kentucky specks?

Its not surprising that no one from the University of Kentucky (especially Dr. Pescatore) knows anything of Kentucky Specks.
The girl who runs the poultry federation in KY has only been there a few years and she might recognized a chicken if you held up a picture of a big fat white broiler and gave her 3 guesses as to what it is.


The Iowa Dept of Ag has probably never heard of the Iowa Blue chicken either. They are not a recognized breed either. I wouldn't put much stock in what anyone from the government says about rare breed poultry. There are several breeds around that have never had enough support to make it into the Standards.

Just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Matt

I completely agree with Matt. I know this is off subject some, but feel it will apply. When I began my search on the Iowa Blue, I contacted state agencies, SPPA, APA, judges, put out local ads to locate remnant stock, etc. All of which came up empty. The only person who seemed to know anything about them was Glenn Drowns. Most organized groups/agencies knew nothing and if by chance one did hear something about the Iowa Blue, they dismissed the breed as a crossbred. This was very discouraging. However, I didn't let my investigation end there. I took what little information Glenn had about the breed and began to follow the "bread crumbs" and boy did that turn out to be and amazing journey. By hunting down every lead, I was able to locate who created the breed in the 1920's, ads that were placed in local newspapers from the 1950's, contacted two of the originator's grandsons who use to raise the breed as well as pictures of the original birds and early flocks. Over the course of 3 months I was able to put together a transfer of ownership from the orginator to our present flocks as well as much of the history of the breed (all of which was information that no one had taken the time to investigate and in their lack of seeking, chose to dismiss the breed as a mutt cross used to make a profit on unknowing individuals). All of this information was documented from first hand accounts (of which the interviews were recorded for future use), pictures of the original stock, listings from hatcheries that use to sell the Iowa Blue, as well as newpaper articles. And all this from a breed that "didn't exist" according to the APA, ALBC, SPPA, Iowa State Ag Department, etc. I have just completed a 49 page history about the Iowa Blue, containing the information that apparently didn't exist to some because it wasn't available online. My encouragement to you all is not to give up! Keep digging and hunt down EVERY lead no matter how small it initally appears!!! Had I not done that, today we would no nothing about the Iowa Blue history and the skeptics would still be claiming the breed never existed as a breed. All it takes is one person who is willing to do the dirty work, but I promise this, you will meet amazing people and learn fascinating details about your breed.

Anyone intersted in learning more about the Iowa Blue and it's history can check out the Iowa Blue Chicken Club website in my signature and click on the Historical Archives link. There you will find a treasure trove of information about this amazing breed.

Good Luck on your search and enjoy the journey! It's what takes chicken raising to the next level....
 
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I honestly have bred these and yes they breed true and are a form a game bantam from my experience with them however i lost my 3 yr old breeding pen back in 2008, but i never knew of them until i obtained my stock from a guy who only dealt with not so common breeds while i lived in eastern KY...
 
Hello! Anyone? I was given a Kentucky Speck and would like more information and possibly a male for her.
 

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