They seem to lack the courage to lay the cards on the line. However, I feel it is my duty as a Red fancier to tell you the truth about this dilemma. It is the hardest thing I have ever tried to do and it will take me at least another ten years to figure out. To the judges or prospective judges who are reading this-take these things under consideration when placing a bird up for an award. My last area on color is the undercolor called smut or slate.
Many Red breeders use smut to strengthen the surface color.
R. Paul Webb of Oklahoma City used smut to develop his outstanding line of Rhode Island Red Bantams in the early 50 s and 60 s. A feather such as this should be pulled out before a show so the bird will not get cut by the judges. This is a minor fault and a lot of old-time judges would bring a first place bird down to third or fourth place if they had any trace of smut in the undercolor. In the breeding pen, you can use smut as long as only one mate has it. If you have young cockerels say 3 months old loaded with slate in their baby chick undercolor, do not kill them because as adults they might develop beautiful feathers free from heavy smut.