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Cockfighting, a blood sport, has been banned in several parts of the world but this ban has not brought down the demand for Fighting Fowl. It was and it has been a great source of entertainment and a favorite Pastime for most of us. Despite the cruelty and violence, cockfighting is still a popular sport in Indonesia and some parts of South Asia. Due to the high cost of roosters and certifications this game is disappeared.
The fighting birds are generally aggressive, high maintenance with extraordinary strength and stamina. Because of their extraordinary fighting skill, these Chicken breeds are categorized as “Gamefowls”, “Game Birds”, and “Fightingbirds” not for eating.
As you might have judged from the title and the above paragraphs, this post is going to be all about Gamefowls. So, without further ado, let’s bring them all to the limelight.
Fighting Rooster Breeds
- Whitehackle
- American Game Chicken
- Shamo
- Old English Game Chicken
- Asil
- Sumatra
1. Whitehackle
Whitehackles often get successful in deceiving humans and other gamefowl breeds by their innocent looks. If we judge this spectacular breed by merely it’s appearance, Whitehackle does not look like a gamefowl at all.
Because of the Whitehackle’s supernatural fighting skills, they are considered “Technical Fighters”. Whitehackles are opportunists, they hit breathtakingly hard whenever they get a chance to. The grey form of Whitehackles is far more aggressive than the white ones.
Appearance
As far the appearance is concerned, the Whitehackle game birds are straight combed and fairly medium-sized. They have been blessed with spectacular red eyes, broad shoulders, compact heavy plumage, and deadly cutter high beak.
Coat color
As the name suggests, this gamefowl breed has been rewarded with white or grey color with slightly visible mustard yellow tones all over the body.
Distinctive feature
Majestic white coat, red eyes
Weight
2 to 2.5 kgs
Breed purpose
Fighting
2. American Game Chicken
American Game Chicken is an American game bird that is generally bred and raised as an ornament or for cockfighting. Besides the typical use, the gamefowl makes a mouth-watering table bird.
Even though Cockfighting is illegal, American Game Chicken, in some parts of the world” are still fighting for life and making their keepers proud. Whereas, in the country of origin these spectacular game birds are mainly raised and kept as ornament or show birds.
American Game Chickens are exceptional fighters, if not bothered, they would keep on fighting till their last breath. Besides exceptional fighting skills, American Game Chickens are noisy, active, hardy, excellent jumpers, and exceptional flyers roosters.
Appearance
American Game Chickens have a strong muscular body, long sickle feathers, small five-pointed single comb, and small red wattles and earlobes.
Color
This chicken breed is rewarded with several colors including red, black, blue-red, blue, and brown-red, etc. The majority of American Game Chicken is usually seen in silver, pumpkin, black, gold, or white colors.
Distinctive feature
Five-pointed single comb and long sickle feathers
Weight
4 to 5 kgs
Breed purpose
Fighting and show birds
3. Shamo
Shamo game bird is probably the only breed that has been blessed with a “true gamefowl” appearance. Shamo is an ornamental breed of Thailand but it is capturing the Japanese the market as if it’s their country of origin. Most of the Shamo population is breathing, serving, and fighting in the birthplace of sushi, Japan.
The Shamo cross-breeding has developed several breeds but the authorities have recognized only seven of them. The seven registered Shamo breeds are Ehigo-Nankin-Shamo, Kinpa, Ko-Shamo, Nankin-Shamo, Yakido(also referred to as Yagido), and Yamato-Shamo or Yamato Gunkel. Whereas, Chu-Shamo and Chibi-Shamo are regarded as the two unregistered popular Shamo Chicken breeds.
Shamos are known for their hatred towards other chickens. They prefer mixing up with humans than chickens. Like all game birds out there, they are supernaturally aggressive. Shamos are easier to raise but can not be confined to cages.
Appearance
Shamos are full-sized gamebirds with straight upright posture. The Shamo game birds stand out from the crowd by their vertical body, heavily boned broad shoulders, bright red earlobes, yellow beaks, well-muscled thighs, comparatively short feathers, pear-shaped combs, and pearl colored eyes.
Color
Shamo game fowls generally appear in black, black-breasted red, and dark red colors.
Distinctive feature
Pear-shaped combs and pearl colored eyes
Weight
3 to 5 kgs
Breed purpose
Ornament, Fighting
4. Old English Game Chicken
The Old English Game Chicken is a British breed that has been ruling our hearts for ages. The Old English Game birds are a little high maintenance, they are a bit noisy, can not be confined, in fact, need more space to forage than any other chicken breed.
The Old English Game Chicken are overly high maintenance, they can not be kept with the flock. The subject being discussed kept entertaining the British with their exceptional fighting skills till 1950, as cockfighting was banned in said years, the natives started raising Old English Game Chicken as an Ornament.
The well admired and recognized Old English Game Chicken varieties are Birchen, Black Breasted Red, Black Tailed Buff, Blue Brassy Back, Blue Golden Duckwing, Blue Silver Duckwing, Brassy Back, Columbian, Crele, Cuckoo, Fawn Silver Duckwing, Lemon Blue, Mille Fleur, Spangled, and Wheaten, etc.
