Bred to Perfection

The Mechanisms of Evolution, and how it Relates to the Creation of our Strains In celebration of Darwin's Day, we're going to talk about how evolution and selective breeding are very similar, and how we can use the mechanisms of evolution to create and improve our strains. Darwin and his theory of evolution had a huge influence on my thinking, and how I breed my fowl. And, evolution had an enormous impact on the creation of my signature breeding program, known as the "Founders Program." Join us as we discuss this fascinating topic. I promise, you will never look at breeding, or evolution the same way again.

The Mechanisms of Evolution, and how it Relates to the Creation of our Strains In celebration of Darwin's Day, we're going to talk about how evolution and selective breeding are very similar, and how we can use the mechanisms of evolution to create and improve our strains. Darwin and his theory of evolution had a huge influence on my thinking, and how I breed my fowl. And, evolution had an enormous impact on the creation of my signature breeding program, known as the "Founders Program." Join us as we discuss this fascinating topic. I promise, you will never look at breeding, or evolution the same way again.

This is Part 3 of a 3-part series on genetics. In this episode we will dive into Advanced Genetics.Breeding and creating a strain is governed by 3 important laws of nature, such as the environment, nutrition, and the traits they inherit. In other words, genetics. However, just the idea of genetics can be intimidating for many new breeders, and some veteran as well. Many even avoid genetics, mostly because it can seem confusing and difficult to understand and use. It is my hope that we can show you, not only why genetic is important, but also how to use it in the improvement and creation of your strains. Once you understand the basics, many other topics concerning breeding will become clearer. In this episode we will discuss: Polygenic Inheritance Sex-linked Traits Gene Linkage and Correlation Atavisms and Throwbacks Genetic Triggers and Switches Mutations Lethal Genes Mitochondria DNA Maternal Antibodies Prepotency Epigenetics And much more!

This is Part 2 of a 3-part series on genetics. In this episode we will dive into the principles of Mendelian Genetics. Breeding and creating a strain is governed by 3 important laws of nature, such as the environment, nutrition, and the traits they inherit. In other words, genetics. However, just the idea of genetics can be intimidating for many new breeders, and some veteran as well. Many even avoid genetics, mostly because it can seem confusing and difficult to understand and use. It is my hope that we can show you, not only why genetic is important, but also how to use it in the improvement and creation of your strains. Once you understand the basics, many other topics concerning breeding will become clearer.

Breeding and creating a strain is governed by 3 important laws of nature, such as the environment, nutrition, and the traits they inherit. In other words, genetics. However, just the idea of genetics can be intimidating for many new breeders, and some veteran as well. Many even avoid genetics, mostly because it can seem confusing and difficult to understand and use. It is my hope that we can show you, not only why genetic is important, but also how to use it in the improvement and creation of your strains. Once you understand the basics, many other topics concerning breeding will become clearer.

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we are talking with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo, a Poultry Veterinarian at UC Davis, about HPAI – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. This disease is spreading rapidly, and has shown up in a dozen or more states. In fact, a number of states are restricting all movement of poultry, and poultry related products to hopefully stop the spread of this lethal disease. Listen in to this informative discuss, and learn what you can do to protect your birds.

Join us for a Breeding Questions and Answers segment. These are always a lot of fun.

And the Difference between Hybridization and Mongrelization. Crossbreeding is a very common method of breeding, but many are using it for the wrong reasons. The truth is, there are some unintended consequences from using this method, many of them are long lasting, and could be detrimental to the breed. In this episode we will discuss what's good about crossbreeding, but also what's not so good about crossbreeding. We will tell you what others don't want you to know. Hopefully, this episode will change the way you look at crossbreeding, and change the way you breed your fowl.

In this episode we are talking with Peter Brown about issues that affect all backyard breeders, and what they can do to treat their birds. The information presented here is great for all breeders of chickens and gamefowl, both beginners and veterans. We cover disease and problems, such as: Egg bound - egg binding Greens Canker Wry Neck Botulism - limberneck Mold poisoning Fungal infection - fungi Sour crop Impacted crop Gout Roup Crop binding Vent gleet pendulous crop Prolapse Pasting - chicks Favus For more information about the Bred to Perfection Podcast and the Breeders Academy Membership Website, go to https://www.breedersacademy.com - While you're there, make sure to sign up for our Free Breeders Bulletins. Enjoy the show!

Join us for the first show of the year. This will be a laid-back episode with our listeners. We have a lot to tell our listeners about the upcoming year. This was also a good time for a Q&A episode.

