Post by Predator on Jan 28, 2004 14:30:12 GMT -5
Starting with gamefowl - The Filipino way
by Roy
This is one of the most difficult aspects in the sport of gamefowl fighting (I am not using 'cockfighting' since this term is not used by most of the practitioners around the world), questions will now arise such as: What bloodlines do I start with? What must be the characteristics of a gamefowl that I will be breeding? How do I breed them?
My answers are: The first thing you should do and must not compromise is that you will have to purchase, beg or through whatever means have the best possible top line gamefowl to start with. These are fowls that can cut with pinpoint accuracy, have the power and the will to do so notwithstanding the wounds suffered, and the most important of all, must be game until the last breath of their lives. Second is that this fowls must be of good body shape, meaning good breast, good station, full and shiny plumage, powerful wings and small rounded heads. And Third, all brood fowls must be of excellent health. They must be free from lice, respiratory diseases, and must be vaccinated from the most common diseases.
Unlike in the yesteryears when a breeder is almost dependent on his own ingenuity and advices from old timers in raising gamefowl, the gamefowl breeders of today have much more access to vitamins, medicines and other health aids which can be easily purchased at the local poultry supplies. BELAMYL B12, FORZA ANIMALE, BLUE RIBBON SLASHER FEED, ANIMA-STRATH VITAMIN CAPSULES and other such products will assure super health on your potential aces. Likewise, journals and magazines like THE GAMECOCK, GRIT AND STEEL, FEATHERED WARRIORS and in the Philippines - SABONG and THE FIGHTING COCK, are available with a minimum subscription fee. This reading materials are good sources of information although some may not conform with what you have learned or experienced before, so it is up to you to apply what you think is applicable to your breeding program.
There is really no need to maintain many families or bloodlines, the most succesful breeders of today have only two to four families in their breeding programs. Get a Red Fox Hatch brood cock and two brood hens of Alexander Claret and a Bill Roberts Butcher and you will already produce excellent battle fowls for years. You can cross and recross this lines until you get the kind of fowls you "feel" has all the requirements a battlefowl should have, depending upon your set of standards. Having accomplished that, you will then start selecting the brood stocks that will perpetuate "your" new found family. Select the best hens and roosters among them, fowls which have the same color, body shape, general characteristics and fighting abilities. Then line breed them, father to daughter, grand daughter to father, mother to son, grandson back to the original mother while strict and brutal culling is practiced at the same time.
On the subject of culling, a good breeder must be also be a brutal culler, the weak and the physically deficient must be eliminated immediately, this will minimize the cost of the feed and vitamins. This will also avoid losses in the pit if you will decide to fight them later on. Good open range is very important, the pullets and stags must be allowed to be range until such time they start fighting with each other. If only a limited space is available, maybe because of the presence of predators or other factors, you must be able to compensate it by building more fly and walk pens. You must not also over produce so as to avoid over crowding which may then cause the outbreak of diseases. THE QUANTITY IS NOT IMPORTANT, QUALITY IS THE POINT.
So? How should one start with gamefowls? Start with the best you can get. Bloodlines are very important. You cannot make an ace out of a dunghill. One could not also win with sickly fowls, the best bloodlines in the world won't matter if they are not properly feed and cared fot, they must be given tender, loving care 365 days a year. Lastly, three or four families at the most, not more. Make sure that you have the space and the time. Produce only the number you can afford to take care of.
Roy / gctnet@mozcom.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ultimate Gamecock Articles, (C) Copyright 1998
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/6055/roost.html
Email: k_valuk@hotmail.com
by Roy
This is one of the most difficult aspects in the sport of gamefowl fighting (I am not using 'cockfighting' since this term is not used by most of the practitioners around the world), questions will now arise such as: What bloodlines do I start with? What must be the characteristics of a gamefowl that I will be breeding? How do I breed them?
My answers are: The first thing you should do and must not compromise is that you will have to purchase, beg or through whatever means have the best possible top line gamefowl to start with. These are fowls that can cut with pinpoint accuracy, have the power and the will to do so notwithstanding the wounds suffered, and the most important of all, must be game until the last breath of their lives. Second is that this fowls must be of good body shape, meaning good breast, good station, full and shiny plumage, powerful wings and small rounded heads. And Third, all brood fowls must be of excellent health. They must be free from lice, respiratory diseases, and must be vaccinated from the most common diseases.
Unlike in the yesteryears when a breeder is almost dependent on his own ingenuity and advices from old timers in raising gamefowl, the gamefowl breeders of today have much more access to vitamins, medicines and other health aids which can be easily purchased at the local poultry supplies. BELAMYL B12, FORZA ANIMALE, BLUE RIBBON SLASHER FEED, ANIMA-STRATH VITAMIN CAPSULES and other such products will assure super health on your potential aces. Likewise, journals and magazines like THE GAMECOCK, GRIT AND STEEL, FEATHERED WARRIORS and in the Philippines - SABONG and THE FIGHTING COCK, are available with a minimum subscription fee. This reading materials are good sources of information although some may not conform with what you have learned or experienced before, so it is up to you to apply what you think is applicable to your breeding program.
There is really no need to maintain many families or bloodlines, the most succesful breeders of today have only two to four families in their breeding programs. Get a Red Fox Hatch brood cock and two brood hens of Alexander Claret and a Bill Roberts Butcher and you will already produce excellent battle fowls for years. You can cross and recross this lines until you get the kind of fowls you "feel" has all the requirements a battlefowl should have, depending upon your set of standards. Having accomplished that, you will then start selecting the brood stocks that will perpetuate "your" new found family. Select the best hens and roosters among them, fowls which have the same color, body shape, general characteristics and fighting abilities. Then line breed them, father to daughter, grand daughter to father, mother to son, grandson back to the original mother while strict and brutal culling is practiced at the same time.
On the subject of culling, a good breeder must be also be a brutal culler, the weak and the physically deficient must be eliminated immediately, this will minimize the cost of the feed and vitamins. This will also avoid losses in the pit if you will decide to fight them later on. Good open range is very important, the pullets and stags must be allowed to be range until such time they start fighting with each other. If only a limited space is available, maybe because of the presence of predators or other factors, you must be able to compensate it by building more fly and walk pens. You must not also over produce so as to avoid over crowding which may then cause the outbreak of diseases. THE QUANTITY IS NOT IMPORTANT, QUALITY IS THE POINT.
So? How should one start with gamefowls? Start with the best you can get. Bloodlines are very important. You cannot make an ace out of a dunghill. One could not also win with sickly fowls, the best bloodlines in the world won't matter if they are not properly feed and cared fot, they must be given tender, loving care 365 days a year. Lastly, three or four families at the most, not more. Make sure that you have the space and the time. Produce only the number you can afford to take care of.
Roy / gctnet@mozcom.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ultimate Gamecock Articles, (C) Copyright 1998
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/6055/roost.html
Email: k_valuk@hotmail.com