Conserve pure and rare breeds of poultry in 2011

One of my New Years resolutions is to promote a rare breed so I have started up an online free membership club named Java Breeders of America. Most of the clubs listed below involve rare breed heritage chickens.  If you raise a particular breed join a club today and assist and actively support that poultry organization. The aims and objectives of most Poultry Clubs are to promote high standards in the keeping and breeding of purebred poultry. I am also a member of the Wyandotte Club, Plymouth Rock Fanciers and the American Poultry Association.

Poultry Clubs have the following goals:
To conserve pure and rare breeds of poultry
To encourage, assist and advise domestic poultry keepers
To organize local and national shows
To provide show awards with medals, cash awards, and rosettes
To oversee the American Standard of Perfection and the introduction of new breeds and colors.

Poultry Clubs 

American Brahma Club
http://theamericanbrahmaclub.org
Contact: Club Secretary, Kim Aldrich
12948 Ring Rd., St. Charles, MI 48655
(989) 865-6702, email: kima53@ sbcglobal.net

Ameraucana Breeders Club
http://www.ameraucana.org
Contact: Michael Muenks, Secretary/Treasurer ,
Ameraucana Breeders Club , 33878 Hwy 87, , California,
MO 65018-3911, Phone: (573)796-3999
email: Michael@bantamhill.com

American Buckeye Poultry Club
http:/www.americanbuckeyepoultry club.com, American
Buckeye Poultry Club, P.O. Box 35, Williamstown,
KY 41097, (217) 417-0112, email: info@
americanbuckeyepoultryclub.com

American Buttercup Club
http://www.americanbuttercupclub.com
Bridget Riddle, Secretary/Treasurer, 3030 Orestimba
Road, Newman,CA 95360, 209-485-1413, email:
american buttercupclub@yahoo.com

The American Brown Leghorn Club
http://www.showbirdbid.com/ABLC
Bud Blankenship, 5205 Pundt Rd.
Lewisburg, OH 45338, 937-962-4226
email: budablc@hotmail.com

American Dutch Bantam Society
http://www.dutchbantamsociety.com
Secretary: Jean Robocker, 1655 Montford Rd.,
Kalispell, MT 59901, 406-756-6344

American Game Society, http://
www.americangamefowl.org, Contact: Anthony Saville,
Box 800, Belton, SC 29627

American Silkie Bantam Club
http://www.americansilkiebantamclub.org, Secretary:
Carina Moncrief, 23754 Spenser Butte Dr., Gavilan
Hills, CA 92570

American Sumatra Association
http://www.sumatraassociation.com
Secretary: Doug Akers , 300 S. 400 W.
Lebanon, IN 46052, email: dakers@ purdue.edu,
Phone: 1-800-chickens

Araucana Club of America
http://www.araucana.net
Secretary: Fritz Ludwig , 207 Pickens Drive, Pendleton,
SC 29670-9727
E-Mail:secretary@araucana.net

Belgian Bearded D'Anver Club
http://www.danverclub.webs.com
Secretary: Art Cosner, 11709 Cedar Ridge Rd.,
Williamsport, MD 21795
email: cosnerarthur@gmail.com

Belgian d'Uccle & Booted Bantam Club, http://
www.belgianduccle.org
BD & BB Club, 3490 Pruss Hill Rd., Pottstown, PA
19464, email: nniggel@ verizon.net

Canadian Araucana Society
http://www.members.shaw.ca/Canadian araucanasociety

Chantecler Fanciers International
http://www.chanteclerfanciersinternational.org, Secretary:
Mike Gilbert, W5171 Baker Rd., Holmen, WI
54636, email: info@redstagacres.com

Cochins International
http://www.cochinsinternational.cochins rule.com, Attn: Matt
McCammon, RT #2 Box 98M, Bloomfield, IN 47424
email: tomroebuck@cochinsrule.com

Dominque Club of America
http://www.dominiqueclub.org, c/o President, Eddie
Martin, 3740 Hwy 413, Anderson, SC, 29621

International Cornish Bantam Breeders Association,
Contact: Chris Tamayo, 9829 Falcon Meadow Dr., Elk
Grove, CA 95624, email: icbasectreas@gmail.com

International Waterfowl Breeders Assoc., http://
www.showbirdbid.com/IWBA, Secretary: Donna
Street, P.O. Box 216, Rockford, WA 99030, email:
Drcat2@aol.com, 509-999-4073

