The idea of “gamefowl” has undergone a substantial transformation ever since its conception.
Several different types of fighting chicken breeds are kept, taught, and handled with the intention of pitting them against one another as a form of entertainment and sport.
However, not every chicken has what it takes to be a good fighter. Instead, it is necessary to select a few breeds that are both more muscular and robust.
This post will discuss the history of cockfighting and various fighting chicken breeds. These chickens are strong, require little maintenance, and have a stunning appearance.
History of Cockfighting
A cockfight is a form of blood sport that takes place in a ring called a cockpit—the history of breeding birds specifically for the purpose of competing dates back 6,000 years.
The term “gamecock” denotes using the cock as a “game,” a sport, pastime, or entertainment that was first recorded in 1634.
It was first used by George Wilson in the earliest book on the sport of cockfighting, The Commendation of Cocks and Cock Fighting, in 1607. This was the first usage of the word gamecock.
The competitors, known as gamecocks, have been bred and trained specifically to have increased stamina and vigor for the match.
Game fowl is the name given to both the male and female individuals of this species of chicken.
Cockfighting is a blood sport because the cocks intentionally inflict physical harm on one another throughout the competition.
People add metal spurs to the cocks’ natural spurs claws to further increase damage.
Even though not every fight results in a death, the cocks risk suffering significant physical trauma.
In certain regions of the world, cockfighting is still a prevalent practice; however, in other regions of the world, it is either expressly outlawed or subject to legal restrictions of various kinds.
Supporters of the “age-old activity” typically point to the cultural and religious significance of cockfighting as a sport as one of its primary selling points.
Interesting Fighting Chicken Breeds
1. Shamo Chicken Breed
The Shamo is one of a kind Asian fighting chicken breeds known for its height, musculature, and agility. People initially established one of the seven types of Shamo chicken breeds in Thailand.
However, in the early 1600s, during the Edo era, Japan began intensively maintaining and actively developing the breed for its strength and stamina.
During the same period, artwork from Japan’s more ancient “Heian Period” (794–1185 AD) depicts fowls comparable to Shamos.
The Shamo rooster is a large, powerful, robust, and muscular fighting chicken breeds for cockfighting.
Consuming the Shamo that was lost in battle is another one of Japan’s long-standing customs.
The meat of a Shamo is a luxurious delicacy at the national level. Something along the lines of a Shamo pot or chicken for the military.
Sumo wrestlers believed that eating shamo meat would make them more aggressive and increase their chances of winning sumo battles during the 19th century.
2. Old English Game
Shamo chickens get along well with people if given the proper care from when they are young.
The hens are exceptional egg layers compared to many other breeds of Asiatic fighting chicken breeds; the eggs they produce are light brown and of medium size.
As its name suggests, the Old English Gamefowl is a breed of fighting chicken among the oldest.
This particular breed of chicken can trace its roots back to the earliest cockfighting fowls, also known as “the Pit Game,” which were brought to Great Britain by the Romans in the first century.
The Old English Game fetches a high price on the market and provides a significant financial return to poultry farmers.
These days, chicken breeders retain this particular breed of chicken to enhance the stock and participate in poultry shows and exhibits.
However, archetypal Old English Gamecocks were bred throughout history to compete in cockfights.
There is a wide range of plumage options available for the classic English gamefowl breed. There is also a smaller version of the Old English Game chicken(Bantam).
3. Sumatra Chicken
One may trace the original roots of the Sumatra chicken breed back to the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
This breed of chicken is now mostly raised by farmers as a decorative addition to their flocks.
In the past, the people who lived on the islands of Indonesia would capture Sumatra roosters at the beginning of the mating season, put them to use in combat, and then set them free after the seasonal aggression had subsided.
Currently, chicken fanatics are developing Sumatra chickens mainly to improve their appearance. And in this day and age, it is really unusual indeed.
On the Conservation Priority List maintained by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, the Sumatra chicken breed is on the Endangered list.
4. Asil or Aseel Chicken Breed
The sturdy Asil chicken is the only option available to you if you’re looking for a bird that will fight by your side in a fight to the death.
The muscly chicken has a long history of fighting chicken breeds, as evidenced by the roosters and the hens, and the young chicks would engage in conflict with others with endurance and power.
This chicken gives off the impression that it is ready to defend itself against any potential threat because of its menacing appearance, which includes a noticeably high posture and enormous muscles similar to those found in powerlifters.
On the other hand, the owners of this brightly colored and clever breed report that their chicken is exceptionally attentive and submissive around people.
If you are new to raising chickens or just starting with small poultry, this fowl is not for you. In contrast to their apparent politeness toward humans, the roosters do not appear to care for other species members.
The roosters and even the hens may require separate areas or accommodations from the other animals. This is the case with many older fighting chicken breeds.
5. Malay Gamefowl
The Malay Gamefowl are fighting chicken breeds that look much like a t-rex and can be both exciting and terrifying.
This old species of chicken lays claim to the title of tallest chicken thanks to its long neck, tightly kept feathers, and tall, sturdy legs.
It also strikes poses that occasionally more closely resemble those of a human than those of a chicken.
These chickens have been around longer than any other live breed of chicken, even though they are not very common in North America.
Like the Asil, the Malay is an ancient breed whose origins seem missing throughout its more than 3,500 years of recorded history.
6. Modern Game Chicken
The traditional breeders of Gamefowl devised the Modern Game in order to preserve their ability to continue reproducing and exhibiting their flock.
The taller and thickly feathered the bird, the more valuable the reward. This led to the fantastic shape that the Modern Game has evolved into today.
The Modern Game Chicken is not a breed that people will forget about.
The large necks and legs, compressed bodies, and densely packed feathering of this fighting chicken breed give it the appearance of a velociraptor or a greyhound dog.
The Bantam edition of the modern board game Modern Game The Standard Modern Game chicken is less popular than its counterpart, the Fowl chicken.
To keep in great shape and look as good as it does, a Modern Game Fowl needs plenty of exercise and room to roam around.
As their tiny bodies bob over their long, slender legs, they will be a lot of fun to watch.
If they stray onto your property, there is no reason to be concerned about the state of your garden.
Compared to other varieties of chicken, this one requires much less scraping.
7. American Gamefowl
It’s possible that the American Gamefowl, a fighting chicken originating in the United States, is as close as you can imagine to what it’s like to be a chicken.
These chickens have a long and complicated history as fighting chicken breeds; they have brightly colored feathers and are fierce survivalists.
Because people refer to them as “gamefowl,” one can assume that these birds are more feral than the typical chicken.
On the other hand, some breeds, like the Broiler, have pretty much-lost everything there is to know about surviving.
If you are looking for a capable, self-assured, and intelligent chicken, as well as one that can take care of itself, then this gorgeous chicken might be the ideal addition to your existing flock of hens in your garden.
In addition, many breeders are altering the breed’s purpose so they can use it to produce an attractive show or ornamental birds.
Even though this activity is now illegal and considered a crime in all fifty states that make up the United States, nobody told the chickens that it was time to stop fighting.
