And, the Value of Selecting for Uniformity.
This is also about improving form, function and beauty
I always thought that I had a good understanding of what makes-up the American Gamefowl breed, and what to select for, as far as characteristics and traits that are unique to the breed, and how to select the proper brood fowl. But it wasn’t until I met Tony Saville, my mentor, that I realized just how little I actually knew.
Tony came to my yard one day. I was so proud of my birds, and was excited to show them off. Little did I know that my world would come to an end, and my ego would take an enormous hit.
As Tony walked through my yard, he would point at a bird and say “Watch that trait” (stork legged). “Make sure to cull birds with that trait” (duck-toe). “Don’t breed birds with that trait” (squirrel tail). I learned very quickly that 80% of the birds were nothing but junk. I had birds that were substandard, defective or sickly, or simply did not represent their breed.
This is when I learned, for the first time, about the importance of a proper conformation of body and balance of the bird. I also learned the proper color of plumage and the value of uniformity. And most importantly, the fact that every trait matters, and has a definite purpose and function.
Tony made me more aware of problems concerning plumage color. I had every color under the sun, maybe 15 different breeds and varieties. And worst yet, nothing on my yard was pure or uniform. I may have started out with pure fowl, but because I didn’t know how to properly match my birds, the offspring would express many color variations.
In time, Tony would show me the characteristics and traits to select for. He was always good about explaining the importance of those traits and why they mattered, and how, by breeding towards uniformity and consistency, the strain would improve.
Selection is extremely important, but I learned that culling is even more important. Not only is culling the quickest method for improving a struggling strain, it’s hard to select and improve a family if there are genetic weaknesses holding you back. Therefore, you must cull all substandard, defective and sickly birds.
He showed me that every part of the bird had a purpose and a function, and that one trait had a huge effect on other traits. For example:
- The length of the back can affect the form, function and angle of the tail and wings.
- The broadness of the back can affect the internal organs and the overall performance of the bird.
- The importance of a proper eye and beak can affect the form and function of the head, and affect their performance as well.
- Angulation of the legs can affect the form and structure of the back, tail and overall carriage.
He also showed me the importance of the proper conformation of body. When selecting breeders to carry on and pass their genes to the next generation, every bird should have the proper conformation of body, and have the proper balance. This is when I first learned the term “Type.” This is essentially the silhouette or shape of the bird. Every breed has a specific and unique shape.
As you can see, Tony really opened my eyes, and changed my understanding of what makes the breed, and how to select to improve my strain. Tony was a great teacher and mentor, and always had my best interest at heart. He was never mean or degrading. He simply made a suggestion or gave some friendly advice. It was up to me to take it or ignore it. I took it!
Through the years, I spent a lot of time learning from Tony. I would visit Tony and his wife Francis often. We would spend time in the chicken yard, then sit on his porch, drinking wine, and talking about chickens. Tony was always a huge source of information and I learned something new on every visit. He was such a big part of my family, so much so, that my kids even called him “Uncle Tony.”
It was sad when he moved to North Carolina. I lost access to a great teacher and a great friend. We would call each other from time to time, and we would judge shows together here in California. And when he was in town, he would stay with us at the house. Just like old times, we would sit and talk chickens.
Needless to say, I can attribute much of my success to what I learned from Tony. I now have a better understanding and have gained a greater appreciation of the breed, and what makes up the breed and their history. This has made me a better breeder and an effective teacher.
What I learned, I began to teach to my students?
Once I became a judge and started helping other breeders set up their breeding pens, and showed them how to use a proper breeding program, I realised how much trouble the American Game breed was actually in. In fact, we as breeders were at risk of losing the breed. I began to look at other breeders and how they selected and bred their fowl, and how very few had high-quality birds. I soon realized that most breeders had no idea of how to properly select their brood fowl. I thought to myself, “How can they improve their strains if they can’t select the right bird for breeding?” and “How can they improve their strains if they don’t know how to properly match their birds?”
Breeding is a process that is fundamentally useless without proper selection. And, yet, the average breeder does not understand the proper fundamentals of breeding. They don’t know the makeup of the breed (form and function). They don’t understand the importance of conformation of body, carriage, and proper balance. They don’t know about defects, and the effects defects can have on the breed and their strains. They don’t know about the importance of uniformity. And, they don’t know the importance of culling all substandard, defective, or any and all sick birds.
If you look at many of our modern breeders, and study their core principles and practices, you soon realize that there is such a misconception when it comes to the art and science of selection. Many think they know the importance of selection, but very few are selecting properly. Case in point, I can go on most farms and cull 80% or more of their birds. This includes many of the so-called big name breeders.
