The American Cemani Breeders Club...open forum

[cjwaldon]

So I emailed Feather Lover Farms about their AC's and they responded to every question I had within minutes...until I asked where they imported their "new" bloodline from, then they ceased communication all together. Just to be sure that they were avoiding that question, I emailed them from another email address with more general questions about their flock and once again they answered within 20 minutes or so and ceased communication when I asked if they had any proof that their new flock had been imported as their website claims. I've read that some people here have had great experiences with them, but that seems a little suspicious.

interesting . . . . thanks for sharing.

 

[Backyard Hobby]

interesting . . . . thanks for sharing.

No problem, it's really a shame though. They have great looking birds on their website.

 

[Pyxis]

I wonder if possibly they are either not imports and are just birds that they bred from GFF birds or if they're illegal imports - both things would cause them to clam up about it, I'm sure. Thanks for the info, I was thinking about getting some of that line down the road possibly, but probably not now.

 

[cjwaldon]

They could be Banko line. And that in itself raises yet more questions.

 

[Ravynscroft]

What, may I ask, is Banko line? I did read through the whole thread and know about Bean/Smithsonian line but haven't heard that one?

 

[Backyard Hobby]

I wonder if possibly they are either not imports and are just birds that they bred from GFF birds or if they're illegal imports - both things would cause them to clam up about it, I'm sure. Thanks for the info, I was thinking about getting some of that line down the road possibly, but probably not now.

I had the same thought. I'm trying to find some good stock to start off with, I may end up having to wait until spring so that I have more options to choose from. As it stands, I'm tempted to buy some of FLF's GFF stock but just can't make myself support them when they aren't being forthcoming with transparency.

What, may I ask, is Banko line? I did read through the whole thread and know about Bean/Smithsonian line but haven't heard that one?

Wondering this too!

 

[cjwaldon]

What, may I ask, is Banko line? I did read through the whole thread and know about Bean/Smithsonian line but haven't heard that one?

In a nutshell, Bank claims to have pure Indo birds imported before the ban. He doesn't get on forums like BYC or FB, doesn't ship, sells directly only to a chosen few who will pick up in person, doesn't provide any proof of importation. When I inquired with a friend who had spoken with Banko, I was given some reasons that just didn't add up. But be that as it may, there is another line out there that is currently the "must have" line for those serious about breeding AC. This line, I am told, has black specks on the inside of the shell, presumably on the membrane, after chicks hatch, and that is how you can tell they are true Indo birds. Since he is not NPIP, nor is anybody I'm aware of that currently has that line, I have not acquired that line so I cannot provide any other opinions about it.

 

[Backyard Hobby]

In a nutshell, Bank claims to have pure Indo birds imported before the ban. He doesn't get on forums like BYC or FB, doesn't ship, sells directly only to a chosen few who will pick up in person, doesn't provide any proof of importation. When I inquired with a friend who had spoken with Banko, I was given some reasons that just didn't add up. But be that as it may, there is another line out there that is currently the "must have" line for those serious about breeding AC. This line, I am told, has black specks on the inside of the shell, presumably on the membrane, after chicks hatch, and that is how you can tell they are true Indo birds. Since he is not NPIP, nor is anybody I'm aware of that currently has that line, I have not acquired that line so I cannot provide any other opinions about it.

If FLF's "new imports" were actually Banko line, and it's hard to get, it seems like it would benefit them to advertise that fact. Then again, advertising a newly imported bloodline is an effective marketing gimmick in itself.

 

[Pyxis]

I talked to someone once who said they got some eggs from Banko. He was telling them that he had had them since the beginning, before the ban, and had bred them himself until they were as good as they are. The person I talked to said though that they "were sworn to secrecy" which seems odd to do if he had the birds legally, and that he was describing them as having very different plumage than the other lines in the country, almost like hair over the bird's neck and shoulders. This person had been sent 3 eggs by him. And he told this person that the original birds "weren't even supposed to be in the USA" which does not sound very legal to me. It was also said by this person that the reason he doesn't sell them is because they are his chickens and he "doesn't want them to get out".

It then came out from the person I was talking to when they wanted to sell these birds to me later that they were actually out of birds imported from Indonesia only one year before, which would have been 2014, so definitely after the ban.

So that's all I know about it.

 

[Pyxis]

In a nutshell, Bank claims to have pure Indo birds imported before the ban.  He doesn't get on forums like BYC or FB,  doesn't ship, sells directly only to a chosen few who will pick up in person, doesn't provide any proof of importation.  When I inquired with a friend who had spoken with Banko, I was given some reasons that just didn't add up.  But be that as it may, there is another line out there that is currently the "must have" line for those serious about breeding AC.  This line, I am told, has black specks on the inside of the shell, presumably on the membrane, after chicks hatch, and that is how you can tell they are true Indo birds.  Since he is not NPIP, nor is anybody I'm aware of that currently has that line, I have not acquired that line so I cannot provide any other opinions about it.

Do you know anyone selling this new line? I'm not NPIP right now, so I would be able to get some eggs and test out this claim before I get certified in the spring.