Japanese Bantam Breeders Assoc.
http://home.roadrunner.com/~jbba/JBBA.html
Secretary: Ken Lee, 6100 N Panda Point, Dunnellon,
FL 34433, email:mixer100@hotmail.com

Java Breeders of America, Ruth Caron, 

195 Northglen Lane, Martindale, Texas 78655
www.javabreedersofamerica.com

Modern Game Bantam Club of America, http://
www.mgbca.org
Secretary: Bonnie Sallee, P.O. Box 697
Pine Grove, CA USA 95665, email:
jbsallee@volcano.net
209-296-8084

Nankin Club of America
Secretary: Mary Ann Harley, 195 Macedonia Rd., North
Augusta, SC 29860

National Call Breeders of America
http://www.callducks.org
Secretary: Dennis Fuller, email:
wapsiwaterfowl@aol.com, 319-334-3497, Mail Memberships
to: NCBA c/o Steve Jones, 9677 Butler Lane,
Poetry, TX 75160

National Jersey Giant Club
Secretary: Robert Vaughn, 28143 CR 4, Pequot Lakes,
MN 56472

National Silkie Breeders Association
http://www.nationalsilkiebreedersassociation.org.
Secretary: Connie Bergquist, MN, premiersilkies@
aol.com
 

North American Hamburg Society
http://www.northamericanhamburgs.com, Secretary:
Jim LeGendre, 95393 Grimes Rd., Junction City OR
97448, email: legendre@efn.org, 541-998-3944
Old English Game Club of America, contact: Sam
Brush, 1009 Hillview Dr., Keller, TX, 76248, email:
slbrush@ verizon.net

Old English Game Bantam Club of America, http://
www.bantychicken.com /OEGBCA/index.html, Secretary:
Jennifer Wulff - Frank, PO Box 542, Connersville,
IN 47331, email: jenn5314@yahoo.com

Plymouth Rock Fanciers of America
http://www.showbirdbid.com/joomla/rockclub/, Secretary:
Robert Blosl, 14390 South Blvd , Silverhill, AL
36576, email:katz@gulftel.com

Polish Breeders Club
http://www.polishbreedersclub.com
Secretary: Jim Parker, 3232 Schooler Road,
Cridersville, OH 45806

Rhode Island Red Club Of America
http://www.showbirdbid.com/joomla/redclub, Secretary:
Frank Harris, 15483 Coatesville Rd., Beaverdam,
VA 23015, email: fbharris@earthlink.net
804-883-5682

Serama Council of North America
http://www.seramacouncilofnorthamerica.com

Rosecomb Bantam Federation
http://www.rosecomb.com/federation
Secretary: Steven Beaty
P.O. Box 126, Portales, NM 88130, email:
firemannm@msn.com, (575)-359-1074

Sebright Club of America
http://www.sebrightclubofamerica.info
Contact: The Bennett Family, 40 Old Taylorsville Rd.,
Shelbyville, KY40065

United Orpington Club
http://www.unitedorpingtonclub.com
Secretary: Christina Korfus , PO Box 681, Cle Elum,
WA. 98922, email: korfuskluckers@aol.com, 509-607-
0405

Wyandotte Breeders of America, New website is: http:/
/www.wyandottebreedersofamerica.com
David Lefeber, Secretary, 8648 Irish Ridge Road,
Cassville, WI 53806; Ph: 608 725-2179; Email:
dottestuff@yahoo.com

Wyandotte Club Secretary Wins at Shawnee

My newly found friend and fellow Wyandotte breeder, David Lefeber did great at The Shawnee Oklahoma Poultry show with 2 of his birds winning. I am posting 2 pictures of him and his beautiful birds. Please join the Wyandotte Breeders of America Club and help preserve this wonderful, friendly breed. The Shawnee show is a most go to event for lovers of the Wyandotte. There were hundreds of great birds there for your viewing pleasure. I was fortunate to meet several other members of the club and I must say they are dedicated folks that helped to run the Wyandotte club booth. Lets join together as a club and help to preserve this american class heritage breed.

Picture taken by Michelle Hernandez

Shawnee, Oklahoma 2010

If you are interested in raising Heritage Barred Rocks here are some pictures of Barred Rocks that were entered at The Shawnee  APA Nationals. I have not listed the owners names they are just to give you an idea of what decent Barred Rocks look like. I would recommend joining The Plymouth Rock Fanciers Club and getting a Standard of Perfection Book.

