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PODCAST

Bred to Perfection

Bred to Perfection is a podcast that will help you to master the art of selective breeding, and become a master breeder of chickens and gamefowl. The podcast is hosted by Kenny and Nancy Troiano. Kenny Troiano has more than 40 years of experience, and has authored two books on the subject of breeding. If you are interested in creating, maintaining, and improve your strain, this is the place for you.

science natural sciences

All Episodes

01:20:33

Ep306 - Breeding Methods Explained: What separates a...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/10/05

Understanding why, when, and how to use the right breeding method. In this episode of Bred to Perfection, Kenny Troiano and Nancy take an in-depth look at the major breeding methods used by serious poultry and gamefowl breeders, and explain why no single method should be relied upon indefinitely. Each method has a specific purpose, and each must be applied at the right stage, for the right length of time, within a structured breeding program. The discussion begins with crossbreeding, including the

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01:05:34

Ep305 - Unlocking Genetic Potential Through the Power...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/09/28

What does it take to turn a lifetime of breeding experience into a library of respected reference books? Unlocking fertility, hatchability, immunity, and Making of Great Bloodlines through smart vitamin supplementation. This is not about supplements, it's about providing the proper nutrition for your Brood Fowl and their growing and developing offspring. In this episode, we will talk about one of the most overlooked, but most powerful tools in poultry and gamefowl breeding: vitamins. Building on the

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01:05:36

Ep304 - Isolation and the Consequences of Gene Flow

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/09/21

The Essential Factor in Creating and Improving a True Strain How controlling Gene Flow preserves traits, accelerates selective breeding, and reveals the same evolutionary forces that drive Speciation In this episode, we explore one of the most powerful, and often overlooked tools in selective breeding: Isolation. Whether breeders are working with livestock like Chickens, or Gamefowl, controlling who breeds with whom is what turns ordinary populations into reliable, high-performance strains. We break

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01:02:36

Ep303 – Writing the Champion Row Series: Jeff Duguay...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/09/14

What does it take to turn a lifetime of breeding experience into a library of respected reference books? In this episode, we sit down with poultry breeder, author, and publisher Jeff Duguay, the creator of the acclaimed Making It to Champion Row series. While Jeff is widely known for his expertise in exhibition poultry, this conversation goes beyond the birds and into the story behind the books. Jeff shares how a passion for raising chickens evolved into a mission to preserve knowledge, document

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47:32

Ep302 – The Mindset of a True Breeder: How...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/09/07

Why great breeding starts in the mind, not in the pen. Experience alone doesn't make a master breeder, mindset does. In this episode, we explore how pride, misinformation, and closed-mindedness can destroy more bloodlines than bad feed ever could. Discover what it truly means to be a breeder who learns, listens, and evolves. From understanding genetics and recognizing real experts, to avoiding "overnight teachers" and peddlers, this episode will challenge how you think about breeding, and how your

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01:20:20

Ep301 - Building Stronger Bloodlines from the Inside Out

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/08/31

The Critical Role of Gut Health in Poultry Breeding In this episode, we talk about one of the most powerful yet often overlooked factors in breeding high-performance chickens and gamefowl: gut health. Whether you're focused on conditioning show birds, raising hardy yard breeders, or developing elite strains, this episode uncovers how gut microbiota, probiotics, water quality, and stress management directly impact bird health, immunity, and genetic potential. We'll explore: How the gut acts as a

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37:47

Ep300 - The 3 Laws of Selective Breeding

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/08/24

Beyond Best of the Best - The Science of Breeding Excellence What does it really take to build, improve, and preserve a successful breeding strain? It's much more than simply putting two good birds together, or following the idea of "breeding the best to the best." In this episode, I reveal the 3 Laws of Selective Breeding that transformed the way I approached breeding: Selective Breeding & Systematic Breeding Programs, Evolutionary Biology, and Genetics & Inheritance. I'll share how I went from

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49:30

Surviving the Summer Heat: Essential Tips for Chicken...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/08/17

Summer heat can take a serious toll on breeding flocks, affecting everything from egg production and fertility to the overall health and survival of your birds. In this episode of the Bred to Perfection podcast, host Kenny Troiano sits down with renowned poultry expert Peter Brown, better known as the "Chicken Doctor," to discuss practical, proven strategies for helping chickens thrive during hot weather. Together, they explore how heat stress impacts poultry, the early warning signs every breeder

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01:12:22

Proper Care During the Molting Season

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/08/10

Why Our Birds Need Extra Attention at this Time of Year When do our birds require the utmost care and consideration? The answer is during the molt. This crucial period is marked by significant stress as birds undergo a complex process of feather renewal, muscle replenishment, and bone repair. Both cocks and hens experience this challenging phase, making it an essential aspect of their overall health. While many view molting as a negative phase, it actually presents an opportunity for improvement. As

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01:13:30

Managing the Molt - The Costly Mistake of Cutting...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/08/03

For serious gamefowl breeders and poultry keepers, molt isn't just a downtime, it's a genetic checkpoint and a vital phase that shapes your birds' future health, performance, and breeding value. Yet many breeders unknowingly sabotage this crucial period with one common misstep: dropping protein and cutting weight too aggressively. In this episode, we break down: What actually happens during the molt, physically, nutritionally, and behaviorally The risks of underfeeding fit birds during feather

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01:27:22

Ep299 - Tony Saville and the Future of American Games

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/07/27

For the first time ever, we welcome Anthony "Tony" Saville, a man whose influence on the American Gamefowl world runs deep. You've heard his voice in past episodes, but now you'll experience him in real time as he shares decades of knowledge, insight, and hard-earned wisdom. This isn't just another interview, it's a masterclass. Tony Saville is a renowned authority on Old English and American Gamefowl, founder of the American Gamefowl Society, author of American Game Fowl Standards, and a respected

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53:05

Ep298 - The Progressive White Debate: Science vs....

