profile.

Station: Proud and erect, with head held high though not strained or stretched as from fright. Eye and wing junction with body shall be on a perpendicular line. The tail to be curved upwards at an angle that would be level at the bird's neck at approximately one half the distance from the low point of the back to the top of the skull, or approximately one and one-half inches. The flights to rest as flat as possible on the tail.

Head: Shall be of medium length, approximately two and one-half inches from front to back on a level line of the eye and approximately one and one-eights inches wide. Curve of head shall be graceful from beak to neck.

Beak: The beak shall be short and broad, approximately five-eights of an inch from the feather line above the wattle to the tip of beak. Both types (light and dark beaks) to be free of any discoloration. The wattles shall be small of fine texture.

Eye: To be very bright and prominent iris, shading from orange to orange red, with plenty of luster. Eye to be approximately seven-eights inches from top of skull to the center of the eye.

Cere: To be fine and even in texture, with color shading to blend in with the color of the bird so as to be as inconspicuous as possible.