Bred to Perfection

In this episode, we take an honest look at the state of American Gamefowl breeding and the challenges facing breeders today. From the importance of education and mentorship to the ongoing debates surrounding breed standards, we explore what it means to be a true steward of the breed. We'll discuss the recent conversation with Tony, examine concerns surrounding the American Game Standards and the Progressive White dilemma, and talk about why breeder involvement in exhibitions is more important than ever. Are we presenting the right birds? Are we conditioning and showcasing them properly? And what role do exhibitions play in preserving the breed for future generations? We also talk about the breeding philosophies that separate preservation breeders from those who breed without purpose. Is breeding becoming a lost art? What happens when shortcuts replace knowledge, planning, and long-term vision? We'll examine the differences between true breeders, experimenters, speculators, and those who fail to understand the responsibility that comes with maintaining established bloodlines and breed characteristics. In today's digital age, social media has created new opportunities, and new risks. Every post we make has consequences. We'll discuss privacy concerns, the growing scrutiny facing breeders, the theft of information and intellectual property, and why our own community can sometimes be its own greatest obstacle. Most importantly, we'll ask the question that concerns every serious breeder: What is the future of the breed? Will we preserve the knowledge, traditions, and bloodlines that have been handed down to us, or will we allow them to disappear? Join us for a candid conversation about responsibility, preservation, education, and the future of American Game breeding. The future is not determined by standards, organizations, or social media, it is determined by the breeders willing to do the work, protect the breed, and pass their knowledge on to the next generation. Plus, we'll welcome new members, answer listener questions, and engage in some real talk about where we are today and where we're headed tomorrow. #AmericanGamefowl #GamefowlBreeding #BreedPreservation #TrueBreeders #BreedingLegacy #PoultryExhibition #GamefowlStandards #BreedersEducation #PreserveTheBreed #BloodlinePreservation #FutureOfTheBreed #BreedingWithPurpose Make sure to follow and watch our future shows. We plan to dive deep into the world of breeding and genetics, nutrition and health management, and provide essential tips, so you too can create high quality strains.  Whether you're breeding domestic chickens, gamefowl, or various types of livestock, this show is for you.  Watch Bred to Perfection Live - Friday's at 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST on YouTube - Join Kenny Troiano and guests as they explore advanced breeding techniques, poultry nutrition, health management, and genetic sustainability-all with one goal: helping you create high-quality, long-lasting strains. See ya there! Kenny Troiano Founder of "The Breeders Academy"   We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl.  If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place.  We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl. If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com

In this episode, we welcome back poultry expert Don Schrider to explore one of the most important topics for breeders and backyard chicken keepers alike: how to breed a better laying hen. It's been four years since Don last joined us, and he returns with a wealth of knowledge drawn from decades of experience, research, and practical breeding success. This episode is packed with practical advice on selecting the best birds for your breeding program. Learn how to evaluate hens and roosters for egg production traits, body conformation, vigor, and reproductive health using hands-on techniques like pelvic spacing and the Hogan Method. We also cover Don's essential "Rules of Breeding," including how to offset faults, intensify desirable traits, and apply the Law of 10% to consistently improve your flock. Whether you're a breeder or backyard chicken keeper, this episode gives you a clear roadmap to building a more productive flock. If you're serious about breeding, this is a conversation you can't afford to skip. #PoultryBreeding #LayingHens #BackyardChickens #ChickenBreeding #EggProduction #HomesteadingLife #SustainableFarming #ChickenKeeping #BreedBetterChickens #FarmEducation #PoultryTips #HeritageBreeds Make sure to follow and watch our future shows. We plan to dive deep into the world of breeding and genetics, nutrition and health management, and provide essential tips, so you too can create high quality strains.  Whether you're breeding domestic chickens, gamefowl, or various types of livestock, this show is for you.  Watch Bred to Perfection Live - Friday's at 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST on YouTube - Join Kenny Troiano and guests as they explore advanced breeding techniques, poultry nutrition, health management, and genetic sustainability-all with one goal: helping you create high-quality, long-lasting strains. See ya there! Kenny Troiano Founder of "The Breeders Academy"  We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl.  If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place.  We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl. If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com

