08/28/2026
A little breeder transparency.
Serious breeders should be willing to divulge the issues theyāre facing, the progress theyāre making, and the work that still needs to be done within their lines.
I might lose a potential sale by āscaringā someone away with honesty, but to me, integrity and transparency will always mean more than a dollar.
So, here it is. This is where Iām at:
Salmon Faverolles Bantams:
Almost at 4 years. I donāt consider these my line yet. They are birds I was privileged to obtain from a couple of wonderful ladies. I know the pros and cons. I mostly know what needs to be improved, however, there are way more knowledgeable people out there who have been working with these guys longer.
Black Copper Marans ā LF:
Iāve had some setbacks this year, but Iāve also had some progress. Iām honestly on the fence about whether or not I want to continue with these guys. Iām more of a bantam girl at heart, but I absolutely love these birds. They are not āmy line.ā I simply havenāt been working with them long enough to put my own thumbprint on them.
Black Copper Marans ā Bantams:
I was honored to receive a couple of trios from the great Skip Bittner last summer. If you donāt know who he is, youāre at a disadvantage. He is absolutely wonderful, incredibly knowledgeable, and more than willing to help others grow. These guys arenāt going anywhere. I can only hope to make Skip proud. Not my line. They are Skipās.
Ayam Cemani:
Iāve been working with these the longest. They are my blood, sweat, and tears breed. Iām right at year 6 with them. I still donāt know if I consider them my Cemanisāmaybe next year. There is still a heavy influence from the wonderful breeders whose genetics Iām working with, and Iām continuing to tweak and develop what I hope will eventually become distinctly my line.
Kikiriki:
Phew. Are you kidding me? š These guys make me scratch my head. Iām seeing a lot more consistency, but the genetics in these birds are absolutely crazy. They are most definitely not āmy line,ā but Iām committed to them.
Creating your own line takes tons of work.
Thereās the research. The note-taking. The meticulous observation. The disappointments. The sleepless nights. The second-guessing yourself.
And then thereās the excitement. The heartache. The moments when you see youāre actually getting somewhere. Itās all worth it when you look at your birds and see the progression.
Some seasons are better than others. Some seasons humble you. Some seasons make you question everything.
But as long as there is progress, there is purpose.
And at the end of the day, seeing that progression in your birds is what makes every bit of the work worth it.
