Preserving the Bruges Fighter – Part VI:
My Participation in Major Belgian Poultry Shows
Open Letter to the Fanciers of the Bruges Fighter
Dear fanciers,
Many of you have asked when I intend to participate in shows again, or whether it would be possible to visit and see my birds. With this open letter, I would like to clearly explain my decision and the reasoning behind it.
I will present my Bruges Fighters only once to the public at exhibitions. This will take place at the Belgian National Championship in the 2026–2027 season and at the European Championship in Kielce, Poland, in 2028. After that, I will no longer keep poultry in Belgium. These shows are primarily about the experience and enjoyment — a closing chapter before I dedicate myself entirely to my work in Africa.
My intention is to participate in each of these two exhibitions with more than 50 Bruges Fighters. The reason is simple: at present, I am the only Belgian breeder maintaining all existing bloodlines of this historic breed. Presenting them together in competition allows me to evaluate my entire breeding program in one setting — something that has never been done on this scale before.
Self-criticism is essential for true progress, and I fully embrace it. Unfortunately, this attitude is lacking among many breeders. For me, these shows are not about confirmation or praise, but about testing my work, directly comparing bloodlines, and determining which birds genuinely represent the highest quality of the breed.
Another important motivation is my concern regarding the current judging standards for the Bruges Fighter in Belgium. In my experience, the level of expertise varies greatly, and evaluations are often overly generous. By presenting such a large number of birds at once, I aim to challenge the judging system and demonstrate the complexity involved in properly assessing this breed.
In my opinion, there is only one person who possesses the depth of knowledge required to judge this breed correctly: my mentor and breed expert, Joost De Meyer. Following his philosophy, I will review my birds after the show season with a butcher’s eye for quality, not a trader’s mindset. Only the very best individuals will be retained. Selling surplus birds, as is so often done, is something I categorically refuse. Integrity in breeding is of the utmost importance to me.
There is no need for me to retain bloodlines in Europe, as I maintain the same genetic diversity in Africa. My focus remains on preserving and improving the Bruges Fighter responsibly, honestly, and with a long-term vision.
I hope this letter provides clarity regarding my choices and will be received with respect.
Sincerely,
Jean Kiala-Inkisi
President – African Ornamental Breeders Association (AOBA)