Most breeders know that section is important, but some don't know why. The truth is, selection is the difference between success and failure. You cannot create or improve a strain without some knowledge of selection. Join us as we discuss the powers of selection, and the processes that can turn a mongrel flock into a true family and strain. This is an episode that you do not want to miss.

In this episode, we will give you a number of useful tips, that will help get your breeding season started on the right foot. I had a great mentor who believed that preparation was the prerequisite to success. As a breeder, I took that to heart, and it has served me well for years.

It's amazing the conversation that can take place at the dinner table. And, that is exactly what happened here. I was visiting with Frank Bradley and his family in Kentucky. After a great meal (ribeye's) and a couple bottles of beer (Coors Light), Frank asked me some interesting questions on breeding. More specifically on the difference between inbreeding and in-and-in breeding, what's better, the cock's line or the hen's line, and much more. Although we didn't record that conversation, we decided to talk about those topics again, here on the podcast. Listen in as we revisit these great topics. Make sure to stay till the end. We did a coaching call with one of our members, that I know you will like. For more information about the Bred to Perfection Podcast and the Breeders Academy Membership Website, go to https://www.breedersacademy.com - While you're there, make sure to sign up for our Free Breeders Bulletins. Enjoy the show!

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we are talking with Dr. Gallardo about Salmonella. Most of the diseases we have covered so far, only affect chickens, but salmonella is very different. In fact, it's a serious problem, not only for chickens, but also for those who raise chickens. Even if the chickens look fine, they have the potential to make us very sick. Where you get your chickens and what your chickens are exposed to, is a huge factor. Most don't realize how prevalent salmonella actually is. We are going to talk about the causes and symptoms of this disease, and how to prevent exposure. There's a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.

In this episode of the Bred to Perfection Live Show, we're going to talk about Mycoplasma and CRD. Our special guest will be Peter Brown, known as the Chicken Doctor. This is a respiratory disease that is underestimated and misunderstood, and one that exist in many breeders' yards. I know you will enjoy this episode, and learn a lot too. We also took questions from the chat room. This episode is packed with great information, and one you do not want to miss. I know you will enjoy this episode, and learn a lot too.

In this episode, I will show you how I learned these 3 very important laws. Selective Breeding and Systematic Breeding Programs Evolutionary Biology And Genetic Inheritance As you will see, there is more to breeding than just putting two birds together. And, there's more to breeding than just breeding "Best to the Best". That's why I created the Breeder's Academy, to show new and established breeders a different way of breeding. Like Math, there are many ways to solve a math problem, just like there are many ways to breed chickens. But, in the Breeders Academy I show them how to put many different methods of breeding together and how and when to apply each method. This episode is packed with great information, and one you do not want to miss. I know you will enjoy this episode, and learn a lot too.

This is going to be a great episode. Today we are talking with Peter Brown, known as the Chicken Doctor. We are going to discuss the Most Common Diseases most backyard breeders face. There are many pathogens, viral and bacterial that threaten our fowl. I thought it would be a good idea to quickly address as many of them as possible, so that the backyard breeder can recognize them and hopefully prevent exposure to these diseases.

Join us for a very special conversation with Matt Hemmer, who is a breeder of the Erminettes. This is a very unique breed, both in a historical sense and as a genetic phenomenon. In fact, the Erminettes are the only breed of chicken where the color of plumage is based on a co-dominant factor. No other breed of chicken has this trait. Matt is going to discuss the history of the breed, the characteristics and genetics of the breed, and the future of the breed. After the show, make sure to click the links below to find out more about this amazing breed. https://theamericanerminette.weebly.com https://www.smokybuttesranch.com/chickens/erminettes/ This episode is packed with great information, and one you do not want to miss. I know you will enjoy this episode, and learn a lot too.

In this episode, we are talking with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo from UC Davis. He will talk about their new Gamefowl Wellness Program, which is designed to help backyard breeder, specially, breeders of American Games, to raise and breed heather birds, and to protect their birds from future outbreaks of Newcastle's Disease. There's a lot of good information packed into this episode that I know you will not want to miss.

There is a lot of confusion in this area of breeding. So much so, that many breeders are not able to produce high quality strains. They purchase birds from a reputable breeder, and are confused when the fowl they produce are not like the original breeder's fowl. We've all seen it, strains change when they're moved to different locations. The question is, are these changes temporary or permanent? And, what can we do about it? The environment can have a direct effect on the phenotype of your strain. For example, the weather can turn from hot to cold, or cold to hot, and go from dry to wet, and nutrition can affect growth and development, disease can weaken the strain and kill important individuals, and poor management can cause disease and stress. But, none of these factors will have a direct effect on the strains genotype. This is an important concept, and has an effect on your selection and the improvement of your strains. For example, if we are not seeing their true value and potential, due to a poor environment, this prevents us from selecting properly. They may appear "better or worse" than their true genetic value, depending on whether they receive a favorable or unfavorable environment. This is especially true when it comes to their form, function or beauty. This episode is packed with great information, and one you do not want to miss. I know you will enjoy this episode, and learn a lot too.

