Bissonnette Acres

10/13/2026

So we've been without a washer and dryer for a hot minute, and today we finally had them delivered! 🙌

The pair of gentlemen who delivered our appliances happened to be a traveling delivery team, meaning they travel to different locations throughout the country and spend an allotted amount of time running deliveries for Lowe's.

Both men were from Los Angeles and enjoying the change of pace here in Arkansas.

As they unloaded the washer and dryer into the garage, they quickly noticed all the brooders and chicks and asked if I was "into chickens"...

Ohhh boy, am I "into chickens"! 🤪

I explained that I work with and breed chickens and that, from time to time, when I have availability, I sell and ship them.

That's when the younger of the two asked what breeds I had. I shared that my primary focus is a breed they might not be familiar with - the Ayam Cemani.

"They're known for their black coloring - skin, meat, bones, and some organs."

That's when his eyes immediately lit up.

"OH, I KNOW THOSE!! I'VE SEEN THOSE ONLINE!"

I gestured toward the shop down the drive and explained that I actually had a few birds conditioning for an upcoming show this fall. He excitedly asked if they could see them.

Once we made our way down to the shop, he took one look at the birds and asked if he could grab his phone to take pictures. He came running back and excitedly snapped photos of every bird in the shop, a huge smile on his face..

I share all of this to say that, as excited as they were to see this breed - I was even more excited and grateful to share this moment with them.

Because I needed that moment so much more than they did.

To see the awe and wonder in someone else's eyes was a beautiful reminder of those first few years when I started working with this breed.

The excitement.
The awe.
The reverence.

It's not that I no longer revere my birds, but sometimes, when we see and work with something every single day, even something rare and extraordinary can become familiar to us. And in that familiarity, we can lose sight of just how remarkable it is.

I needed that reflection of excitement and elation to reconnect with what inspired me in the first place and to strengthen that sense of gratitude within me again.

How blessed I have been to work with this unique breed all these years. And how blessed I have been to be entrusted with the care of these incredible creatures, so intricately designed by our Creator.

How blessed we all are to care for God's creations.

"And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth..." Genesis 1:26

"A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast..."
Proverbs 12:10

"For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills." Psalm 50:10-11

May we never become so accustomed to the blessings in our lives that we forget to see the wonder in them.

May we be good stewards of all that has been entrusted to us, and may we remember to give thanks to the One who ultimately allows us this great privilege❤️

10/09/2026

Baby bath brush for washing birds????

This is a great tool for legs and feet!

10/09/2026

Showboy says he’s too old for this shhhhiii*

Bath time 🛁 for the birdies 🐓🖤

10/07/2026

What in the frizzle is going on with this bottle brush hen??

(to clarify she is not a true frizzle - but a very loose feathered bottle brush.. I’m being dramatic)

Every once in awhile you get those oddballs creeping out of the genetic woodworks 🙃🤪🤣

Don’t get me wrong - I love her.
She has fantastic fibro, beautiful comb, calm temperament, and good type under all those feathers…

She will definitely be sticking around here for a bit longer.

I'd also like to take the opportunity to point out why bottlebrush feathering is not ideal for exhibition poultry. Not only are we trying to breed for tighter, intact, hard feathers, but bottle brush expression can vary considerably, with relatively little consistency from bird to bird, and the feathers themselves tend to be more brittle and prone to fraying, breakage, and overall a less finished appearance...
However, this girl is just something else 🤪

10/07/2026

These are the combs I want to consistently produce on my females.
Uplifted, straight, and strong.

Show me your hen combs you’re proud of!

10/06/2026

While it may not be your typical fall here, we are still enjoying these cooler moments; playing with chickens, making new memories together, and laughing at the old ones we share..

10/04/2026

If you’re in the area, stop on by and say hi to the Ayam Cemani Breeders Association!!

We’re kicking off the season at the Green River Poultry Club Show this Saturday, October 10th.
I’ll have the ACBA table set up, so if you’re there, come by and say hi. It’s a great chance to learn more about the Ayam Cemani breed, what the association does, membership, breeder resources, and more.
Whether you already raise Cemani or you’ve just been curious about the breed, stop by. We’d love to meet you, answer questions, and officially get show season rolling.
See you Saturday at the ACBA table.

10/04/2026

When evaluating the five point single comb described in the Ayam Cemani Standard of Perfection, the ideal is a comb with five distinct, well developed points with deep, clean serrations between them and extending well off the back of the head.

However, not every comb will develop perfectly.

A point may be shallow, uneven, partially developed, or fail to fully separate from the neighboring point. This is what we refer to as an incomplete serration - a comb point that does not fully develop into a distinct, properly defined point.

You may also encounter combs with fewer or more than five points, shallow serrations, incorrect blade carriage, thumb Mark, twisted comb, or other minor irregularities. These should be evaluated as faults in relation to the breed standard rather than automatic disqualifications.

This is where it becomes important to understand the difference between a comb fault and a comb disqualification.

For single combed breeds, certain abnormalities are specifically identified as DQs. Examples include side sprigs, split combs/blades, and lopped combs. These are more serious breeding concerns because they are heritable abnormalities that can continue to appear in subsequent generations.

An incomplete serration or an unevenly developed comb point or blade is different. While these traits should certainly be considered when evaluating a bird, they are not automatically equivalent to a DQ just because the comb does not perfectly match the ideal.

The goal of the Standard of Perfection is to give breeders and exhibitors a clear picture of the ideal while also providing a framework for evaluating the entire bird. A comb that is slightly imperfect should not immediately overshadow an otherwise strong bird and candidate, just as an excellent comb does not make up for major deficiencies and shortcomings elsewhere.

It is importsnt for us to remember, that breeding is ultimately about balance, selection, and refinement.

A fault is not the same thing as a DQ, and a DQ is not something we should simply overlook because the rest of the bird is attractive. Understanding that distinction allows breeders to apply appropriate selection pressure without treating every imperfection as though it carries the same significance.

At the end of the day, breeding decisions come down to where you are in your program, what you have to work with, and how much time and dedication you are willing to invest in correcting faults and refining your flock.

However, we as stewards of the breed, we can't make informed breeding decisions without first understanding what we're looking at.

This is why it is so important to study poultry as a whole - invest in the American Poultry Association handbook and learn to identify the difference between an ideal trait, a minor fault, a significant fault, and an actual disqualification.

That knowledge allows us to make better decisions, apply selection pressure where it matters most, and continue moving the breed toward the standard without losing sight of the bird as a whole or culling yourself into a corner.

10/03/2026

Shout out to all the patient, loving, and protective LGDs out there - without our guardians, we wouldn’t have a flock ❤️