I have been looking at the WOEs for a long time. Actually I have been a member of the WOE MyFamily site for a few years; always enjoyed the posts and pics. Oddly enough Bill Henderson has been involved to some degree in both breeds that I previously bred - American Show Rollers and American Show Racers. We each hit the top with them; he with Show Racers and myself with Show Rollers, but both felt something missing within each breed as a whole. He found what he was looking for in WOEs and every time we ran in to each other invited me to join. Well I disposed of my Show Roller family and purchased some super Show Racer stock. After only a year I had a huge scare with a lung problem and disposed of the Show racers and most of my racing homers; only to discover after many months it wasn't PBL after all but a chronic infection. It was cured with heavy antibiotics and I am fine now.

     But after that I was without show birds. I figured I would be content with just my racers, but I should have known better. So I got in touch with Bill and told him I was ready for some WOEs. I told him I wanted the best he could spare so I was willing to wait for the fall of 2010 for breeding stock to use in 2011. He was more than happy to set me up.

     I gave it much thought before I called Bill and I knew I wanted to work around blacks. I feel it is a very compatible color and would allow me to also work my favorites, andalusians and also browns. Plus it provided the possibility for reduced and lavender milkies. Bill doesn't work with browns so he sent me to Matt Matuska. He will provide at least a split cock and two browns hens for the 2011 breeding season.

     I also started corresponding with Brian McCormick who is going to help out with some additional blacks and andys. After finding out he was reducing his bald stock dramatically I decided I should take advantage of that and add some top quality balds. I know they are a huge undertaking but I am not getting any younger (or smarter... LOL)

    By chance Jeff Adair was selling out and being a long time fan of the classic blue bar grizzle I could not resist. Jeff sent me a blue bar grizzle cock and a blue bar hen.

    Below are some examples of what I want to work with in WOEs. If anyone recognizes a picture and wants to add the bird owner or even credit for the pictures, please let me know. I meant no harm in using the pictures and tried to ask for permission when I could trace the owner. I look forward to meeting many of you at the shows and enjoying my new venture with you.

Andalusians - Selfs, Mottles & Splashes