If you’re a chicken enthusiast, you’ve probably wondered about the best game chicken breeds we still have today.
I know cockfighting is illegal across all US states and even in some of our neighboring countries.
But the legacy of game chickens lives on through their popularity as show birds and backyard pets.
Plus, it’s still fascinating to know!
Back in the early days of America, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington wanted a game fowl to be the national bird—not the American Eagle.
They were avid rooster-fighter enthusiasts who even fought their birds on the Whitehouse lawn several times.
Game chickens, also known as fighting chickens, have been bred for centuries because of their aggressive nature and fighting ability.
Many of these breeds originated from wild birds, most commonly wild junglefowl.
From there, they were selectively bred by people to become more aggressive with better bodies for fighting.
In this article, we will explore some of the best game chicken breeds and what makes them so interesting.
The 9 Best Game Chicken Breeds (and Most Popular, too!)
1. American Game Chicken
The American Game chicken, also known as the Old English Game, is one of the oldest and most well-known game chicken breeds.
They are small, athletic birds that come in various colors, including black, brown, red, and blue.
American Game chickens are known for their strong, muscular build and their aggressive nature.
They are also prized for their beauty and are a popular breed in the show circuit.
The American Game chickens are primarily bred for show and ornamental purposes.
However, they can also be raised for meat and egg production.
They are good layers of small white eggs and are known for their meat quality.
American Game chickens are a hardy breed and do well in a variety of climates, making them a popular choice for backyard flocks.
2. Aseel (Asil) Chicken
The Aseel chicken is well known for its strength, courage, and fighting ability.
They are muscular birds with strong chests and powerful builds, especially in the hocks and legs.
Aseel chickens come in different colors, including black, red, and white.
While Aseel chickens are primarily bred for fighting, they are also kept as show birds and for their meat quality.
They are a slow-growing breed, taking up to 6 months to reach maturity.
Their meat is considered a delicacy in many parts of the world.
They are still used in some parts of the world for fighting, but in the US and Canada, they are most popular as show birds.
3. Australian Game Fowl
Australian Game Fowl, also known as Australian Pit Game, originated in Australia sometime in the mid to late 9th Century.
It is a tough and robust breed developed for fighting.
And like many other game fowl breeds, it is now primarily used for exhibition purposes.
The Australian Game Fowl is a medium-sized bird with a muscular and compact body.
They have broad, flat heads and short, strong legs well-suited for fighting.
They come in a range of colors, including black, white, red, gold, and blue.
The Australian Game Fowl is known for its excellent stamina, fighting spirit, and hardiness.
They have a strong resistance to diseases and are able to withstand harsh environments.
As a result, they are popular among backyard breeders and farmers.
Despite their history in cockfighting, the Australian Game Fowl is now mainly bred for exhibition purposes.
They are popular for their striking appearance and proud stance, which makes them a popular choice in poultry shows.
Their uniqueness makes them a favorite among niche poultry enthusiasts.
4. Cubalaya (Cuban Game) Chicken
The Cuban Game chicken, also known as the Cubalaya, is a breed that originated in Cuba and is highly prized for its beauty and fighting ability.
It’s a medium-sized bird with a distinctive upright posture and colorful plumage.
Cuban Game chickens come in various colors, including white, black, blue wheaten, Golden duckwing, Silver Duckwing, and various shades of brown.
While Cuban Game chickens are primarily used for show and ornamental purposes, they can also be raised for meat and egg production.
They are good layers of medium-sized brown eggs and are known for their meat quality.
Cuban Game chickens are a hardy breed and do well in several climates, making them a popular choice for backyard game chicken flocks.
5. Indian Game Chicken
The Indian Game chicken, also known as the Cornish Game chicken, is a breed of domestic chicken that originated in the Indian subcontinent.
These birds were initially bred for cockfighting, a popular sport in India, but are now primarily used for meat production.
This change happened in the early 1820s, thanks to Sir Walter Gilbert in England.
