Preserving the strange and unusual, and the evolution and death of our modern fowl
Ancient people had no interest in standards of uniformity, and they would preserve the strange and unusual, or abnormal birds. As a result, new types would evolve. They also looked for birds with beneficial traits that were, not so much highly desired, but beneficial for the period.
Eventually others would recognize their productive qualities and the fowl would evolve. In the case of meat, some birds might be larger, weighting two or three pounds more than the common fowl of the times. In time, the variations would extend to such things as better egg-laying capabilities.
In short, the poultry keeper of the time would stumble across the unusual or uncommon fowl that had the traits that happen to be beneficial; they would keep these birds as breeders, and their eggs would be hatched and the chicks raised. And, as traits changed, they would continue to select the traits that were beneficial and discard or cull the ones that were disadvantageous or harmful. In the process, breeders soon learned the benefits of picking out the best birds and breeding from them.
However, since the fowl were often bought and sold, they moved from breeder to breeder. Not only would different breeders select for different traits, their environments would also change, and so would the fowl, and so they quickly evolved once again.
Special note of interest: There is no record, as far as I know, of the ancients keeping fowls for shows to win prizes for beauty, or if they were kept for their economic qualities, therefore, since fowl were mostly raised for sport, selection must have been based on the idea of improving those qualities. It wasn’t until later in time that their productive qualities would become important. In fact, the commercial poultry industry wasn’t a factor until the late 1800’s.
As you can see, the breeders of the past were not influenced by uniformity of color, or common breed characteristics, but more by novelties and uniqueness. It is also easy to see how and why fowl with unusual or abnormal appearances were produced and, in some cases, carefully preserved. This kind of selection is what I call “unconscious selection” and works fine, but takes many years, even centuries to make beneficial and desirable traits dominant. This type of selection is a slow process.
Whether we owe form and function to environmental conditions or to the selection of mutants (the occasional appearance of abnormal characters), the slow process of unconscious selection, or survival of the fittest, it doesn’t really matter, for it is what we do with them today that matters most.
That was yesterday. Today, we have a real problem, and that is, we don’t have breeders that know and understand the American Games, and the true structure of the breed. From what I see today, there is no selection going on, whatsoever. What selection is occurring is based on Old Wives Tales and Superstitions, or by breeders who don’t understand the true conformation and structure of the breed. The American Games are losing their identity. If you look on Facebook, you will see what I’m talking about. Most birds look like Aseel Mutations, not American Games. They have the wrong type, and conformation of body. Their plumage and color are completely wrong, and they have tons of defects to boot!
Most breeders don’t realize it, but they are producing nothing but mongrels. When you talk to them about breeding, they don’t understand or use proper breeding programs. Most use crossbreeding as their only method of breeding, and then cross, and cross again and again. Even with all that crossing, they still use the Names of Strain to describe their fowl.
We have created a real mess of everything, and it’s time to get serious about breeding, and to create true strains again. In short, we need to become breeders again. Stop crossing and infusing outside blood. Take the time to learn what it takes to create, improve and maintain a strain. Stop acting like a breeder, and learn what it takes to become a real breeder. Not just someone who puts two chickens together to see what you get.
I suggest that you start by obtaining the best fowl possible, and improve them through proper selective breeding practices. Learn what makes up the idea American Games and create a strain that best represents the breed. It’s time to become breeders again.