Appearance
Puffed out chest, small tightly glossy bounded feathers, large necks, strong heads, large well-curved beaks, thin earlobes, single comb, fearless eyes, short strong legs, four toes, well-curved nails are the Old English Game Chicken’s marks of identification.
Color
The Old English Game Chicken can be seen in black, brown-red, ginger red, sliver blue, white, and several other Chicken-friendly colors.
Distinctive feature
Small tightly glossy bounded feathers, Puffed out chest, Single comb, well-curved beaks, and nails
Weight
1.16 to 2.26 kgs
Breed purpose
Fighting, show birds, ornament
5. Asil
Asil, also spelled as Aseel, originates from a developing country called “Pakistan”. Asil is an Arabic word that means “pure” or “noble”. It belongs to their southern areas of Punjab, Pakistan. This Gamebird is immensely popular in it’s country of origin, and some states of India; Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
Besides being commonly seen in Asia, Asil Gamebirds are also not rare in Australia, America, and The United Kingdom. Asils are a bird “made for fighting”, they usually start fighting when they are just a few weeks old and are strong and brave enough to fight till their last breath.
Like all Gamefowls, the Aseels are aggressive towards fellow chickens. The said fighting chicken breed is easier to tame and train. Aseels are smart, friendly(towards humans), and strong. However, the said breed is not that hardy, they only do well in cold dry climates.
Appearance
Aseels have been blessed with multi-colored coats, upright bodies, strong shanks, red-colored pea combs, glossy hard feathers, round faces, and stronger beaks.
Color
Multi chicken-like colors, glossy hard feathers, and pea combs.
Distinctive feature
multi-colored coat,
Weight
3.5 to 4 kgs
Breed purpose
Fighting, ornament
6. Sumatra
Just like Aseel Chickens, Sumatra is also spelled as Sumatera. This exceptional gamefowl originates from Island Sumatra, Indonesia. The Sumatra gamebirds are believed to be the outcome of crossbreeding between wildfowl and Feral Kampong.
Sumatra is not only admired for it’s fighting skills but its dramatic appearance as well. Though this rare breed has been around for ages, it got recognition by the American Poultry Association in 1883.
Sumatra chicken breed is immensely demanded and raised in it’s country of origin, USA, and Europe. Other than the typical name Sumatra, this breed is also referred to as Sumatra Black and Sumatra Game. Most of the Sumatra population is living and entertaining the natives of Asia and the Subcontinent.
These clean-legged gamebirds are blessed with the unmatchable flying ability and aggressive nature. They are noticed fighting, jumping, and attempting to fly around all the time. Their friendly behavior towards humans has recognized them as great pets as well.
Appearance
Sumatra chickens can easily be recognized by the greenish-black coats, graceful long tails(similar to Yokohama chickens), blackish green glossy feathers, deep black shanks, yellow soles, and black skin.
Color
Greenish-black
Distinctive feature
Graceful long tail, yellow soles, and small combs
Weight
2.5 to 3 kgs
Breed purpose
Pet, ornament, Fighting, and show breed
These were the few most known, well-admired Gamefowl breeds there are some least-knowns as well. They are just as exceptional as the famous breeds but unfortunately for some reason, they could not get into the limelight as they deserved to be. These least-known gamebirds are;
- Brown Red Game Fowl
- Lemon Fowl
7. Brown Red Game Fowl
Brown Red Game Fowl may not be as famous as Whitehackle, American Game Chicken, Shamo, Old English Game Chicken, Asil, and Sumatra, but it is as great as they are. Besides supernatural fighting skills, this Brown Red Game Fowl runs well.
This breed was specifically developed for cockfighting but cross-breeding has highlighted the speed factor. The contrasting color blend gives these Brown Red Game Fowls an elite look.
This neglected fighting chicken may not be recognized as it should be but it has been awarded by the American Standard Of Perfection, an official breed standard for poultry fancy in North America.
Appearance
This speedster and the extraordinary fighter have got greyish black legs, a short well-rounded head, prominently graceful long tail, and ginger feathers.
Color
Multi-colored brown red black and ginger-colored
Distinctive feature
Graceful long tail, and short rounded head
Weight
3 to 4 kgs
Breed purpose
Pet, Fighting, meat
Between these fighting roosters , learn about cute and fluffy Silkie rooster breed
8. Lemon Fowl
Lemon Fowl originates from Germany but the overly dramatic appearance and extraordinary fighting abilities have proven to be the ticket to travel the world. Though this breed has been bred and crossbred a million times it has been holding on to its true color quite well.
They are known for fighting methodologically, they show the opponent a way home by moving away and then hitting them hard with a clinical strike.
As this is a least-known Fighting bird breed, the books of history, the birds, and animal websites do not have much to say about them, their keeper would probably have for sure.
Appearance
Like the above-mentioned fighting chicken breed, their coat is a blend of several colors. The Lemon Fowl has got a short round head, straight red feathers, yellow well-covered legs, and lemon heckles.
Color
Multi-colored but as name of rooster tells lemon so color is lemon.
Distinctive feature
Multi-colored coat, covered legs, short well-rounded head
Weight
2. 5 to 3 kgs
Breed purpose
Meat, Fighting