The Indian Game chicken is a robust, muscular bird with a broad, deep chest, short legs, and a close-fitting plumage.
They have a distinctive, wedge-shaped body that gives them a strong and powerful appearance.
One of the defining characteristics of the Indian Game chicken is its large breast muscles, which make it ideal for meat production.
They have tender and succulent meat that is highly prized by renowned chefs and typical grocery store consumers alike.
6. Malay Chicken
The Malay chicken is a breed that originated in Malaysia and is one of the oldest breeds of chicken in the world.
They can reach heights of up to 3 feet tall and weigh up to 12 pounds—which is very unusual for game chickens.
Malay chickens are known for their strength, endurance, and aggressive nature—a bit terrifying when combined with their disposition.
While Malay chickens are primarily bred for show and ornamental purposes, they can also be raised for meat and egg production.
They are good layers of large brown eggs and are known for their meat quality.
Malay chickens are a hardy breed and do well in a variety of climates.
7. Shamo Game Chicken
The Shamo chicken, also known as the O-Shamo, is a breed that originated in Japan and is highly prized for its fighting ability.
They are a large, muscular bird with a broad chest and a powerful build.
Shamo chickens come in various colors, including black, red, and grey.
While Shamo chickens are primarily used for fighting, they are also kept as show birds and for their meat quality.
They are a slow-growing breed, taking up to 8 months to reach maturity.
Their meat is also considered a delicacy in many parts of the world.
8. Sumatra Chicken
The Sumatra chicken is a breed that originated in Indonesia and is highly prized for its beauty and fighting ability.
They are medium-sized birds with a distinctive upright posture and gorgeous, richly black plumage with an iridescent green sheen.
Sumatra chickens are known for their strength, agility, and endurance.
While Sumatra chickens are primarily used for show and ornamental purposes, they can also be raised for meat and egg production.
They are decent layers of medium-sized brown eggs and are known for their meat quality.
Sumatra chickens are a hardy breed and do well in a variety of climates, making them a popular choice for backyard flocks.
9. Thai Game Chicken
The Thai Game chicken, also known as the Thai Asil, is a breed that originated in Thailand and has been bred for centuries for its fighting ability.
It’s a large, muscular bird with an upright posture and robust build.
Thai Game chickens come in the following varieties: Dark Black Tail, Red Black, and Yellow White Tail.
While Thai Game chickens are primarily used for fighting in other countries, they are also kept as show birds and for their meat quality.
They are a slow-growing breed, taking up to 6 months to reach maturity, but their meat is considered a delicacy in many parts of the world.
FAQs about the Best Game Chicken Breeds
What Is The Most Aggressive Game Fowl?
Many sources consider the Thai Game Fowl to be the most aggressive out of all other breeds.
What Is The Meanest Chicken Breed?
The Thai Game Fowl is the meanest chicken breed.
Thankfully, for most backyard chicken keepers, it is not an easy or common breed to accidentally come up with.
However, it can be used to your favor—they are protective of their flocks, smart, agile, fantastic foragers, and can fly.
Because of this, they can work as a small protection or guardian animal.
Is Chicken Fighting Legal?
Chicken fighting is illegal in all fifty states of the United States, as well as in Canada, the UK, Australia, Germany, Iraq, Pakistan, and many others.
Cockfighting is legal in Mexico, the Philippines, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama, and a few other countries.
Fighting chickens is mostly illegal in France, except for a few regions where it has been an uninterrupted tradition.
It’s partially legal in Spain too.
Best Game Chicken Breeds: Final Thoughts
In conclusion, game chickens are a unique and fascinating breed of chicken that have been bred for centuries for their aggressive nature and fighting ability.
While cockfighting is illegal in many parts of the world, game chickens continue to be popular as show birds and backyard pets.
The breeds listed above are some of the best game chicken breeds and are highly prized for their strength, endurance, and beauty.
If you are interested in raising game chickens, be sure to do your research and provide them with a safe and comfortable environment to thrive.
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