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The Old English Game
Fowl
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| Chickens were originally
domesticated for three reasons: meat, eggs, and sport. Only recently has
exhibition come into the picture. While the Old English Game can also be a
good provider of the first two, as well as a lovely exhibition bird, its
fame comes as a provider of sport, and Games have been pitted against each
other for thousands of years. The Old English Game is an ancient breed,
and some strains have been kept so pure over the centuries that the cocks
still go into an eclipse molt during the summer (where the long hackle
feathers are shed for small black feathers), in the manner of the Red
Junglefowl of its ancestors. The OE is a variable breed, due to its
widespread distribution over the world. Games have been prized for their
spirit & physical prowess in ancient Rome, Persia, Japan, India, the
Sunda Islands, and in England, France, Spain, Australia, the Philipine
Islands, various South American countries, Mexico, and in the United
States. |
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| While the typical OE is a medium sized Black Breasted Red, with fiery orange or red eyes, slender dubbed head, compact, muscular body with broad shoulders that taper to a beautiful, well furnished tail, with a bold, springy step and arrogant carriage, there are also: Streaky Breasted Ginger Reds, Brown Reds, Light Reds, Crow Winged Reds, Dark Greys, Black Breasted Birchen Duckwings, Smock Breasted Bloodwing Pyles, Marble Breasted Spangled Pyles, Dun Breasted Blue Dun, Furnaces, Polecats, Cuckoos, the better known Golden & Silver Duckwings, Silver Blues, Lemon Blues, Blue Breasted Reds, Whites, Blacks, Blues, Spangles - and more. For variations other than color, OEs can also be Muffed (bearded), Tasseled (with a small lark crest), or Henny (cocks are hen-feathered). Hens are often a variation on the wild bird color - BB Red hens are stippled brown, with black striped gold hackle, black tail, and a salmon breast. Birds are often straight combed but some may be pea combed as well; cocks must be dubbed (comb, wattles & lobes removed) prior to one year of age, or it is a show disqualification. It is also a disqualification if a cock is missing his spurs. Some countries' breed standards allow for more variation than others - check yours carefully before taking your bird to a show. OEG Photo Gallery |
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| Old English Games are active foragers, hardy, athletic birds that do well in free range situations, and formidable mothers. If allowed, they will roost 10 to 20 feet up in a tree at night (which makes it difficult to catch them). If penned, a roof is a necessity. This breed is gorgeous, spirited, intelligent, graceful - and does not believe in sharing. Plan on much more roost space (some at least 6 feet off the ground), and more nests than one might think. Roosters must be kept separate from other roosters, in such a way that there is a visual (4 foot high plywood works well) or a distance barrier (4 - 5 feet) between them. They will fight through wire fence, to the extent of severely damaging their mouths, and shredding or removing their back toes and spurs. Penned hens should have visual barriers between their pens, as well. Small houses with the roosters individually tethered to a stake in front of each of them are an economical way to keep extra males for breeding stock. Check the tethers for fraying, as the roosters will spend a good bit of the day tugging against their leashes, trying to attack their neighbors. Spurs should be kept sawn short (1/4 to 1/2 inch works well), so that the birds do not get tangled in their tethers. I usually free range my hens, except during breeding season. If hens are spurred, these should also be clipped short, in case of a quarrel with another hen. | |
| Keeping large Games is more like
raising pheasants, than like most sorts of chickens - they are active,
quarrelsome, and good fliers - but their dazzling array of colors, classic
form, and unique personality is worth it. Game hens have hatched all of my
chicks for years - far more reliable than any incubator. I have had birds
live for 10 - 14 years, and have heard of others living longer. While OE
bantams share the breed name and many of the colors, they do not seem to
be quite the same kind of bird, so I cannot say much about this type -
from what I've seen, they seem to be less pugnacious, and easier to
handle. However, the large Game is in that class of animals where
functionality and competitiveness have combined to create a breed that
poets have written about, people have argued over & admired - much
like a good Thoroughbred horse. |
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"The English Game Cock" "Small head, and strong and lofty neck, by H. Atkinson, Oct. 24, 1913 |
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