American Game (chicken)

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The American Game is a game breed originating in the United States. It's colors come widely in range due to them being bred for the pit instead of color. Though the most common are Black breasted red (called reds, or by strain name), Wheaten (called reds, or strain name.), Silver duckwings (Called greys), Golden duckwings (called greys), White, black, brownred, red quil, blue (in various forms, this includes splash, blue wheaten, blue reds, etc.), and gold or pumpkin. The American gamefowl should not be confused with Old English Games, another breed once bred for the pit though now is an exhibition bird.

History

American gamefowl is a breed of poultry which were once bred for cockfighting, they played a big role in American history as they were bred, fought, and raised by many of our political leaders in the past. And contributed to Abraham Lincoln's nickname honest Abe as he was a cockfighting referee.

Most American gamefowl lines (or strains) consist of Irish, Old English, and Oriental Gamefowl. However many others contain Spanish, along with gamefowl from other places including the Sumatra breed. The American gamefowl is now becoming popular as a show breed since cockfighting has been outlawed.

The American gamefowl are truly an amazing breed, they're some of the most beautiful birds you will ever see and are extremely cold and heat resistant, they are intelligent, and can survive on their own if given the chance. Many places have gamefowl crosses running among the streets/woods, Key west, Guam, and Hawaii are some of the main places known for Spanish crosses running around (some being Americans as well. Along with various places throughout the states have American games running the yards because of escaping from or being let out by the owners.

American games in poultry shows

In the past, game fowl were primarily used for sport purposes. Recent changes in the political atmosphere have brought admirers of this unique poultry strain to follow the footsteps of European counterparts and display their fowl in the show ring. Game fowl are now shown and considered top competitors in poultry shows across the United States and Europe. There is even an on-line game fowl monthly photo contest for showing gamefowl. The fowl are judged using the American Game Fowl Standards - AGFS.

American Game Bantam

There is also a bantam variety of this breed, they were bred down from the large fowl. However like the Old English Game bantams they are not game, and have been crossed with a few other breeds to add feather length and kill gameness. One breed known in this cross is Jungle fowl. American game bantam should not be confused with miniature gamefowl which are pit (game) quality as well as exhibition quality since being selected and not being crossed with other breeds.

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