"Game" bird question

Hi,
What are "Game" birds?
Or is it just a term used for certain breeds of chicken?
Thx

Game is a breed of chicken.



this is a hatch game hen

"Game chicken" and "Game bird" can actually mean two different things.
"game chicken" is a chicken that is (or used to be) used for cockfighting, a sport enjoyed around the world in which two roosters fight each other, because they have a deep hatred for one another; usually to the death. Alot of these birds do not fight to the death, but are judged more on style and grittiness, etc. The birds like this game (if they are REAL game chickens)

"game bird" can mean game chicken, or it can also mean any bird that is hunted, ie grouse, quail, pheasant, turkey, etc. The game in this instance is the actual hunt. This is also a sport known and enjoyed around the world. The birds do not like this game.

Edit to say:
Hey boo, that looks just like one of my Herman Pinnon Hatch hens:

love that post wclawrence

bird pretty nice too

Edit to say:
Hey boo, that looks just like one of my Herman Pinnon Hatch hens:

hey, she is pretty, do you have a lot of game hens? Do you know a lot about them? So, do you think that is what mine is, Herman Pinnon? I don't know much about them, but I like them because they seem so hardy. In my area, they are everywhere when you drive down the road and a friend of mine said the ones with green legs are Hatches.

hey boo yours is very pretty too I didnt see it the first time, i scrolled right past (darn dial up)

I dont have alot of games, but I used to. I have been breeding in Longtail genetics to all my games, and now have only a few pure games left. I dont know what your hen is. Pinnon's birds are pretty rare, but you may be lucky enough to have one.

Those two hens have some grey blood, (silver or golden duckwing) in them, thus the white feathers in their hackles. "Hatch" due to the fact that they have green legs, but some none game hens can look this way too. Some EE hens come green legged, as long as she is "gamey" and doesn't lay blue/green eggs could very well be a game hen...both are nice looking hens. Great informative post wclawrence.


pure hatch hen

Do only game hens have the spur on their legs too? It stood on on those pictures. Pretty unique. I am planning to get some Old English Game bantams...now those hens don't have spurs on their legs...can anyone tell me why?

Thanks

- Tommy

Spurred hens happen because the birds have a really high amount of testosterone. OEGBs are only game in name. But game chickens that are still fought today commonly have spurred hens. Many breeders don't like this as it makes it easy to break the eggs in the nest. I find that personally I like spurred hens, and have found I have one particular cock that throws spurred hens quite often. But he is a Phoenix.
It is caused by high testosterone levels. Alot of those hens won't lay very many eggs before they set. I have one spurred hen that lays 16 eggs a year, in two separate clutches, 8 each. But she throws AWESOME stags.
There is a fine line between to many "male" characteristics in a hen and just the right amount. The more the hen looks like a male, the more masculine her stags will be. So the hens that have long tails, red in the neck and saddle, spurs, and an occasional crow, tend to throw great roosters.... that is, if you can get any eggs from them....

But to answer your question, No. All game hens do not have spurs. You can breed for it or against it, depending on where your priorities are.
Alot of Longtail hens also have spurs.