Episodi

  • Ep307 - Defects of the Fowl - The Road-blocks of Perfection
    Oct 12 2026

    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

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    1 ora e 34 min
  • Ep306 - Breeding Methods Explained: What separates a successful breeding program from simply breeding birds?
    Oct 5 2026
    Understanding why, when, and how to use the right breeding method. In this episode of Bred to Perfection, Kenny Troiano and Nancy take an in-depth look at the major breeding methods used by serious poultry and gamefowl breeders, and explain why no single method should be relied upon indefinitely. Each method has a specific purpose, and each must be applied at the right stage, for the right length of time, within a structured breeding program. The discussion begins with crossbreeding, including the advantages of hybrid vigor and the challenges of producing predictable offspring when crosses are bred forward. From there, Kenny and Nancy examine outcrossing, explaining why introducing genetics from another strain of the same breed can be useful but also carries significant risks if not carefully controlled. They then explore backcrossing as a short-term strategy for gathering specific traits from an exceptional parent, followed by inbreeding, not simply as a breeding system, but as a powerful tool for intensifying genetics and exposing both strengths and weaknesses. The episode also takes a detailed look at line-breeding, including its ability to concentrate the influence of a superior ancestor and the dangers of continuing too long until a family reaches the genetic "dead-end zone." The conversation continues into clan mating and rotational systems, showing how breeders can maintain genetic diversity and preserve an established family without continually introducing unrelated blood. Kenny explains record keeping, and the importance of retaining superior replacements. For more advanced breeders, the episode covers double mating, a specialized approach for sexually dimorphic birds, as well as recombinant reciprocal selection, a commercial strategy that allows breeders to produce valuable hybrids while protecting their pure breeding lines. Finally, Kenny and Nancy discuss grading and how disciplined selection can progressively transform a mongrel or crossbred population toward a more uniform family or strain. Throughout the episode, one principle remains consistent: Breeding methods are tools. A breeding program is the strategy that tells you which tool to use, when to use it, and when to stop. In This Episode Why breeding methods must be part of a structured breeding programCrossbreeding and the benefits and limitations of hybrid vigorThe risks and proper use of outcrossingBackcrossing to capture traits from superior parentsInbreeding as a tool for intensifying genetics and exposing faultsLine-breeding and the dangers of reaching the "dead-end zone"Clan mating and rotational systems for long-term preservationWhen and how to rotate cocksSelecting and retaining superior replacement birdsDouble mating and sexually dimorphic characteristicsRecombinant reciprocal selection and commercial hybrid productionGrading mongrel or crossbred populations toward a uniform strainWhy planning several generations ahead mattersThe Founders Program and its role in creating, improving, and maintaining a strain Whether you are establishing a new family, improving an existing strain, or developing a long-term preservation strategy, this episode provides a framework for thinking about breeding at a much deeper level. Listen now and learn why the real advantage isn't knowing one breeding method, it's knowing which method to use, when to use it, and how to make every method work together as part of a deliberate breeding program. #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 ...
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    1 ora e 21 min
  • Ep305 - Unlocking Genetic Potential Through the Power of Vitamins with Peter Brown
    Sep 28 2026

    What does it take to turn a lifetime of breeding experience into a library of respected reference books?

    Unlocking fertility, hatchability, immunity, and Making of Great Bloodlines through smart vitamin supplementation.

    This is not about supplements, it's about providing the proper nutrition for your Brood Fowl and their growing and developing offspring.

    In this episode, we will talk about one of the most overlooked, but most powerful tools in poultry and gamefowl breeding: vitamins. Building on the work of Peter Brown, "The Chicken Doctor," we explore how water and fat-soluble vitamins influence everything from fertility to hatchability, growth, immunity, and long-term strain performance.

    You'll learn why many modern feeds fall short, how stress dramatically increases vitamin requirements, and which vitamins directly impact brood cock fertility, hen hatchability, chick vigor, and embryo development. We also connect the dots between nutrition and genetics, revealing how proper vitamins helps breeders unlock the full potential of their bloodlines.

    Whether you are developing a family of gamefowl, improving your show birds, or strengthening the productivity of your backyard breeding flock, this episode offers practical, science-based guidance to help you produce stronger, healthier, more consistent birds, generation after generation.