Breeding Smarter, Preserving Type, and Shaping the Future of Exhibition Poultry In this episode, we sit down with Mike Sayre, co-host of the Talking Chickens with M&M Exhibition Poultry Podcast alongside Matt Lhamon, for an in-depth conversation about exhibition poultry, judging, and the future of the hobby. Whether you're a seasoned breeder or just getting started, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to succeed in the poultry fancy. Mike shares his journey into poultry, from raising a wide range of breeds, including Cochins (his specialty), Modern Game bantams, Wyandottes, Leghorns, and Plymouth Rocks, to becoming a respected APA/ABA licensed judge and longtime exhibitor. As President of the American Bantam Association, he offers valuable insight into how the organization has evolved and what changes he's witnessed over the years. We talk about the art and responsibility of judging: how one becomes qualified, the challenges judges face, and what truly separates a "good" bird from a champion. Mike also opens up about controversial decisions, common faults in today's show birds, and the delicate balance between adhering to the Standard of Perfection and allowing room for interpretation. Beyond the show table, Mike reflects on the deeper meaning of poultry exhibitions, highlighting the camaraderie, community, and shared passion that bring breeders together. He also discusses how social media has influenced breeding trends, and what first-time exhibitors often misunderstand when entering the show world. The conversation explores some of the more complex and debated topics in poultry breeding today, including: The role of judges in shaping breeds, and whether "breeding to win" can do more harm than good. The challenges of double mating and maintaining birds that breed true to standard. Concerns about shifting priorities from utility to beauty in modern exhibition birds. The ongoing debate around American Gamefowl recognition in the APA. The risks of focusing too heavily on egg color at the expense of overall bird quality. Mike also shares stories from his background in the Thoroughbred horse racing industry, along with his extensive contributions to poultry education, writing articles, co-authoring books like Breeding and Showing Cochins: Making it to Champion Row, and developing resources, such as "Incubation and Brooding Ideas from the M&M Guys" and the M&M Master Mix feed. As we look ahead, Mike offers his perspective on where the poultry hobby is headed over the next 10–20 years, what concerns him most, and how breeders can stay grounded in strong fundamentals while adapting to change. If you're passionate about poultry, breeding, or exhibition, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Be sure to check out the M&M Exhibition Poultry Podcast with Matt Lhamon and Mike Sayre for more expert insights, engaging interviews, and up-to-date discussions on everything happening in the world of exhibition chickens. Thanks for listening! #PoultryPodcast #ExhibitionPoultry #ChickenBreeding #PoultryShow #BantamBreeders #APAABA #BackyardPoultry #ChickenExhibitors #PoultryJudging #HeritageBreeds #FarmLife #PoultryCommunity Make sure to follow and watch our future shows. We plan to dive deep into the world of breeding and genetics, nutrition and health management, and provide essential tips, so you too can create high quality strains.  Whether you're breeding domestic chickens, gamefowl, or various types of livestock, this show is for you.  Watch Bred to Perfection Live - Friday's at 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST on YouTube - Join Kenny Troiano and guests as they explore advanced breeding techniques, poultry nutrition, health management, and genetic sustainability-all with one goal: helping you create high-quality, long-lasting strains. See ya there! Kenny Troiano Founder of "The Breeders Academy"  We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl.  If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place.  We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl. If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com