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/07/20

Today, we're sharing a prerecorded conversation I had with Brian Reeder about Progressive White, a deleterious trait that is affecting many poultry breeds and varieties, particularly American Games. Unfortunately, many breeders either don't believe Progressive White is a problem or are intentionally breeding to perpetuate the trait within their bloodlines. Even more concerning, there is a movement to have American Games accepted into the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection with

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01:35:03

Fan Favorite Episode - Wry Tails, Squirrel Tails and...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/07/13

Join Kenny Troiano and his co-hosts, Nancy Troiano and Frank Bradley – as they talk about the Art of Selective Breeding, and what it takes to create a strain. We address issues that affect breeders, just like you. In this episode of "Bred to Perfection Live," we are going to discuss questions that I have asked my followers and members on my Facebook Page to contemplate, and today we are here to answer those questions. This is a show you do not want to miss! We specialize in breeding, and breeding

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58:59

Ep297 – Building a True Strain: The Long Game of...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/07/06

What does it really take to build a bloodline that lasts generations? In this episode of Bred to Perfection, Kenny and Nancy Troiano uncover the long-term strategies behind creating a true breeding strain of chickens and gamefowl. If you're tired of unpredictable results and want to establish a flock that breeds uniform, consistent, and reliable offspring, this episode is for you. You'll learn: How to select your ideal foundation pair ("Adam & Eve") What makes a strain "true breeding" and how to

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58:00

Ep296 - Bloodlines Under Threat: What Every Breeder...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/06/29

In this eye-opening episode of Bred to Perfection, hosts Kenny and Nancy Troiano sit down with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo, veterinary pathologist and avian disease expert, to uncover one of the most dangerous and overlooked threats in poultry breeding: Avian Leukosis Virus (ALV). Whether you're building a high-performance gamefowl strain, preserving heritage bloodlines, or improving your backyard flock, ALV could be silently sabotaging your work. In this must-listen episode, we dive deep into: What Avian

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01:08:10

Ep295 - Progressive White - The Silent Threat to...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/06/22

A discussion that addresses the Challenges, Standards, and Solutions Bred to Perfection: The Progressive White Problem, Standards Debate & Breeding Q&A In this episode, Kenny Troiano and his wife Nancy return and provide updates and announce that Tony Saville will be back on June 12 for a multi-episode discussion tackling some of the most debated topics in the gamefowl world, including inbreeding and the American Gamefowl standard. Kenny shares his frustration over a heated Facebook dispute

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01:49:04

Ep225 - Building Better Bloodlines: An Inside Look at...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/06/21

Have you ever wondered what it's really like to be a member of the Breeders Academy? In this special episode of Bred to Perfection, hosts Kenny Troiano and Nancy Troiano, take you behind the scenes for an exclusive tour of the Breeders Academy website and show you why it has become one of the most comprehensive educational resources available for gamefowl, poultry, and animal breeders. Whether you're just getting started or you're an experienced breeder looking to improve your breeding program, this

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01:30:19

Ep294 - Breeding Bulletproof Bloodlines - The Science...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/06/15

How selective breeding, natural immunity, and smart management create healthier, stronger, long-lasting strains. In this episode, we will talk about one of the most important, and often misunderstood, topics in chicken and gamefowl breeding: developing true, natural disease resistance within your bloodlines. We break down why disease resistance is a polygenic trait, how epigenetics and mitochondrial DNA shape health, and why selective breeding paired with ruthless culling is the breeder's most

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01:16:19

Ep293 - Purity and Show Go Hand-in-Hand: Why the Best...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/06/08

In this episode, we break down one of the most misunderstood topics in the breeding of chickens and gamefowl: the supposed divide between pure birds, show birds, and performance birds. Spoiler, when breeding is done right, these aren't three different birds. They are the same bird, shaped through balanced selection, structural correctness, health, vigor, and strict adherence to the breed standard. We explore how true strains are built, not bought, through generations of disciplined selection,

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54:03

Ep292 - How to Select the Proper Brood Fowl: A Five...

Bred to Perfection ·

2026/06/01

A Guide for Chicken and Gamefowl Breeders Are you ready to take your breeding program to the next level? In this episode, host Kenny Troiano and co-host Frank Bradley talk about the heart of what makes a true breeder: selection. Based on Kenny's proven, five-stage method, this episode of Bred to Perfection is your blueprint for choosing the right brood fowl, whether you're starting a new strain or improving an existing one. You'll learn how to go beyond surface-level traits and evaluate birds with a

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