    #PoultryNutrition #VitaminSupplementation #PoultryBreeding #BroodFowl #FertilityAndHatchability #ChickVigor #PoultryImmunity #EmbryoDevelopment #BloodlineDevelopment #GamefowlBreeding #ShowBirds #BackyardPoultry

    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

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    1 ora e 6 min
  • Ep304 - Isolation and the Consequences of Gene Flow
    Sep 21 2026

    The Essential Factor in Creating and Improving a True Strain

    How controlling Gene Flow preserves traits, accelerates selective breeding, and reveals the same evolutionary forces that drive Speciation

    In this episode, we explore one of the most powerful, and often overlooked tools in selective breeding: Isolation. Whether breeders are working with livestock like Chickens, or Gamefowl, controlling who breeds with whom is what turns ordinary populations into reliable, high-performance strains.

    We break down why isolation is critical for preserving the traits breeders work so hard to develop. When chickens or gamefowl are allowed to mix freely with outside populations, valuable characteristics like performance and production, proper growth, and development, disease resistance, or calmer temperament can quickly become diluted. By preventing gene flow, breeders protect the genetic combinations that make a strain unique and valuable.

    You'll also learn how isolation increases genetic consistency, allowing a strain to produce predictable results generation after generation. When creating and improving a strain, predictability is everything, and isolation helps breeders fix desirable traits through careful selection and controlled breeding.

    The episode also talks about how isolation accelerates genetic improvement, protects against trait regression, and allows the development of specialized breeding lines that can later be crossed to produce high-performance hybrids.

    Finally, we discuss an often overlooked role of isolation - biosecurity. Diseases, parasites, and pathogens are powerful evolutionary pressures. When outside individuals, or the microbes they carry, enter a population, they can disrupt their immune system, alter selection pressures, and undo generations of careful breeding.

    In short, if selective breeding is the engine that drives improvement, isolation is the steering wheel that keeps it on course.

    This episode connects the dots between genetics, breeding, and evolution to explain how controlling Gene Flow shapes both the strains we depend on today and the diversity of life itself.

    #SelectiveBreeding #GeneticSelection #GeneFlow #GeneticIsolation #TrueStrain #PoultryBreeding #ChickenBreeding #GamefowlBreeding #BreedingProgram #GeneticsAndBreeding #Biosecurity #EvolutionaryBiology

    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

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    1 ora e 6 min
  • Ep303 – Writing the Champion Row Series: Jeff Duguay on Books, Breeding, and Legacy
    Sep 14 2026

    What does it take to turn a lifetime of breeding experience into a library of respected reference books?

    In this episode, we sit down with poultry breeder, author, and publisher Jeff Duguay, the creator of the acclaimed Making It to Champion Row series. While Jeff is widely known for his expertise in exhibition poultry, this conversation goes beyond the birds and into the story behind the books.

    Jeff shares how a passion for raising chickens evolved into a mission to preserve knowledge, document breeding practices, and create resources for serious exhibition breeders. We explore the challenges of writing in a highly specialized niche, the research required to separate tradition from proven fact, and why authoritative books continue to matter in an age dominated by online information.

    From his breed-specific works on Modern Game Bantams, Old English Game Bantams, Silkies, Cochins, Belgian d'Uccles, Sebrights, Belgian d'Anvers, and Crested Breeds, Jeff discusses what judges really look for, how successful breeding programs are built, and the recurring patterns he has observed among champion birds.

    The conversation also examines the realities of publishing niche hobby books, the responsibility of preserving knowledge before it disappears, and the lessons Jeff has learned as both a breeder and an author. Along the way, he reflects on the books that challenged him most, the feedback that shaped his work, and what he hopes future generations of poultry breeders will gain from his writings.

    Whether you're an exhibition breeder, a poultry enthusiast, an aspiring author, or simply fascinated by how expertise is captured and passed on, this episode offers a rare look at the intersection of breeding, writing, and legacy.

    In this episode, you'll learn:

    • How Jeff Duguay became an author and publisher
    • The inspiration behind the Champion Row book series
    • Why serious breeders still rely on books in the internet age
    • The process of researching and documenting specialized poultry knowledge
    • Common misconceptions about breeding and exhibition success
    • What separates champion birds from the rest
    • The challenges of publishing in a niche field
    • Why preserving breeding knowledge matters for future generations
    • The legacy Jeff hopes his work will leave behind

    Join us for a conversation about craftsmanship, documentation, and the enduring value of putting hard-earned knowledge into print.

    #JeffDuguay #ChampionRow #PoultryBreeding #ExhibitionPoultry #PoultryBooks #ChickenBreeding #HeritageBreeds #PoultryPodcast #LivestockPublishing #BreedingForExcellence #AuthorInterview #PreservingKnowledge

    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

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    1 ora e 3 min
  • Ep302 – The Mindset of a True Breeder: How Open-Mindedness Builds Better Bloodlines
    Sep 7 2026

    Why great breeding starts in the mind, not in the pen. Experience alone doesn't make a master breeder, mindset does. In this episode, we explore how pride, misinformation, and closed-mindedness can destroy more bloodlines than bad feed ever could. Discover what it truly means to be a breeder who learns, listens, and evolves.