Correcting Faulty Feather Quality

Bad care can ruin a good chick 

One of the first things I notice on a bird is its feathers. Are they clean, healthy, and delightfully formed and above all do the color and markings jump out and say, I’m beautiful! Look at me? Feathers and their quality can make or break a bird. Faulty feather quality can be attributed to filthy living quarters, over crowding, lack of proper nourishment, poor breeding and anything else that hinders the progress of feather development. Don’t get me wrong, good care will not convert a poorly bred bird into a champion, but the lack of proper care will pretty much ruin the finest chick ever bred. Skimping on feed quantity and quality and lack of clean water can be the main culprits. Overcrowding causes birds to pick on each other and we all know about pecking order, as it is rightfully called.

1.                Texture: Plumage must also have the proper texture called for in each specific breed. This characteristic of the feathers may also differ in different breeders lines.  A certain amount of hardness of feather is necessary if a smooth surface is to be obtained. A loose, abundantly feathered bird has a softer, fluffier appearance in its feathering. If a smooth surface is what you desire, make sure and select a cock, with lustrous plumage and whose breast feathers are hard and smooth. Breed him to a hen with that is fluffy and well cushioned.

2.                Shape: Each feather has to have the correct shape for the specific area of the body it is on and must be inspected to see that each individual feather is tightly joined together all the way to the edge. A cock should also carry a large amount of webbed feathers in the fluff of his body (Of course this does not apply to Silkies or other similar feather types). Roosters can be poorly shaped due to not having the proper plumage. The back may be flat because the plumage of the saddle does not build up a concave sweep to tail. I also would recommend breeding him to a fully feathered cushiony female to alleviate this problem. High tail feathers in the male may be corrected by breeding from low tailed females with well spread main tail feathers. 

Important details to remember in selecting birds for breeding good feather quality...

• Some feather defects may be bred out by breeding to a bird with the opposite that you desire 
• Heavy culling for the best birds
• Selecting good breeding stock from the start
• Carefully researching the breeder before you buy
• Visiting poultry shows and buying from winners
• Last but not least take good care of your birds

Successful Poultry Breeding

Blue Laced Red Wyandotte chick

The fine art of poultry breeding is extremely fascinating and there are many intricate details that need to be carefully anticipated. Though we can learn much from experience, we can learn alot more things quicker from reading. Details and tips that would of taken us years to learn from costly experience are readily available for us in books and in articles written by others who have carefully researched and have taken the time to document it. There are many, many secrets in regards to the breeding of poultry and following the guidelines outlined in The American Poultry Association's standard of perfection. One of the most important secrets is how to mate to produce birds that are of extreme merit in size, shape and color. Very important is the fact that the cock at the head of the breeding pen should be symmetrical in shape, strong, and vigorous. He will also need to be the offspring of a cock exhibiting the same fine traits. Remember that it is the male bird which has the greatest influence on the color of the chicks, especially of the cockerels. If finely colored males are desired it is necessary that the cock be of very fine color. Always remember "What you have is what you get". By mating a good sire to his own offspring the good breeding qualities of the parent bird will be passed along to the chicks. Color and other desirable qualities may be intensified by strict inbreeding. Please realize that if an error is made in the selection of the breeding stock undesirable traits may be inherited. It is believed by some breeders raising poultry that they must introduce a new bloodline from a different strain each year. By doing this they go backwards instead of forwards. Noticeably every breeder's birds are different in style and feathering. When these two different bloodlines are mixed some of the young may look like the cock and there will be some that will look completely different, unlike either parent. The second season such breeders usually get a male of a still different type and mate him to the pullets of different types. The result is that they have no good birds among the offspring, and hardly any two chicks resembling each other. If you get what you want from a reliable breeder stay with that breeder. The hen should possess a strong constitution, prolific laying qualities and large size. We look to the hen to impart size to the offspring. She must have great coloring in her feathers, legs and beak. Her ear-lobes and comb must also be carefully examined. Most importantly is she should be symmetrical In shape. Many times the breeding qualities of the hen are overlooked or underrated, which is a great mistake. 

After carefully selecting your stock for the  breeding pens it is essential that your birds receive proper care and nutrition. Always give them fresh water daily and greens as often as possible. Chicks need to be closely monitored and carefully tended to from the time they leave the shell until they reach full maturity. This is another secret in successful breeding that apparently Is only known to a handful of poultry enthusiasts.

WyanDottes and Rocks: Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas

WyanDottes and Rocks: Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas: "I have a fine line of Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas that were purchased from a well known breeder in Missouri. The way I obtained them was quite ..."