Kenny Troiano

Kenny Troiano hosts an episode of “Bred to Perfection” with his wife Nancy and guest Tony Saville discuss their long friendship, and how Tony influenced his understanding of gamefowl structure, selection, and preservation onto Kenny. Tony, 82, describes his background in gamefowl judging (including South Africa and the Oxford Old English Game Fowl Club), his American Gamefowl Society, and his concern about unqualified judges and people trying to “improve” breeds away from true type. They criticize efforts to change the breed name to “American Pit Game,” debate comb/type and APA standard inclusion, and strongly oppose allowing “progressive white,” citing a Brian Reeder segment explaining it as harmful, hard to eliminate, and worsening over generations.

This episode of Bred to Perfection with Kenny Troiano features a discussion on breeding selection, maintaining true breed type, and the dangers of adding new blood as a shortcut instead of using proper breeding programs. Kenny and Tony highlight long-established, true-breeding gamefowl families and explain how poor selection, not inbreeding depression, often causes shrinking size and declining quality. A major focus is progressive whitening, distinguished from dominant and recessive white, including how it can appear as white in wings or tails, worsen with age, be difficult to eliminate, and weaken birds by affecting melanin-related body functions such as immunity, fertility, egg production, and eggshell quality. They argue standards should not legitimize white faults, and emphasize strict culling and selection to preserve and improve the breed.

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, Kenny Troiano, founder of the Breeders Academy, and his wife Nancy discuss how to build and identify a true breeding strain of chickens and gamefowl. They address common questions on selecting the right birds, the time required to establish a breeding strain, and the importance of genetic consistency and predictability. The episode highlights methods, such as inbreeding, line-breeding, and clan mating, while emphasizing the pitfalls of introducing new bloodlines. They also offer practical advice on maintaining biosecurity, setting breeding goals, and the long-term patience required for successful poultry breeding.

In this episode of Bred to Perfection, hosts Kenny Troiano and his wife Nancy are joined by Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo to discuss the Gamefowl Wellness Program, focusing on managing avian diseases among gamefowl breeders in Southern California. Dr. Gallardo talks about the details of the Newcastle Disease, avian leukosis, and how the program provides veterinary services, disease prevention, and vaccination strategies. The conversation highlights the challenges of differentiating between avian leukosis and Marek’s disease, vertical and horizontal disease transmission, and the importance of biosecurity, proper management, and targeted breeding for disease resistance. The podcast also covers practical advice for poultry breeders on testing, quarantine, and maintaining healthy breeding flocks to prevent future outbreaks.

Kenny Troiano and his wife Nancy host “Bred to Perfection,” discussing breeding-program outline and announcing guest Tony Saville will return June 12th for multiple episodes, including debate on topics like inbreeding and the American Gamefowl standard. Kenny vents about a Facebook dispute over a group attempting to enter American Gamefowl into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection, criticizing their proposed variety (light red with yellow leg), pea-comb inclusion, allowance of progressive white, and renaming to “American Pit Game,” and says he was dismissed as an “internet expert.” He argues standards require uniformity, repeatability, and breeding away from white defects, and plans to work with Brian Reeder to publish education on progressive white. The show ends with Q&A on feather picking, skittish chicks, culling at any age, creating strains from trios or crosses, and color genetics.