Here's a few tips that will help you to get through the Summer Months in great shape. Join Kenny Troiano and Peter Brown as they discuss ways to beat the heat, and help you and your chickens get through the hot Summer months. As you know, Summer is almost here, and the heat is on the way. This is a challenging time of year for us breeders. We're fighting the heat and humidity, the stress and disease, as well as the bugs and parasites. If you are looking for ways to deal with the heat of summer, this show is for you.

Old Wives' Tales and Superstitions that Hold us Back This episode is about "The Misconceptions about Breeding." These are popular misconceptions that tend to hold most breeders back. And can prevent you from creating anything special or superior or great. When I talk with the average breeder, I find that they are very reliant on "Old Wives Tales" and "Superstitions." Nothing is based on empirical evidence or scientific facts. I recently did a coaching call with one of my members of the Breeders Academy, and most of his questions were based on many of the misconceptions we see around breeding. I spent most of that call clearing up those misconceptions. And, he's not alone. These are misconceptions that are shared by a majority of breeders, beginners and veterans alike. After that call, I gave it some thought. And decided that we should do an episode of Bred to Perfection, and address them. So, it's my intention and hope that we can clear up many of these misconceptions, and change the way we understand breeding, and improve the way we breed and raise our fowl. I understand that this is going to be very controversial, and is going to rub many breeders the wrong way. It's going to challenge what you think you already know, and ask you to think differently, and hopefully we can change the way you breed your fowl. Special Note: Most of what we are going to talk about will be about American and Old English Games, but can be applied to other breeds as well.

In this episode, we are celebrating our 100th Episode of Bred to Perfection. When we asked our listeners their thoughts on how to make this episode special, the response we got was they wanted to hear more about us, Kenny and Nancy Troiano. Well, our 3 daughters, Megan, Samantha, and Tawny grabbed the mics and did it for us. They talked about our lives' and what it was like to be our daughters. I believe you will find this episode to be interesting, funny, and at times touching. You are going to learn many things about the Troiano's that you did not know before, and give you greater insight into our lives. So, sit back and enjoy the show.

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we will talk about the 3 most dangerous breeders. These are breeders who use breeding practices that are detrimental to the breed as a whole. These include those who believe in combining the traits of two separate and distinct "breeds", such as American Games and Aseels, each having contrasting characteristics and traits. Those that think they can mix the traits of two separate strains, such as Hatch and Sweater, and produce offspring expressing the best of both strains. And those who believe that Performance overrides all other factors. This is a problem that concerns me very much, as it should concern you as well. Breeders who think and practice in this manner will never reach the statue of Master Breeder. Without the proper knowledge and knowhow to put these principles to practice, they will never reach the highest levels of success.

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we are discussing Genetic Drift, and the effect it can have on our strains. Genetic drift is a force of nature that contributes to the evolution of species, but can also have an effect on the evolution of our strains. In fact, it can change the direction of your strain with a blink of an eye through a sudden change in the number of birds within that strain, and change the frequency of their alleles over time. Your ability as a breeder, will and can determine what that strain will become. One thing can be certain, that strain will be different than they were before. There's a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we are talking with Dr. Gallardo about Infectious Laryngotracheitis, otherwise known as ILT. This is an extremely contagious virus that affects chickens and other poultry. The virus attacks the cells of the trachea (windpipe), leading to bleeding and difficulty breathing, and ultimately death. This is maybe one of the Worst and most Devastating diseases known to backyard chickens. It can destroy your whole strain, in a matter of days, and the sad part is, most don't take proper precautions. We are going to talk about the causes and symptoms of this disease, and how to prevent exposure. There's a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we are talking sublines, and why they are so important for the creation and improvement of your strain. We have mentioned sublines in our podcasts many times, but we still get questions about sublines and why they are so important. Let's see if we can shed some light on this very important practice. The use of sublines can be the difference between a successful strain and one that never seems to reach their potential. It also separates the true Master Breeders from the beginners, or novice breeders. Not only does a Master Breeder understand the value of using a subline, it shows you their level of knowledge and experience as a breeder. While beginners tend to avoid the use of sublines, or they don't know about sublines, Master Breeders will use it at every opportunity. A good breeder will have a foundation strain, but he will also have a number of sublines running parallel with his foundation line. There's a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we are talking with Peter Brown, also known as the Chicken Doctor, about the most common mistakes made by backyard breeders. We cover a great number of topics that are aimed at helping our struggling beginners. It is our hope that by listening to this episode, you can keep from making these same mistakes. These include worming too often, over medicating, unnecessary vaccinations, poor biosecurity practices, poor feeding and nutrition habits, and much more. There's a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we are talking with Dr. Rachel Potter, who is a member of the Breeders Academy. Rachel is a breeder of Old English Moderns Bantams, and breeds a number of varieties, such as Birchens, Silver Blues, and Splash, and she's looking to create strain with each variety. We talk about where in the Founders Program she is with each strain, what are the next steps she should take, and the future of her fowl. We address many topics concerning breeding and creating a strain that I know you will learn from, including which traits are dominant and recessive, and which traits are polygenic, and what that means to the breeder. We also talk about breeding methods, such as inbreeding, line-breeding and whether or not double mating is the right choice. There's a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we are talking with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo about Infectious bronchitis (IBV), which is an acute, highly contagious respiratory disease of chickens, caused by a type of coronavirus. This is a disease that can be found on many yards and farms, without the breeders even knowing it. In most cases, they will confuse Bronchitis with other respiratory diseases, such as Coryza. What they don't realize is that Infectious Bronchitis has a huge effect on our brood fowl and their offspring, and can affect the future of our strains. Listen in and learn what you can do to treat and control this disease, and hopefully prevent it. There's a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.

