There are currently 4 Standards for Poultry which are the official reference standards used by judges at poultry shows and by fanciers to understand how a breed should look. The British Poultry Standards for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The European Poultry Standard The American Standard of Perfection The Australian Poultry Standard It was after cock fighting was outlawed in England in 1849 that fanciers turned to showing their birds. The British Poultry Standard was the first standard, written in 1865 for just a handful of breeds so that uniformity could be maintained.