About Us

Our  Beginnings

 DNA Hobby Farm was born in 2021 during the height of the pandemic lockdown. Like many, we found ourselves stuck at home, cycling through subscriptions to Netflix, UFC, ESPN Plus, and Hulu. Realizing we couldn’t spend all our time in front of a screen, we looked for a meaningful way to redirect our energy—something to keep us grounded and prevent burnout from the 24/7 blur of working from home.

The answer lay in our initials: Darell and Ashlie (DNA). Since Ashlie has a lifelong love for animals and Darell grew up breeding game fowl in the Philippines, starting a small farm felt like a natural leap.

We began our journey by purchasing a premium trio of Richard Kelly Coal Miner Mugs (a Blue stag, a Black hen, and a Splash hen) from a reputable breeder in Arizona. After a couple of years of dedicated breeding, we expanded our facility. Today, our carefully curated bloodlines include:

• Dan Tracy Pyle & Law Grey
• Joe Goode Grey & Slim Benoist White Kelso
• Art Hefner Blues & Flarry Eye Grey
• Mel Sims Brownred & Hatch
• Sweaters & Peruvians
• Richardson Grey & Grey Leiper
• Doc Robinson Hatch (acquired directly from the legendary Johnny Jumper Farm) 

Two Paths, One Mission

 We come from opposite sides of the planet, bringing completely different cultures, languages, and perspectives to the table. Yet, we believe that when two different minds unite, they have the unique potential to create a masterpiece.

Darell’s Heritage

Born and raised in a small town in the Philippines, nature and game fowl were woven into the fabric of my daily life. Game fowl are a deeply rooted part of Filipino culture, symbolizing courage and an indomitable spirit. Growing up, I deeply admired the immense care and attention my father gave to his birds. By my teenage years, I was helping our handler after school, learning the nuances of care and selection. This early exposure instilled in me a lifelong sense of responsibility and hard work.

Though my journey eventually took me to Cebu City to study Aircraft Engineering, I moved to the United States in December of 1996 at the age of 21. Here in Florida, I pivoted my education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and an MBA with a concentration in International Business. Being far away from the idyllic world of my childhood made me hungry for that connection to nature. Raising game fowl brought me right back to my roots.

Ashlie's Foundation

I grew up in the small town of Bradley, West Virginia, raised by loving parents who were extreme animal lovers. Our home was always filled with life—dogs, cats, mice, guinea pigs, fish, and even a lizard. When I was eight, a family friend who owned a ranch introduced me to horses, which sparked a passion for horseback riding.

Because our town was quiet, nurturing animals became my lifestyle. My parents raised my older sister and me with strong morals, teaching us the importance of being kind, respectful, and deeply compassionate toward all living species. That nurturing, motherly instinct is exactly what I bring to our selection process on the farm today.

When we combined Ashlie’s nurturing eye with Darell’s lifelong expertise, the farm quickly evolved into an exciting lifestyle. Because we both maintain full-time, Monday-to-Friday jobs, we intentionally limit our flock to a size we can personally manage with excellence.

Our approach to breeding is driven by a few core principles:

In a competitive landscape, relying on a bloodline exactly as it was decades ago is like trying to run an outdated computer. To stay relevant, you must constantly improve, learn, diversify and stay open-minded. What worked yesterday won't necessarily work tomorrow. If you don't push the boundaries of your own breeding program, the competition will push them for you.

• Rigorous Standards: We are highly disciplined in our selection process. To protect our reputation and the quality of our flock, fowls that do not meet our rigorous standards are culled from the breeding program and given to friends and family as pets or meat.
• Uncompromising Welfare: Our birds are treated like family. Rain or shine, hot or cold, there are no sick days. We invest in top-tier feed, premium supplements, clean water and an impeccably healthy environment. Even if we were down to our last dollar, it would go toward their well-being.

For us, DNA Hobby Farm is the ultimate stress reliever. It keeps us communicating about something beautiful, creative, and entirely separate from our daily work responsibilities. It is a healthy, passionate outlet that brings us closer together.

Just like our fowls crow and flap their wings at the dawn of a new morning, we greet every single day with anticipation. Checking on them first thing in the morning and knowing they are safe and sound before we go to bed makes our lives complete. We thank God every day for this blessing and the sheer happiness that comes from being grateful.

We want to hear from you! We love connecting with breeders from diverse cultural backgrounds and geographic locations. We believe that by sharing knowledge, innovating together, and staying disciplined, the game fowl community will not just survive, but truly thrive.