    From understanding genetics and recognizing real experts, to avoiding "overnight teachers" and peddlers, this episode will challenge how you think about breeding, and how your mindset shapes your birds. Because the truth is simple: better breeders build better birds, and better breeders begin with better minds.

    You'll learn:

    • Why mindset is more important than experience alone
    • How pride and ego stop breeders from improving
    • The difference between real expertise and "overnight teachers"
    • How to identify misinformation and protect your bloodline
    • Why many great teachers have stopped teaching, and how we can change that
    • The steps every breeder can take to build lasting strains and better birds

    Whether you breed chickens, gamefowl, or any other strain, this episode will help you think differently about breeding, because improvement begins in the mind long before it happens in the pen.

    Listen now and take the first step toward becoming a better breeder, building better bloodlines, and leaving a legacy worth remembering.

    #BreedersAcademy #Gamefowl #ChickenBreeding #BreederMindset #Bloodlines #SelectiveBreeding #PoultryGenetics #GamefowlPodcast #BreedingBetterBirds

    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

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    48 min
  • Ep301 - Building Stronger Bloodlines from the Inside Out
    Aug 31 2026

    The Critical Role of Gut Health in Poultry Breeding

    In this episode, we talk about one of the most powerful yet often overlooked factors in breeding high-performance chickens and gamefowl: gut health. Whether you're focused on conditioning show birds, raising hardy yard breeders, or developing elite strains, this episode uncovers how gut microbiota, probiotics, water quality, and stress management directly impact bird health, immunity, and genetic potential.

    We'll explore:

    • How the gut acts as a bird's first line of defense
    • Why multi-species probiotics outperform single-strain options
    • How stress changes gut pH and opens the door to disease
    • What makes water quality just as important as feed
    • The hidden connection between feathers and gut health
    • Practical steps to improve performance from the inside out

    If you're serious about breeding birds with strength, stamina, and longevity, this episode will give you science-backed strategies to build better bloodlines, starting with the gut.

    Perfect for: Gamefowl breeders, poultry enthusiasts, backyard keepers, and anyone building or improving chicken strains.

    #Gamefowl #GamefowlBreeding #ChickenBreeding #GutHealth #GutMicrobiome #PoultryHealth #ChickenHealth #Probiotics #BackyardChickens #PoultryPodcast #BirdNutrition #WaterQuality #SelectiveBreeding #Bloodlines #AvianHealth #Conditioning #BreedingTips #HealthyBirds #Homesteading #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

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    1 ora e 20 min
  • Surviving the Summer Heat: Essential Tips for Chicken Care with Peter Brown
    Aug 17 2026

    Summer heat can take a serious toll on breeding flocks, affecting everything from egg production and fertility to the overall health and survival of your birds. In this episode of the Bred to Perfection podcast, host Kenny Troiano sits down with renowned poultry expert Peter Brown, better known as the "Chicken Doctor," to discuss practical, proven strategies for helping chickens thrive during hot weather.

    Together, they explore how heat stress impacts poultry, the early warning signs every breeder should recognize, and the steps you can take to reduce the risks before temperatures become dangerous. From providing adequate shade and ventilation to managing water, feeding schedules, and supplementation, Peter Brown shares actionable advice that breeders can implement immediately.

    You'll also learn why humidity matters just as much as temperature, how to safely use misters, what to do in heat-related emergencies, and why certain breeds require extra attention during the summer months. Kenny and Peter also discuss the importance of thoughtful breeding and gene selection in developing resilient strains that can better withstand environmental stress.

    Whether you're raising a few backyard birds or managing a serious breeding program, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you protect your flock, maintain productivity, and navigate the challenges of summer with confidence.

    In this episode, you'll learn:

    • How heat stress affects chickens and how to recognize the warning signs.
    • The importance of shade, ventilation, and humidity control.
    • Best practices for keeping water cool and encouraging hydration.
    • Why feeding times matter during hot weather.
    • How vitamins, electrolytes, and other supplements can support your flock.
    • Emergency measures for treating severe heat stress.
    • Breed-specific considerations and building heat-resilient breeding stock.

    Tune in for expert insights that will help keep your birds healthy, productive, and thriving all summer long.

    #ChickenCare #PoultryHealth #BackyardChickens #ChickenBreeding #HeatStress #SummerChickenCare #PoultryFarming #FlockManagement #BreedingSuccess #ChickenDoctor #BredToPerfection #PoultryPodcast

    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

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    50 min