We don't do things by halves, and this breeding project is no exception.

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The Empress Hen has been our vision for over a decade. After a first attempt in 2014 went awry with a sudden move and the loss of our flocks, the Empress was put on the back burner. Now, exactly ten years later, our new farm gives us the ability to start fresh. 

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While the first attempt was made using what birds we happened to have on hand, this time around, we have much higher standards. Very specific breeds, with very specific genetics, are being acquired for the project. That is no easy task - especially when most breeds come with traits that we definitely don't want in our lineup, finding exactly what we need has been a challenge. 

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You see, we are creating a medium-large bird with a vaulted crest, full comb set forward of the vault, fibromelanistic skin, a naked neck, laced feathers, vulture hocks, feathered feet, and a long low-held tail with multiple sickles.

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What all that means is that there is many genes we have to gather, and many we have to avoid. For example, any bird used for the project needs to be E/Extended Black, or ER/Birchen/Crowwing/Brown Red. That's because the type of lacing we intend to use - Polish-type, with patterned tail feathers - is based on ER. If any e+/Wildtype/Duckwing, eWh/Wheaten, or eb/Partridge gets into the mix, well... it's a muddy genetic mess, and breeding the wrong allele out would take several additional generations. 

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The current breeds-used list is as follows:

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​Birchen Korean Ogye - Contributing ER Silver, Single Comb & Dark Fibro

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Brown Red Shetland Hen - Contributing ER Gold, Vaulted Crest, Single Comb & Blue-Egg Gene

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BBS Birchen Sultan - Contributing ER Blue Silver, Vaulted Crest, Vulture Hocks, Feathered Legs & Feet

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Fibro Birchen Malgache - Contributing Birchen Silver, Fibro, Naked Neck, Low-Held Tail & Tall Stance

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Blue Laced Polish - Contributing Birchen Blue Gold Laced & Vaulted Crest

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Brown Red Mahogany Longtail - Contributing Birchen Gold, the Mahogany Modifier & Longtail Genes

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