Years ago, I wrote and published in the magazines a series of articles on selection. These topics included “The Selection of Brood Fowl, The Selection of a Strain, Conformation of Body, and The Power of Selection.” These articles opened the eyes of many breeders, and changed the way many of them selected their future brood fowl. And continues to change the way many are selecting and breeding their fowl today. Needless to say, the response was huge! This was also the beginning of my journey into teaching others the Art and Science of Selective Breeding.
Learning how to select the right brood fowl was one of my biggest breakthroughs. I learned the value of selecting for the “complete package.” This includes – “conformation, color, temperament and performance/production ability. By selecting for the complete package it will have a huge effect on their form, function and beauty. Every part has a direct effect on other parts, and a defective trait has a negative effect on it’s form and function, and can affect it’s looks as well. Once you learn and understand this, you will begin to see a change in your fowl. Your fowl will not only improve, but they will have better uniformity and will be good representatives of their breeds and varieties.
Why does it seem that most don’t know what to select for? They are led to believe that conformation of body and color of plumage means nothing, and all that matters is their ability to perform well. In truth, most of these breeders select for performance or production, while neglecting conformation. Or, they select for conformation and neglect performance or production. And, many neglect color, all together. They never consider selecting and breeding towards uniformity. Like I said earlier, it’s the complete package that counts.
Another factor, many breeders neglect, when purchasing birds or setting up their brood pens, is to consider the hen. Many times they only select and consider the cock, and then breed him to any or all their hens. They do this with little or no thought as to her characteristics and traits or lack thereof. Most look at the hen as only a producer of chicks and not a passer of genes. When, in all actuality, she is very important to the breeding process and the future of your strain. In most cases she is the heart and soul of the strain. In fact, the best strains are built around a great hen and her daughters.
Why should they be good representatives of their breed? The better question should be “how can you create a strain from fowl that are not good representatives of their breed? Every bird must have traits that are specific to that breed. If your birds don’t represent their breed and variety, you have nothing but mongrels.
Let’s break down the difference between breed, variety and strain.
- What’s a Breed? Each breed has a particular type (conformation of body and structure). American Games look different than Rhode Island Reds, Leghorns look different than Plymouth Rocks, and Cochins look different than Marans. This is due to their conformation and type. The job of every breeder is to make sure their fowl represent their breed properly and express the right shape and body structure.
- What’s a Variety? Each variety should have a particular color of plumage. Most breeds have a number of different varieties within the breed. They have the same conformation of body, but have variations, such as plumage color, plumage type, and comb type. This also includes tassels and muffs. These variations must be good representatives of their particular variety. Some breeds only have only a few varieties, whereas, the American Gamefowl have more than 30 color varieties.
- What’s a Strain? This is where the breeder can be unique and different from other breeders. Yes they must have the right conformation of body and color of plumage, but the breeder can perpetuate traits that are unique to his family of birds – without changing what makes them that breed. These are subtle differences – such as eye rings, the unique shape of the head, the quality of their plumage and color, color of legs and intensity of their color, and station of leg, which varies between strains.
Where can you learn more about this Standard? Domestic breeds have the “APA’s Standard of Perfection.” American Games have 2 very good sources for information. Tony Saville’s book is a good Standard for American Games that is available at Amazon.com. You can also find the Standard for American Games on my website, “The Breeders Academy.” This is a feature we provide for all our Academy Members.
What traits make my “Maximus Line” special and unique? I get this question a lot. Mine have many subtleties that make them unique. For example – They are really good representatives of their breed and variety, which is something that is lacking in most families these days, and which makes my Maximus Line standout even more. But, just to name a few, it’s the little things that make them stand out most. Such as – the black eyeliner, the rich red ruby eyes, the refinement and shape of the head, the small, but finely bred-in details that I have been working on for many generations. It’s when you place them next to other birds that you can really see the difference.
Special note of interest: Just so you know, I’m not trying to sell birds. In fact, I don’t sell birds, and I don’t have any for sale. Once Newcastle’s Disease is under control, here in California, I will provide my members with free fowl. This is my way of helping my members of the Breeders Academy. Please don’t call or message me, asking to buy fowl. Nothing is for sale. If you are a member, please message me if you are interested. I’m making a list right now.
What is the relationship between the breed and their conformation and color? And, why does that matter? Conformation makes the breed, color the variety, and form always determines function. Remember that phrase and you will never go wrong!
In other words, if they don’t have the right conformation, they are not true representatives of their breed. If they are not the right color, they are not true representatives of their variety. But more importantly, if they do not have the right structure and makeup, they cannot perform to their optimal ability. This is true for all breeds of chickens. And, even if they are able to overcome their deficiencies, their offspring will most likely not be as fortunate as their parents.
