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| The Modern Game was developed strictly for
exhibition, rather than utility traits. Nevertheless, they are decent layers,
and can make good broodies, as well (see 1996 APA Yearbook for an article on
natural incubation; some of the hens this gentleman uses are Moderns.) I am
familiar with the large, rather than the bantam size Moderns - the bantams are
ethereal looking creatures that have been bred to a high degree of artistic
perfection, and are frequently found on Championship row at shows. The breed was
admitted to the American Standard in 1874, and was developed in England from the
Old English Game in the 1850's, after the outlawing of cockfighting and the
development of exhibitions as a new & popular sport. At the breed's peak in
the 1890's, there were as many as 299 entries at famous English shows, but the
high prices for breeding stock (100 English pounds at the turn of the century,
for a single bird, was not unusual), resulting in only a few fanciers having
them, the fact that the only reason for existence was as a show bird, and the
criticisms from OE fanciers may have been factors in the decline of popularity
for the large Moderns. |
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| A Modern is a handsome bird, resembling some of
the more attenuated sculptures by the modern sculptor, Lladro. They have
exceedingly long legs and neck, a tiny tail and a compact body between. The
males are dubbed (comb, wattles, & lobes trimmed) upon reaching adulthood,
resulting in a streamlined, elegant head. Hens have a small straight comb.
Colors are dramatic and varied, including: Black Breasted Red, Blue Breasted
Red, Silver Duckwing, Golden Duckwing, Birchen, Brown Red, Pyle, Lemon Blue,
Silver Blue, Blue, Black, and White. Most of these require green legs (pyle
& white have yellow, and some of the darker varieties have black). |
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| Large birchen Moderns |
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In personality, my Moderns are curious, pleasant
birds, the males being well behaved towards me and easy to handle, the hens
being alert little busybodies. They get along well with the other birds, tending
to be fairly mild in temperament (compared to the large OEs). The cockerels look
rather absurd with their exaggerated, coltish legs, stalking pompously around
the feed area, chugging off in a ridiculous gallop to some suddenly more
interesting spot. The pullets seem more refined, pattering about like a bunch of
sandpipers. I think that the large birds are more dramatic looking than the
bantams - the sheer height of them is remarkable. I have spindly babies from
this spring who tower over my adult OEs. The breed has a nice clean, streamlined
look - no feathered feet, crests or bulky feathers to keep clean, only hard
shining, feathers to polish with a silk cloth before showing. The males do
require dubbing, at around 8 months; but this is really quite easy to do (I
dubbed my first bird when I was 11 years old), prevents frostbite in cold
climates, and once a bird is trimmed, doesn't grow back. I'm quite fond of the
breed, and whether their extreme type appeals to you or not, a well-bred Modern
can be mistaken for nothing else! |
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| Large Silver
blue Moderns
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| My birchens were developed from black breasted red Moderns of the Truman Stone line, crossed with a sport bred dark grey Old English hen to pick up the crow-wing genes. An infusion of birchen Modern with some bantam blood, from Dr. Al Watts, was added in 2000. As of 2003, I am on my 10th & 11th generations, with the type looking good - still working on more refinement, and the color is getting better every generation. Better breast lacing in both sexes, and non-yellowing silver in the cocks, are areas I am working on. I received a silver blue bloodline from Ed Vasquez of New Mexico 2 years ago, and am seeing some interesting results in the lemon blue, brown red, & silver blue colors. | |
In May of 2006, I sold my entire breeding flock to Barbara & Roger Newton of Lemoore, CA - they can be contacted at newtnote@lemoorenet.com Please contact them for queries about hatching eggs & stock for sale. |
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| For Additional Information & Resources: | |
Modern Game Bantam Club of America Bonnie Sallee, Secretary-Treasurer P.O. Box 697 Pine Grove, CA 95665 jbsallee@volcano.net |
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Modern Game Club - UK |
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