Join Kenny Troiano, founder of the Breeders Academy, and his co-hosts as they delve into the intricacies of gamefowl breeding in this episode of Bred to Perfection. Whether you're a seasoned breeder or new to the scene, Kenny and his team discuss key concepts such as genetic principles, breeding strategies, and the importance of selective breeding. The episode also addresses common misconceptions and old wives' tales about gamefowl breeding, providing listeners with scientific insights and practical advice to improve their flock. Tune in for enlightening conversations, listener questions, and expert tips that cater to breeders aiming to elevate their breeding practices.

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.

Join us on Bred to Perfection Live, Friday's at 6pm PST or 9pm EST on YouTube, as we discuss the benefits of creating your own strain.

See ya there!

Kenny Troiano

Founder of "The Breeders Academy"

We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl.

If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place.

We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl.

If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com

Breeding for the complete package involves selecting individuals that possess a combination of desirable traits. Overall, breeding for the complete package offers numerous advantages in terms of improving breed characteristics, as well as, improved health and better resistance to disease, better performance ability, and overall adaptability and survivability to their environment. And, having a strain that has all the characteristics and traits that not only represent their breed and purpose, but are the fowl you desire most.

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.

Join us on Bred to Perfection Live, Friday's at 6pm PST or 9pm EST on YouTube, as we discuss the benefits of creating your own strain.

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

#breedinggamefowl #breedingchickens #dogbreeding #chickenbreeders #gamefowlbreeding #chickenbreeding, #gamefowlnation, #selectivebreeding, #poultrygenetics #poultryhealth #backyardbreeders #breedersacademy #bredtoperfection #kennytroiano #gamefowl

Join Kenny Troiano and Frank Bradley, as they discuss the misconceptions surrounding "who is most important, the cock, or the hen." The discussion about who is more valuable, the cock or hen, is as old as the chicken itself. It has been a huge debate for as long as I can remember. Everyone has an opinion, but who is right? Many say it's the cock. But when you look at it more closely, you see how superficial their reasoning actually is. It's based on old wive's tales and superstitions. It's not practical or realistic. On the other hand, many have said that the hen is more important, but very few know why. This way of thinking makes the selecting of hens, ones that have the ability to improve strains, much harder. How can you create or improve your strains, if you don't know who is more important, cock or hen, and why? In this episode we will discuss this very controversial subject, and hopefully shed new light, and open your mind to a new way of thinking. Make sure to join us, because this is a show you do not want to miss.

We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl.

If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place.

We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl.

If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com

In this thought-provoking episode of Bred to Perfection, Kenny and Frank dive deep into the powerful connection between evolutionary biology and selective breeding—and how understanding this relationship is the key to creating, improving, and preserving a pure strain of chickens or gamefowl.

Contrary to what some believe, building a true family or strain isn't a myth—it's a science. But most breeders are unknowingly using flawed methods that hold them back.

Together, Kenny and Frank break down:

• How evolution directly mirrors selective breeding
• Why understanding Darwin's principles is crucial for breeders
• The role of variation, selection, and gene frequency in strain creation
• What genetic drift, the Founder's Effect, and gene flow really mean for your flock
• Why infusion and crossbreeding often lead to permanent setbacks
• How to tighten your gene pool for maximum purity and consistency

They also reveal why small populations—like a single breeding pair—are often more powerful than large flocks when starting a new line. You'll learn about mutation theory, meiosis, recombination, and other mechanisms often misunderstood in the breeding world.

If you've ever asked: "Is it really possible to create a pure strain?" This episode will give you the science—and strategy—you need to do exactly that.

Whether you're just starting your breeding journey or refining a long-standing line, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

#PureStrainBreeding #StrainCreation #GamefowlGenetics #GeneticImprovement #EvolutionInBreeding #MechanismsOfEvolution #BreedingScience #BetterBreedingMethods #BreedingPodcast

#GamefowlBreeding #ChickenBreeding #TrueStrainBreeding #BredToPerfection #PoultryBreedingScience #BreedingBetterBirds #SelectiveBreeding #BreedWithPurpose

Join us on Bred to Perfection Live, Friday's at 6pm PST or 9pm EST on YouTube, as we discuss the benefits of creating your own strain.

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

One is temporary, the other is long lasting, but which is best?

As a breeder, you have many tools that you can use to create and improve your strain. None are more important, or have the force to move your strain forward than that of Prepotency. The problem is, for many breeders, Hybrid Vigor gets all the credit. The truth of the matter, Prepotency and Hybrid Vigor are both incredible forces of nature, but are on opposite sides of the same coin. One is long lasting, and is passed down to future generations, while the other is short lived and can't be reproduced or repeated.

Listen in as we discuss the Powers of Prepotency, or the Allure of Hybrid Vigor, and how you can use these forces to improve the quality and performance of your strains. This is a show you do not want to miss!

We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl.

If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place.

We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl.

If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, Kenny and Nancy Troiano break down the foundational principles every chicken and gamefowl breeder needs to master to build a true strain. From selecting your seed fowl — your "Adam and Eve" — to identifying genetically weak birds, managing inbreeding, and preserving vital traits like broodiness, this episode is your roadmap to breeding success.

We debunk common myths, reveal the science behind prepotency and mitochondrial DNA, and share time-tested strategies for creating a consistent, high-performance bloodline. Whether you're just starting or refining your own strain, this is your guide to breeding with purpose, precision, and long-term vision.

• How to choose the right foundation pair
• What traits to cull — and why it matters
• The truth about inbreeding (and how to use it wisely)
• Why natural incubation still matters
• And much more!

Join the movement of breeders who are building better birds — one generation at a time.

