Only the future will tell!
By Kenny Troiano
Copyright © 2019 by Kenny Troiano/Maximus Troy Publications
There are many who question the value of American Games. But for those who breed and raise, and admire them, their true value and worth is obvious. They are the foundation and future security for all domestic chickens. Without American Games, the existence of the modern chicken, and the future of the egg and meat industry may be in question. In just a moment I will explain why.
But first understand that we have adversaries that would like nothing better than to see all chickens disappear, and American Games head the list. Groups, such as Animal Rights Organizations, go to extremes to demonstrate why American Games should be destroyed and eradicated. They even create new laws which are intended to accomplish those means. However, if these organizations, and most importantly, the supporters that fund them, could just look past their hate and their prejudices, they might see how valuable American Games actually are.
And for those who breed and raise chickens for eggs, meat and for show, once they have accomplished the eradication of American Games, it won’t be long before domestic and commercial chickens are next. Proposition 2 in California is a good example of what I am talking about.
Let me tell you what most breeders already know:Gamefowl have existed for more than 4,000 years. They are the closest ancestor to the Wild Junglefowl. Gamefowl have a long history that goes back to ancient times. Up until the late 1800’s they were admired by royalty and commoners alike. Here is the United States, when our founding fathers were deciding our country’s national bird, the gamecock lost only by one vote (The Bald Eagle got 7 votes, the Gamecock got 6, and the Turkey got 1). As far as the modern chicken is concerned, they all owe their origins to the Gamecock. In fact, it was through the power of selective breeding that Gamefowl have evolved into many of the fowl we see today.
In the 1800’s, Gamefowl went through a sort of transmutation. I guess you can say that there was a split; breeders of gamefowl went in one direction, and breeders of the domestic chicken in another. In one direction many breeds of gamefowl were combined to create what we now know as the American Game, and in the other direction the domestic chicken. They were great layers, but when crossed would become fine producers of meat as well. Nowadays we just call them dual purpose breeds, but there was a time when these dual purpose breeds were the standard for both eggs and meat simultaneously.
Chickens were eventually bred and raised for both eggs and meat but would become specialized. This generated another split. Some were bred and raised for eggs and others for meat. Before long the chicken would join the industrial age and their importance would grow exponentially. With this movement, eggs and meat quickly became easily accessible to all.
This quick summary shows the gradual evolution of their form and function, but most importantly, it shows that all fowl, egg layers, meat birds, dual purpose breeds, and ornamental breeds alike, have evolved and owe their origins to gamefowl. Although their purpose has expanded to new areas, it raises the question, has the gamefowl been left behind? Not hardly. They now have a new purpose, which I will discuss in a moment.
How do American Games compare with other fowl?I know what many are thinking. So, how do they compare with some of the modern day commercial backyard strains? Well, it goes without saying that the commercial poultry breeds of today have production qualities that are matched by none. They are far superior than most of the gamefowl strains. For instance:
- The egg layers we have today, such as production crosses (usually Leghorn-Crosses), can lay all year-round, laying more than 300 eggs a year.
- The meat birds of today grow fast and plump, gaining 5 or more pounds in just 5 weeks’ time.
- Then there is the dual purpose breeds, common fowl for the average backyard breeder, these fowl can provide both, egg and meat, really, really well. They are great layers, and can provide plenty of meat for the table.
- And let’s not forget the ornamental breeds, these fowl are normally bred and raised for the poultry shows. Exhibiting fowl is an art of its own and has come a long way. There are many breeds of exhibition fowl available today with a wide range of colors and sizes.
Although, American Games can’t compete in most of those areas, they do have the ability to produce enough eggs and meat to satisfy the average household. And since they are great survivors and foragers, having all the natural instincts of the Wild Junglefowl, they are fairly cheap to raise. If you were to free-range a flock of game hens, they would, without difficulty, raise themselves. So, as you can see, as a backyard poultry project, American Games are more than adequate for the job.
Their value as an exhibitionist:The one area American Games can compete, and they can do it really well, is in the show arena. They are excellent show fowl. Just go to your local fair or poultry shows, American Games get all the attention. They are, and always have been, the king of the exhibitionist.
Exhibitions account for a large part of the great number of breeds that exist today. They also account for all the different variations of color, and the differences in their conformation of body as well. American Games are no different; they possess striking combinations of feather colors and color patterns. With more than 30 varieties, there are many color variations to choose from. They are indeed the most beautiful fowl we have today.
