Breed Clubs 101: When They’re Worth It—and When They’re No
If you’re just getting into poultry breed clubs, here’s the truth that saves people a lot of frustration: don’t start with expectations. Not because breed clubs are pointless—but because some clubs simply aren’t great. Some are inconsistent. Some are understaffed. Some are overly controlled by a small circle. That reality shouldn’t discourage you from joining the good ones. It should teach you to evaluate clubs like tools: some are built to work, some are built to look good on paper.
For me, the dividing line between “worth it” and “not worth it” is simple:
A breed club is worth it when it has a real points system and real infrastructure to recognize the breeders who do the work.
That’s why I respect organizations that have systems like Master Breeder programs, starred wins, certificates, and tracked recognition over time. Those programs aren’t just “extra awards.” They’re proof the club has memory, recordkeeping, follow-through, and a way to reward progress season after season.
What breed clubs are actually for
A breed club isn’t just a membership card or a sticker for your show box. At its best, a breed club provides structure—especially for beginners who are still learning what “good” looks like and how long it takes to produce it.
Here’s what a good club can give you:
A scoreboard.
A points system tells you what counts and what doesn’t, and it rewards consistency. In the poultry world, consistency is everything. Anyone can have one good bird. A real breeder proves it over time.
A pathway.
Master Breeder tracks, starred wins, certificates—these are long-game systems. They keep people improving instead of “winning once” and drifting away.
Better starts (and fewer wasted years).
One of the most practical benefits of joining a breed club is the breeder directory. If you’re starting out, the fastest way to improve isn’t buying random birds and hoping. It’s connecting with people who are actively working the breed—people whose birds show up year after year.
Concentrated learning.
Club meets and special meets put the breed in one place. You learn faster when you can see a lot of examples at once and compare what wins and why.
The most common mistake new members make
The biggest mistake I see is simple: expecting perfect service.
Most breed clubs are run by volunteers. That doesn’t excuse disorganization—but it does explain why the “I paid dues, so treat me like a customer” mindset disappoints people quickly. Even strong clubs will have delays, gaps, and “real life” moments because the people doing the work also have jobs, families, farms, and birds of their own.
A healthier approach is this: join to plug into a system (points, meets, recognition, directories, education)—not to be “served.”
Why I’m pro-club (with a big “if”)
The biggest benefits I’ve received from any club have come from Cochins International, and Gail Carlson and CI have been a major resource for me over the years. That’s what “worth it” looks like in real life: you aren’t just paying dues—you’re getting direction, continuity, and access to people who care enough to keep the program moving.
In fact, when I heard there was a board position open, I decided it was time to give back. That’s the healthiest club cycle there is: the club helps you grow, and eventually you help carry the club—because the clubs worth having only stay worth it if members keep them strong.
A club can be organized and still have problems
Another club I’ll give credit to—especially on organization and structure—is the American Silkie Bantam Club (ASBC). From my experience, ASBC is one of the most organized and structured clubs I’ve worked with.
But beginners need to understand something early:
A club can have great structure and still have governance issues that matter.
Where I disagree with ASBC is on the constitution/bylaw side—specifically the way standard changes can be pushed through without what I consider strong, direct membership control. The Standard of Perfection isn’t a minor document. It’s the blueprint breeders build toward.
That disagreement became very real during the Partridge Silkie controversy. I enjoyed my time with ASBC until it felt like a “fast one” was being attempted—proposing a significant change to how Partridge Silkies are described (and therefore judged) without broad consultation of master breeders or the general membership. That kind of move doesn’t just “update wording.” It can redirect what judges reward and what breeders select for.
I’m not sharing that to discourage people from joining ASBC. I mean the opposite. If you don’t like power concentrated in a few hands, the fix isn’t to walk away. The fix is for more serious members to join, participate, show up, and vote. Organizations don’t correct themselves by silence.
When membership feels fair—and when it feels like a toll
Many clubs require membership to be eligible for club-specific awards. That’s normal. It helps fund trophies, recordkeeping, and anything else the club offers.
Where people get frustrated is when membership starts to feel like the only value: “pay dues so you can say you participated,” while the club infrastructure doesn’t actually show up in a consistent way.
That’s where my current experience with the Polish Breeders Club (PBC) fits. My issue isn’t “membership required.” My issue is when delivery doesn’t match what a club should be delivering—for example, inconsistent newsletters and no clear, functioning points system that an average member can realistically understand and participate in. If the systems aren’t active and visible, membership starts to feel like a tollbooth instead of buying into a program.
Quick Checklist: Is this club worth your dues?
Before you join, look for proof of life:
A real recognition system (points, Master Breeder, starred wins, certificates)
Consistency (updated results, standings, clear deadlines and contacts)
A breeder directory (and signs it’s current)
Meet activity (special meets, club meets, posted outcomes)
Transparent decision-making (especially anything tied to Standard changes)
If you can’t find these, don’t panic—just calibrate expectations.
How to actually get value once you join
Joining is step one. Getting value is step two.
Use the breeder directory the right way. Be respectful. Be honest about your level. Ask specific questions. Don’t act entitled to someone’s time or birds.
Participate in the system. If points or wins are tracked, submit what’s required and do it correctly. Systems only work when members feed them.
Attend an event if you can. Seeing a breed concentrated at a meet teaches faster than anything online.
If you care about the direction of the breed, get involved. The people who show up are the people who steer the ship.
Bottom line
Breed clubs aren’t something you join expecting perfection from. They’re something you join because the right club gives you structure: a scoreboard, a pathway, better connections, and long-game recognition for real work.
When there’s a points system and real infrastructure that recognizes breeders, a club is worth it.
When there isn’t—when newsletters are inconsistent, points aren’t clear, recognition isn’t maintained—you may still find good people, but you shouldn’t expect the club to move your program forward in a meaningful way.
And if you find a club that’s organized but drifting toward decisions made by too few voices, the solution isn’t to quit the room.
It’s to fill the room with serious members.