#GamefowlBreeding #ChickenBreeding #TrueStrainBreeding #BredToPerfection #PoultryBreedingScience #BreedingBetterBirds #SelectiveBreeding #BreedWithPurpose

Join us on Bred to Perfection Live, Friday's at 6pm PST or 9pm EST on YouTube, as we discuss the benefits of creating your own strain.

See ya there!

Kenny Troiano

Founder of "The Breeders Academy"

We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl.

If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place.

We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl.

If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com

In this episode, we break down everything chicken and gamefowl breeders need to know about Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) — a fast-moving respiratory virus that threatens, not only your flock's health, but also the integrity of your bloodlines and breeding program.

From swollen heads and foamy eyes to plummeting egg production and fertility issues, aMPV can wreak havoc in both commercial and small-scale breeding operations if not caught early and managed properly.

We'll cover:

• What aMPV is and why it's a growing threat in the U.S.
• Subtypes and where they're spreading across poultry-producing states
• Clinical signs in chickens, turkeys, and gamefowl
• How the virus spreads — and why your own boots might be the culprit
• Treatment options and the real value of supportive care
• Essential prevention strategies: biosecurity, vaccination, and flock management
• How aMPV can derail your breeding progress and set back your strain development

Whether you're raising birds for show, breeding champions, or producing for the table, this episode arms you with the vital knowledge to detect, prevent, and fight back against one of today's most disruptive poultry diseases.

Your bloodlines are only as strong as your biosecurity. Don't miss this one.

#GamefowlBreeding #PoultryHealth #AvianMetapneumovirus #FlockManagement #BiosecurityMatters #ProtectYourBloodlines

Join us on Bred to Perfection Live, Friday's at 6pm PST or 9pm EST on YouTube, as we discuss the benefits of creating your own strain.

See ya there!

Kenny Troiano

Founder of "The Breeders Academy"

We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl.

If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place.

We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl.

If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we dive into one of the biggest challenges breeders face—controlling and eliminating rats and mice. These pesky rodents can wreak havoc on your farm by contaminating feed, damaging infrastructure, and even threatening the health of your birds. Join us as we discuss the different types of rats—Norway rats and Roof rats—and how they behave around your farm. Learn about the diseases they can spread, the damage they can cause, and most importantly, effective strategies for controlling and preventing infestations. From rodent-proofing your farm to using natural predators, we've got tips and tricks to help you keep your strain safe and your farm running smoothly. Tune in to ensure your birds stay healthy and your farm stays rodent-free!

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.

Join us on Bred to Perfection Live, Friday's at 6pm PST or 9pm EST on YouTube, as we discuss the benefits of creating your own strain.

See ya there!

Kenny Troiano

Founder of "The Breeders Academy"

We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl.

If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place.

We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl.

If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com

In this episode, we talk about line-breeding—one of the most effective and powerful methods used by breeders to create superior bloodlines and stabilize favorable traits over generations. Whether you're breeding domestic chickens, gamefowl or dogs, understanding line-breeding is key to creating a consistent, high-performing strain. But, like any breeding method, it's not without its problems and misconceptions.

We'll start by breaking down the crucial difference between breeding methods (like line-breeding) and breeding programs, and explain how line-breeding fits into a broader strategy. We'll also touch on what makes line-breeding unique, including its ability to reinforce desirable traits, such as conformation and overall performance, while also addressing the potential pitfalls if not done correctly.

You'll learn:

• What line-breeding is—and how it differs from inbreeding, backcrossing, and other methods.
• Why the selection and culling process is absolutely essential for success.
• How to manage the balance between genetic purity and diversity to avoid risks like inbreeding depression and genetic bottlenecks.
• How far to take your line-breeding—what's too much and when to stop.
• And so much more, including how to incorporate line-breeding into a broader breeding program, such as the Founder's Program, and ensure long-term genetic improvement!

Line-breeding isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, and it's not for the faint of heart—it requires a deep understanding of genetics, a commitment to ongoing education, and a willingness to invest in the future of your bloodline. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced breeder, this episode is packed with insights to help you navigate the complexity of line-breeding and make better breeding decisions.

Tune in to learn how to create and improve your strain for future generations!

Let the molt reveal the strength of your line — not the weaknesses of your management.

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.

Join us on Bred to Perfection Live, Friday's at 6pm PST or 9pm EST on YouTube, as we discuss the benefits of creating your own strain.

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

For serious gamefowl breeders and poultry keepers, molt isn't just a downtime — it's a genetic checkpoint and a vital phase that shapes your birds' future health, performance, and breeding value. Yet many breeders unknowingly sabotage this crucial period with one common misstep: dropping protein and cutting weight too aggressively.

In this episode, we break down:

• What actually happens during the molt — physically, nutritionally, and behaviorally
• The risks of underfeeding fit birds during feather regrowth
• Why dropping protein and forcing weight loss can lead to brittle feathers, extended molt duration, weakened immunity, and long-term performance decline
• Smart, supportive strategies to help your birds recover fast and come back stronger
• How proper molt management preserves your bloodline's resilience, immune strength, and conditioning foundation

Whether you're aiming to maintain show-quality birds or prepare top-performing gamefowl for next season, understanding how to feed, condition, and support your flock during molt is non-negotiable. This isn't just a feeding issue — it's a breeding strategy.

Key Takeaway: Don't starve your birds to "reset" them — support them to rebuild stronger.

Feed smart. Condition wisely. Breed for resilience. Let the molt reveal the strength of your line — not the weaknesses of your management.

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.

Join us on Bred to Perfection Live, Friday's at 6pm PST or 9pm EST on YouTube, as we discuss the benefits of creating your own strain.

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