Thought of the day is: Goals Without setting goals I have no idea if I am making progress in my breeding. I can be losing at shows but still meeting my goals for progress. I can only control the breeding and selection decisions I make. I cannot deny I dislike losing but losing forces me […]
Setting Goals In Your Breeding Program Read More »
White Minorcas were admitted to the American Standard of Perfection in 1888. In reality, they are a far older breed than the Barred Plymouth Rocks or any other American breed of poultry. Under the name of White Spanish, they were known as far back as the middle of the last century. In old pictures of
The Minorcas- Mediterranean’s Gift! Read More »
Corrective mating of poultry is mating a bird that is weak in one area, to a bird that can offset that particular weakness. In some circles, this is referred to as “compensation mating.” Corrective Mating practices have been used for many years by a wide variety of animal breeders yielding amazing results. Lloyd Bracket, a
Corrective Mating In Poultry Read More »
When choosing a bird for a junior project, one of the breeds that always seems to surface to the top is Modern Game Bantams. Generally speaking, they are a healthy breed that tends to be fertile and will hatch relatively easy in most incubators. They come in many attractive colors and many varieties can be
Modern Game Bantams for the JR Exhibitor Read More »
As your laying hens age, how much will their egg production drop each year? Below is a handy chart that will give you an idea! Of course there are always exceptions to the rule, but this is a general guideline for production birds. And of course some families of exhibition birds don’t hold up quite
Egg Production Decrease Read More »
I’m regularly asked about tools to evaluate birds for breeding programs. Here’s what I tell people: if you can’t do a good job evaluating your birds it will be far more difficult to make improvements each year. There are two tools that you have at your disposal that are invaluable. They are your eyes and
Evaluate Your Birds: Two Important Tools Read More »
Lowering stress in our birds is really important when traveling and being at the show, as it is quite an abnormal experience for them. Below I have provided 10 tips on lowering stress for your birds and a couple stories on what happens when that doesn’t happen. I had a hen on Champion Row that
Lowering Stress in Poultry During Travel and Shows Read More »
We are excited to share that chicken keepers can now purchase chicks from flocks certified as meeting American Poultry Association Standards from Murray McMurray Hatchery. “This certification validates our breeder flock practices,” said McMurray Hatchery Vice President Tom Watkins. “We are trying to highlight conservation and support the APA.” Five of Murray McMurray Hatchery’s breeds
New McMurray Hatchery APA Certified Breeds & Giveaway Read More »
Many times a year, I see posts and questions about the shank color of wheaten, blue wheaten, and splash wheaten Ameraucanas. Posts like: “Why do my day old wheaten and blue wheaten chicks not have slate shanks?” “Why am I seeing variations in the amount of pigmentation on my wheaten and blue wheaten Ameraucana shanks?”
Shank Color of Wheaten Ameraucana Varieties Read More »
Many individuals are curious about the difference between birds with self-blue plumage color and blue plumage color. Crossing blue birds with self-blue birds is typically discouraged as the offspring produced do not adhere to the standard for those breeds that have the two color varieties approved. Let’s explore the differences in the blue gene (Bl)
The Blue Gene and Breeding Poultry Read More »
The APA works to support the community breeding and raising Standard Bred Poultry in all its phases with a goal on breeding to the Standard of Perfection.