Old English Games: A chicken breed across history
Think of the iconic barnyard rooster: brightly colored, standing tall and alert, curved tail flowing behind him. That’s the Old English Game. They, and other related European gamefowl, are among the oldest Western chicken breeds. They share the distinction with…
History of the Cochin Chicken Breed
Cochin Chickens arrived in England from China in the 19th century and have been a sensation ever since. Their soft, fluffy feathers, covering them down to the feet and beyond, are irresistible. Here at Purely Poultry we offer Hatchery Choice,…
The Dubbing Debate: Should You Dub Game Birds for Exhibition?
People are usually ready to share their opinions, whether asked or not. Well, when the topic is the dubbing of game birds for exhibition, people have strong opinions! What Is Dubbing? Dubbing is the practice of cutting off the comb,…
Gamefowl – Beautiful and Historically Important
Gamefowl have always intrigued me because they are beautiful and because they represent part of the history of poultry keeping. My fascination with these chickens started when I received Black Breasted Red Cubalayas in assortment order of chicks from Duane…
History of the American Poultry Association
The APA began as an association for those breeders. Showing their birds and winning competitions helped the breeders because they could tell their customers “This bird is directly descended from the bird that won the XYZ prize at the 19XX American Poultry Association Show.” The shows and competitions were so popular that, in the beginning, more birds than could be judged were brought in. The first couple of competitions didn’t work out because there were too many birds, not enough judges, and no standard by which the birds could be judged.