You must understand that the characteristics and traits you select will have a direct consequence on the future of your strain, good or bad. If you continue to breed your strain, without any consideration to their form, function and beauty, soon they will not look or perform like their breed. They will become mongrels!
There are 3 Laws of Purity of Blood, and it goes like this:
1) Without the proper form, there is no way they can be functional.
2) Without the proper color of plumage, they lack uniformity.
3) A bird that lacks the proper form, function and beauty also lacks other traits as well – or have traits that are highly exaggerated in the wrong direction – such as:
- Their tail angles are off (too high or too low)
- They tend to carry their wings differently (too high or too low)
- They tend to lack the proper angulation in the legs (I also see a lot of stork legged birds, which is mistaken for a higher station).
- They lack the proper “V” shaped posture you see from “tail to back and back to head” (they tend to lean too far forward or backward).
- Sparrows beak is more of a problem – not hawk like
- I see a lot of birds with long, narrow backs or convexed backs (known as hump-backed)
Where are the worst cases of Poor Conformation of Body? When it comes to domestic breeds, “Hatchery birds” have the worst conformation of body.
As far as American Games – whenever you add Aseel into a bloodline (such as American Games), you will see birds with poor conformation of body. This is especially true when you look at their tail and wing angles. They also tend to have a very poor angulation of the thighs and shanks. They lack the proper “V” shaped posture and have convexed backs, which is the biggest indication that Aseel blood has been introduced into the strain. Once I see those humped shaped backs, I know they’ve got Aseel in them. Even their heads tend to be too large and too short. In fact, I believe it’s the introduction of Aseel blood that is destroying the breed!
How important is Uniformity? Uniformity not only proves the purity and quality of the strain, but it demonstrates the skills and experience of the breeder. When I visit a breeder’s farm, what do I notice first? For me, it’s how much the birds look alike, or how much they look different. And, whether or not they represent their breed.
A yard that has birds of every color looks chaotic and unorganized. So, What does this say about you as a breeder? Again, for me, they lack purity of blood and are of mixed blood. In short, they are most likely mongrels. It also tells me that they have poor selection practices, or they don’t select at all. They rely on breeding the best to the best, which in most cases is not good enough. It also looks like they don’t cull, or cull hard enough. These are breeders that lack the proper skills and experience, and don’t understand the proper principles and practices of selective breeding. Or worse yet – they are peddlers.
Now, if I see a farm, and the birds are of the same color and conformation of body, and every bird looks uniform and consistent? My first thought is, this guy is a knowledgeable and experienced breeder. He understands the breed and knows how to select properly, and he is not afraid to cull ruthlessly. And most of all – here is a breeder who has pride in his bloodline.
WHEN SHOULD A BREEDER BEGIN THE SELECTION PROCESS? Selection starts with the eggs. I look for the proper size, shape, color and quality of the eggs, and I cull out eggs that don’t meet my criteria.
Selection includes the chicks and quail sized birds. The earlier you can eliminate the weak and defective, the better. This saves feed and space, and lessens the chance of disease, which is normally caused by overcrowding. At this age, I look for good vigor and vitality, good growth and development, and I cull all defects and birds expressing disease.
Selection of mature birds and potential breeders: If “like begets like,” then the selection of breeders is the most crucial of all. If the parents are substandard, or of poor quality, or defective, so will be the offspring!
At 2 years of age, I look for potential breeders that are active and alert, and are healthy and have good vigor, and birds that are free of defects. I then look for the birds with the best conformation of body and color of plumage. Temperament and good behavior is also a criteria to select for.
If you have a good family, ancestry shouldn’t be an issue. But when starting out, try to find birds with a good ancestry and have impressive siblings. A family with a history of good performance and production capabilities is always a benefit. This can be improved through breeding, but it never hurts to start out with fowl that are already good in those areas.
Once I breed them and produce offspring, I observe the offspring and see what they can tell me about their parents. There is an old term, “The Offspring Never Lie.” If the offspring are poor or substandard or carry faults, I look to the parents, and decide if they have value as breeders.
I then study their ability to be good mothers and fathers. Yes I said fathers. There are times when I will leave the hen and her chicks with the cock. He should be protective, caring and nurturing.
When does the selection process end? The truth is – it never ends! Selection is performed for the entire life of the bird. If at any time they show defects or faults, no matter how good they were in the past, they should be culled. This includes:
- Lack of vigor
- Lack in vitaliy
- Low hatchability
- Low fertility
- Poor quality offspring
- Age, especially with older hens
Summary Checklist:
- Know what to select for and when.
- Every bird should be a good representative of their breed, variety and strain.
- Select for the complete package – form, function and beauty
- Always select for uniformity and consistency through the strain.
- Cull all birds expressing defects, sickness and are substandard