There is a lot of confusion in this area. I see so many breeders calling their Foundation Fowl "Seed Fowl", and calling their Seed Fowl "Foundation Fowl." To make matters worse, they skip any and all regards or reference to the fowl in the middle, the fowl in the Transitional Stage, which I call my Transitional Fowl. It is my hope that by clearing up the description and meaning of the three stages, you will better understand their function and purpose throughout the Founders Program.

I happy to announce that we have a new member of our team. Many of you already know him or have heard of him, and have listened to his teaching for years. And that is Peter Brown, also known as "The Chicken Doctor." We have created a new series that we call, "Healthy Practices for Healthier Fowl," and have a number of topics that I know you will like. In this episode, we talk about the Most Common Mistakes make by Backyard Breeders. This is a great episode for beginners and veterans alike.

Today, we are talking with Dr. Delon Alwar from South Africa, who is a veterinarian and breeder of Aseel's and American Games. He's a member of the Breeders Academy, and we are going to help him take his strain to the next level. In years past, Dr. Alwar found it difficult to find the right information on breeding, selection and genetics. Now that he's a member of the Breeders Academy, not only is he finding the information he needs, but he's also taking what he has learned and passing it to his fellow breeders. That is what the Breeders Academy is all about! There's a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.

Today, we are talking with Dr. Gallardo about Marek's Disease. This is a Pathogenic Virus, also known as Fowl Paralysis or Range Paralysis. Marek's Disease is by far one of the most common illnesses for backyard breeders and small flocks. Yet, it's one of the most preventable illnesses out there. It can take on many forms, from no signs to paralysis, to blindness, to sudden death. There has been quite a bit of misinformation about Marek's Disease. So, today we are going to address the topic of Marek's and clear up some of those misconceptions, and give our listeners a better understanding. There's a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.

Today, we're chatting with my good friend, Royce, who is a Master Breeder. Through the years, Royce and I would chat about breeding and how our fowl were progressing. We would chat for hours, discussing my latest articles in the Poultry Press. Those were great times. Well, in this episode, we continue our discussion about breeding and breeding methods. We also talk bout the modern backyard breeder and the obstacles they face, and their future. There's a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.

Most of the fowl today are hybrid crosses or mongrels. In fact, there are very few pure strains. The sad part is, most beginners are forced into starting with these types of fowl. So, what can you do? You can start by take steps toward transforming your bad birds into a good strain. In this episode, we talk about those steps, so that you can begin the process of creating a true strain.

Today, we are talking with Poultry Veterinarian, Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo about Coccidiosis, also known as Coxy. For good reason too, Coccidiosis is one of the most common diseases, and can have a huge effect on your strain. For example, coccidiosis affects all backyard breeders. It affects how your offspring grow and develop. And, it can have an effect on your overall strain.

In this episode, I will give you a number of useful tips, that will help get your breeding season started on the right foot. I had a great mentor who believed that preparation was the prerequisite to success. As a breeder, I took that to heart, and it has served me well for years.

