Poultry fanciers worldwide are bearing witness to the accelerating decline of our fancy. Keeping large fowl poultry is more of a financial burden than ever before. This site is dedicated to all the poultry keepers out there finding a way to make it work. Whether your farm is profitable, a hobby, or an investment in conservation….we commend you.
Our vision is to build a platform of accessible information about gamefowl and gamefowl husbandry. To deliver this mission, we work to compile reputable breeders, accurate information, and an active community of fanciers willing to answer questions and help each other on the gamefowl conservation path. We celebrate and respect the diversity of gamefowl breeds and the goals of those working hard to keep thriving conservation flocks.
Education: We wish to compile the largest single source of information about a range of gamefowl breeds, both active and extinct, availble on the internet.
Support: We wish to provide a network of mentorship where other gamefowl keepers can offer advise based on their own experience to help accelerate other fanciers on their journey keeping gamefowl.
Respect: We honor each other and our efforts. There is no one way that is right and we can all learn from each other. This is a judgement free zone provided all birds are humanely kept.
Collaboration: We aim to collaborate with other clubs, societies, foundations, and individuals dedicated to the conservation of gamefowl.
Ethics
The Gamefowl Conservation Network does not condone raising birds for any purpose that causes harm to the birds for sport. This is an illegal activity in all 50 states and a felony in 42 states. Any discussion of this activity is prohibited. However, many of our beloved breeds have a colorful history and we do not believe in erasing the past. Historical documents may be shared that allude to original intended purpose of many of the Oriental Game breeds.
GCN Founder
My name is Jessica Watson and I love oriental gamefowl. I started my journey with chickens more than 10 years ago with a small flock of lavender Amerucana. Back then there was absolutely no way you could have convinced me I would end up traveling throughout the Midwest to poultry shows, with giant 32” dinosaurs in my backseat. My first experience with a game breed was an Asil mutt. This pullet was the product of a busted fighting ring in Chicago and she was the meanest, most intelligent, almost otherworldly bird I have ever met. That bird’s name was Jolene and she launched me down this bottomless rabbit hole of thirst for more and more knowledge of gamefowl.
We are Willy Nilly Acres but on social media you can find us under the name @KeepCluckin. My husband and I have a daughter, nearly 10 years old now, who also shows poultry and loves to dabble in different breeds. We support our local standard bred poultry farms by purchasing show prospects for her to raise in the early spring. Here on the farm we raise Wheaten Shamos originating from the exceptional established line of Jim Zook. We also raise American Game (Kelley Mugs). Our farm belongs to the American Poultry Association, American Bantam Association, The Livestock Conservancy, The Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities, and The Russian Orloff Society.