11/13/2023
Went to the APA's 150th anniversary at the Ohio National's Poultry Show this weekend. I wish I could have stayed for the whole event but hotels were expensive. On Saturday, I dropped off 19 dutch hookbills that I pre-sold and a Dewlap Toulouse and picked up some birds to bring home. That took all day!
But I got a surprise when Connie Abelyn emailed me to tell me she entered some dutch hookbills to show, two of which were birds she bought from me this summer! The dusky hen and the grey hen in this video. She said one of the judges loved one of my hens in particular, but said she was still young and had more maturing to do, but to bring her next year bc if she had been older, she would have probably won best of show! 😮😍🥳🎉
Connie complimented me, said I have some really nice birds! Jokingly said I couldn't have any of them back. Lol. That made me feel so good to hear! Especially coming from Connie, who has been working with Dutch Hookbills for many years now and showing them.
I am so proud of how far along I have come while working with this breed, especially considering how my foundation stock was not of ideal quality birds. I still have a ways to go before I reach the Dutch SOP or the British SOP, but I will continue to strive towards that goal! One day I hope this breed is recognized by the APA!