Bred to Perfection present, the Troiano Family's First Christmas Special! We hope this episode brightens your day. If there were a time to laugh a lot, this is it. Not only is it Christmas time, but it's time to say goodbye to 2020. Join the Troiano Family as they recite their version of "The Night Before Christmas," that they call "The Night Before Chickmas." And, Tawny sings her version of Jingle Bells – that she calls, "Farm Bells and Smells." And best of all, you do not want to miss their version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." This is Christmas, Troiano Style, a wild and funny journey to the world of chickens and St. Nick. Ho-Ho-Ho, Cluck-cluck-cluck, a jingle we will go!

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo, a Poultry Veterinarian from UC Davis, about Infectious Coryza. Unfortunately, this is a disease found in many backyards flocks, and one that is highly misunderstood. Dr. Gallardo will talk with us about how the disease is transmitted, and how to prevent exposer. We will also discuss whether or not it's good practice to vaccinate for coryza, and which medications are most effective to treat the disease. This episode is packed with great information, and one you do not want to miss.

In this episode we talk about the Type and Conformation of Body. Although we use American and Old English Games as the model, the information is applicable for most breeds of chickens. We all want birds that can perform and reach their potential. Well, this is not going to happen with a family with good conformation of body. Listen in as we take the bird apart and put back together again. That's right, we study all the parts that make up the whole, and their importance. This episode is packed with great information, and one you do not want to miss.

In this episode we address a belief many breeders share, and that is, "it's better to introduce new blood rather than to create their own strain." Listen in as we discuss why adding and infusing new blood is not the answer, and that there is a better way. There are many misconceptions that breeders use to justify this practice, and we address them here. We also talk with one of our members of the Breeders Academy, and help her to reach her goals. This episode is packed with great information, and one you do not want to miss.

Today, we are talking with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo, a Poultry Veterinarian from UC Davis. In this episode, we will talk about Fowl Pox, what causes the disease, how to prevent infection, and what to do if your birds get infected. This is an episode of Bred to Perfection that you do not want to miss.

Today, we are talking with Patrick who lives in the UK, but is originally from Ireland. And, he raises Irish Games. He's also a member of a group of breeders that are working to preserve these birds for the betterment of future breeders. This is a special breed of fowl that has a rich history, which goes back to 500 AD. Patrick belies this breed predates the Vikings, when they came to Ireland. In fact, American Games owe much of their existence to the Irish Gamefowl. Not only do the American Games have Old English Games Spanish Games, and Aseel's, they also have the Irish blood in them, and a lot of it as well. In this episode, we are going to talk with Patrick, and help him improve his poultry husbandry practices and Farm Management practices, but we walk him through important topics, such as, how to build the proper brood pens

In this episode, we are talking with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo about the practice and importance of biosecurity. Most Breeders don't understand biosecurity, and the importance of keeping your bird safe from the exposure of disease. Some of us have strains that we've been keeping for over 30 years. Losing our birds to disease would be a travesty. What we are going to talk about today, if you follow it, will save your flock, and protect those valuable and irreplaceable strains. It's so much easier to prevent disease than it is to try and cure a sick bird. In most cases birds that were sick become chronic and never fully recover. And disease can spread very quickly throughout the yard. There's a lot of good information packed into this episode that I know you do not want to miss.

In this episode, we are helping Mike Badger, host of the popular poultry show, called "The Pastured Poultry Talk Podcast," To create a strain that can meet his needs, and the needs of his customers. Does he breed, raise and sell pure fowl, or does he use his pure fowl to create hybrid crosses? Join our conversation as we discuss ways to achieve his goals. There's a lot of good information packed into this episode that I know you will not want to miss.

In this episode, we are talking with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo from UC Davis about their new Gamefowl Wellness Program, which is designed to help backyard breeder, specially, breeders of American Games, to raise and breed heather birds, and to protect their birds from future outbreaks of Newcastle's Disease. There's a lot of good information packed into this episode that I know you will not want to miss.

In this episode, we are talking with a fish breeder. What's interesting here is that he uses the same breeding methods as chicken breeders. He has a wonderful understanding of genetics, and many of his goals are the same as ours. There is a lot all of us can learn from this interview.

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we are talking about what constitutes contamination and the effects it can have on your strain and the future of their breed. Whether you are creating a strain, or working to improve an established strain, the introduction of the wrong blood can set you back for years. It could even destroy the strain forever. Join us as we talk about what this means and how to prevent this from happening to you and your strain. We also talk about the functions and benefits of using sub-lines. I know you will find this interesting as well.

In this episode, we talk about defects and why they are detrimental to the success and future of our fowl, and why it's important to recognize and cull all fowl expressing defects. The truth is, most breeders are not aware of half the defects that exist. It could be sitting right in front of them, and they would not see it.