In this episode, we sit down with Greg Landwehr, "The Chicken Guy," Editor and Publisher of Gamefowl Times Magazine, for an in-depth conversation about his journey into the world of gamefowl, and the inspiration behind launching Gamefowl Times. We explore the mission of the magazine and the challenges of publishing. From breeding philosophy and maintaining strains to preserving authenticity and honoring the people behind the birds, this conversation goes far beyond the pages of a magazine. We also talk about the responsibility of carrying forward a legacy, while creating a platform where breeders, historians, competitors, and enthusiasts can all connect. We also dive into: The role of magazines in today's digital world Concerns about the future of the gamefowl community His vision for the future of Gamefowl Times Whether you're a longtime breeder, a student of gamefowl history, or simply fascinated by preserving heritage and culture, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. #GamefowlTimes #GregLandwehr #AmericanGamefowl #GamefowlCommunity #GamefowlBreeding #PoultryPodcast #GamefowlCulture #HeritageBreeding #OldSchoolBreeders #PreservingTradition #BreederSpotlight #GamefowlLegacy Make sure to follow and watch our future shows. We plan to dive deep into the world of breeding and genetics, nutrition and health management, and provide essential tips, so you too can create high quality strains.  Whether you're breeding domestic chickens, gamefowl, or various types of livestock, this show is for you.  Watch Bred to Perfection Live - Friday's at 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST on YouTube - Join Kenny Troiano and guests as they explore advanced breeding techniques, poultry nutrition, health management, and genetic sustainability-all with one goal: helping you create high-quality, long-lasting strains. See ya there! Kenny Troiano Founder of "The Breeders Academy"  We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl.  If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place.  We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl. If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com

Bred to Perfection with Kenny Troiano and Nancy Troiano What stands between you and a truly exceptional strain of fowl? Sometimes, it's the defects hiding right in front of you. In Episode 307 of Bred to Perfection, Kenny and Nancy Troiano take an in-depth look at one of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of breeding: identifying, understanding, and managing defects. Many breeders fail to recognize the flaws in their own birds, whether due to being "yard blind" or simply not knowing what to look for. But overlooking these defects can have serious consequences for the quality, consistency, and future of an entire strain. From duck toe, wry tail, and squirrel tail to eye abnormalities, head and beak deformities, crooked breastbones, wing faults, and leg and toe problems, this episode explores the many defects breeders need to recognize. Kenny and Nancy explain how to evaluate a bird's type, balance, structure, vigor, and overall conformation, and why careful observation and proper selection are essential to a successful breeding program. Not all defects have the same causes or require the same approach. Some result from environmental conditions, poor nutrition, or management issues, while others are genetic and can be passed from one generation to the next. Recessive defects can remain hidden for generations before appearing in offspring, making them especially important to understand. Other defects involve multiple genes and may be improved over time through informed selection and a well-planned breeding strategy. You'll also learn why recognizing defects early matters, when culling is necessary to protect your strain, and how to approach the improvement of a line affected by certain inherited faults. In the after-show discussion, Kenny explores another important consideration for serious breeders: gene flow, and how introducing outside birds can affect the consistency and long-term development of an established strain. Whether you're an experienced breeder or just beginning your journey, this episode will help sharpen your eye, strengthen your selection practices, and give you a better understanding of the challenges standing between your current flock and your breeding goals. #BredToPerfection #PoultryBreeding #BreedingProgram #GeneticSelection #SelectiveBreeding #LineBreeding #Crossbreeding #Outcrossing #Backcrossing #Inbreeding #ClanMating #PoultryGenetics #StrainDevelopment Make sure to follow and watch our future shows. We plan to dive deep into the world of breeding and genetics, nutrition and health management, and provide essential tips, so you too can create high quality strains.  Whether you're breeding domestic chickens, gamefowl, or various types of livestock, this show is for you.  Watch Bred to Perfection Live - Friday's at 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST on YouTube - Join Kenny Troiano and guests as they explore advanced breeding techniques, poultry nutrition, health management, and genetic sustainability-all with one goal: helping you create high-quality, long-lasting strains. See ya there! Kenny Troiano Founder of "The Breeders Academy"  We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl.  If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place.  We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl. If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com