Influence of the shows:Although many fowl have been created or changed due to the needs of the exhibition (this includes the Old English Games and the Old English Modern Games), American Games have been somewhat immune. While many color variations have been created, due to the needs of the exhibition, the basic purpose and structure of the bird has remained fully intact. Breeders of American Games are far different than most other breeders. They are not influenced by shows and the opinions of the judge; they are influenced by only one thing, form and function. Every breeder an individual, each breeds toward the vision he holds in his mind of the perfect bird.
What do these breeders share in common? Conformation of body and color is a big factor, but their performance ability, along with their athletic and aggressive nature is the true driving force in their development. American Games change according to the level of their competition. As the competition improves, so does the breed. I believe that many breeders of ornamental and exhibition breeds, as well as the United States Poultry Association, can learn a valuable lesson from this philosophy and method of breeding.
American Games have many purposes:Highly sought after for their tenacious and aggressive nature, and having the body of an Avian Olympian, American Games are the favorites of breeders throughout the world. Although they are mainly bred for cockfighting, they can be bred and raised for other purposes as well.
For one thing, American Games are the most interesting of all fowl. Unlike many chickens, American Games have great personalities; they have distinctive behaviors and actions that make them unique. Try sitting on a bucket, under a tree for a little while, and watch as the cock looks over his harem of hens, and as the hens care for their little chicks. It’s a sight to behold. Unlike many of the domestic breeds raised today, American Games can hatch and raise their own chicks. They can actually fly, enough to evade predators and to roost high in the trees. And typically, American Games can live longer than most other fowl. And maybe the most important benefit is that they have a strong constitution, which makes them genetically resistant to most diseases.
Their value is more important than you might think:The original question was, “what is the true value and worth of the American Gamecock?” It comes from their strong constitutional vigor, and in their incredible ability to thrive and survive when all other fowl fall victims to outbreaks of disease and environmental instabilities.
Being the supreme show fowl as they are, American Games may have a special purpose, one that is more important than ever before, and that is the role of savior. In other words, due to their many strengths they may be instrumental in the survival of all poultry.
Geneticists feel that when disaster suddenly strikes, such as the case of disease or extreme case of genetic erosion, due to close inbreeding, the commercial poultry industry will need a strong genetic pool to draw from. Most agree that American Games are the most likely candidate for the job.
Every day, commercial poultry are being bred for the sole purpose of higher production. The strains are closely bred and sheltered from the possible effects of genetic diversity. Little by little they are losing their genetic resistance to infectious diseases, and their gene pool is becoming weaker due to being less and less diverse. Very seldom are they bred to fowl outside their own tight lines. In other words, they are seldom crossed or outcrossed, which would strengthen and refresh the lines.
To make things worse, brood fowl of commercial lines are never kept for more than a year or two. Here is where the problem lies in this method of breeding; when you use only young fowl as breeders, you may be perpetuating weaknesses that are unknown, such as strains that are short-lived, having a higher susceptibility to infectious disease, and carrying genetic faults. When you use older fowl as brood fowl, you are able to measure their longevity, select fowl that can survive exposure to disease, and cull in favor of superior characteristics and traits. By practicing proper selective breeding techniques, your fowl will have a strong constitutional vigor which they need.
It will be the American Game that will come to save the day:Genetic erosion is a serious problem, one that should not be taken lightly. If we are not careful, it could mean the destruction of the chicken as we know it. Every breeder has the responsibility to safeguard his lines, but also to keep them strong and vigorous. By using American Games to introduce some genetic diversity, thereby improving the genetic pool of our commercial flocks, it will, in turn, strengthen their genetic resistance to disease and improve their constitutional vigor. All it takes is one infusion and the benefits of that one infusion will go a long way to improving our commercial strains.
Should the commercial poultry breeder use American Games in their breeding programs?Not if they change their breeding practices. However, the genes of American Games can prove extremely valuable in the protection and preservation of the domestic fowl. This will prevent the eventual destruction of their strains, which is being eroded every day by commercialism and improper breeding methods. And will protect them from infectious disease.
So if you were to ask me – “what is the true value and worth of the American Gamecock?” I would have to say that their value is highly significant.
