Sadly we now live in an instant gratification age, and intensive breeding to SOP simply doesn't provide that. And, to be blunt, there's a whole lotta ignorance out there. On a few other threads I sometimes peak in on the main discussions are about painting their hen's toenails, dying their feathers hot pink, and other topics that leave me with mouth agape. One young woman who'd been holding a long discussion with me suddenly decided that I must be pure evil because 1) I actually butcher some of my birds for meat, and 2) I don't bury a dead chicken in a grave marked with at least a painted river rock if one dies unexpectedly while I'm away. Seriously....that was the basis of her judgement.
Last year I finally managed to acquire hatching eggs of my coveted breed, Silver Grey Dorkings. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I've been to start working to preserve and improve this breed and have read the SOP requirements for this bird so many times I can practically recite it verbatim. But a recent health issue gave me time to step out of my own head and actually listen to what other people are saying about the breed, and what I'm hearing is discouraging to the point where I wonder if my ambitions will be worth the effort. Committing to this kind of breeding program requires sacrifice, and as was stated above, when I die all of my efforts may simply die with me. That's beyond discouraging. These are noble breeds deserving of respect and preservation, and they're being ignored and rejected in favor of fanciful feathers and trend of the moment. It's just sad.
Last year I finally managed to acquire hatching eggs of my coveted breed, Silver Grey Dorkings. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I've been to start working to preserve and improve this breed and have read the SOP requirements for this bird so many times I can practically recite it verbatim. But a recent health issue gave me time to step out of my own head and actually listen to what other people are saying about the breed, and what I'm hearing is discouraging to the point where I wonder if my ambitions will be worth the effort. Committing to this kind of breeding program requires sacrifice, and as was stated above, when I die all of my efforts may simply die with me. That's beyond discouraging. These are noble breeds deserving of respect and preservation, and they're being ignored and rejected in favor of fanciful feathers and trend of the moment. It's just sad.