Phoenix: A breed in transition

[Kickingbird]

I have been following several conversations being held by members of the longtail breeding community and it seems like the phoenix is in a state of identity crisis. There are several colors avalible but only two are recognized by the standard and the others are in various stages of development. This leads to opinion battles about almost every aspect of the birds and how they should be bred.

Sometimes I think it will be impossible to admit more birds to the standard, and sometimes I think it don't matter because I breed to my satisfaction anyway

It does strike me funny that ppl are so offended when they don't see eye to eye. I personaly want to have birds with extremely long saddles (and tails), where if I keep them confined they will grow to lengths of 3+ feet. I've seen pictures of it so I know it can be done. But I don't care if another breeder wants his birds saddles to stop at ground level, that is their decision and goal, not mine.

I have been learning about the original breeds of longtails such as the onagadori with tails 20+ feet. I have found that birds that are similar but have a few different traits have different names. I'm guessing that this grew out of the fact that different breeders couldn't agree on a standard or the way to breed the birds. This is the way I think it should be. To take a quote from Kevin Costner's Robin Hood: "Ala loves wonderous variety" and so do I

If you have any thoughts on this feel free to put them down here.

Mark

[PAG]

I had the phoenix and now with my husbands ok and lots of begging and friends on my side I will get some this spring.I love the saddle your birds carry and will try to make my RSYokohamas and the golden Phoenix come alive here at the gardens.
I have been beat and battered with my standard stock and when I work with the new breeds I don't plan on telling anyone what I am doing until I am done! I don't care if Jane Cool has had Phoenix for 75 years and never did it my way( may be she should have) I have a passion for the birds in the longtail line David my sweet husband knows it and now told me I could do what ever I want as I have extra hands to help me. The big problem is breeder ego that will not let go of the " top LINE' they have to open up the breed and see what it can do. If you fall to close to standard you will never get out of the breedings what can be the best traits to add back.
You just have to find the one bird to pull a stock into its own. You will never find that bird if you always follow the rules. While everyone sits and make rules to follow those who don't see just a long tail but the whole bird will be working on the birds of the future.
I have a breeder friend who has given me grief. He buys pure birds from a top breeder and just breeds those same birds all the time. He told me that all his birds are the breeder birds from this woman, "very true" they are her birds. You have not improved them or made them yours you just baby sit while they breed, all very nice but to get the colors you want or the breed better what have you done? To make a breed better you must go ouside the breed perfection and look for traits that make the bird better. That is what is needed in the longtail right now. Just my two cents.