This thread is so touching! Bless you for having that instinct to stop and save poor Lucky!
In the earlier thread discussion there was some speculation as to whether he spent some time in illegal cockfighting. Folks dub roosters for a lot of reasons - reduce picking, reduce frostbite risk, treat frostbite (I had to have a roo dubbed during a very bad winter once when he got horrible frostbite - he was a Red Pyle game breed mix), and for show (APA requires dubbing of some game breeds, not sure about the American Gamefowl Assn. requirements). He's definitely a game breed of some kind, since he appears hard-feathered (not fluffy like a RIR or BR), with tons of showy saddle feathering. When his tail grows back, son't be surprised if it grows in as a huge white sickle with a tuft of "cotton" at the base. That's classic Red Pyle coloring, and it's a coloring generally seen only in games. He looks like an OEG rather than an American Pit Game (APG), as the OEG's are a little heavier I think. I noticed that he seems to be a mature roo with not much for spurs.
The reason I brought up the spurs is that cockers (as cockfighters are known) usually saw the spurs down so they can attach the gaffs (razors) to the bird. Often they use a hacksaw on the spur, leaving a neat, level stump. Of course, someone may use a saw to trim their roo's spurs just to protect their hens from injury, so it's not a telltale sign of fighting. But it may be one more clue to Lucky's past. And gamecocks tend to be pretty friendly with people - after all they are handled a lot by their owners. If you have another rooster around when Lucky meets the flock, you'll know if he has a fighting past, b/c if he does, he'll go after the other roo like he's made out of cracked corn. But that might not happen - my Red Pyle APG cross was the low ranked rooster, and never tried to fight once.
I have an acquaintence who was raised as a cocker, who was a cocker until it was made a felony in PA. He is in his 80's and still raises birds, but does not fight them anymore. He grew up raising chickens and knows a lot of useful stuff. He dubbed my rooster for me when his comb got frozen, and I've talked with him about his past. Please don't take my association and the information I obtained therefrom as an endorsement of cockfighting. Game breeds are particularly showy and beautiful, and I support them being bred for show; I believe cockfighting is barbaric and cruel, and should be outlawed.
I am looking forward to updates on Lucky!
In the earlier thread discussion there was some speculation as to whether he spent some time in illegal cockfighting. Folks dub roosters for a lot of reasons - reduce picking, reduce frostbite risk, treat frostbite (I had to have a roo dubbed during a very bad winter once when he got horrible frostbite - he was a Red Pyle game breed mix), and for show (APA requires dubbing of some game breeds, not sure about the American Gamefowl Assn. requirements). He's definitely a game breed of some kind, since he appears hard-feathered (not fluffy like a RIR or BR), with tons of showy saddle feathering. When his tail grows back, son't be surprised if it grows in as a huge white sickle with a tuft of "cotton" at the base. That's classic Red Pyle coloring, and it's a coloring generally seen only in games. He looks like an OEG rather than an American Pit Game (APG), as the OEG's are a little heavier I think. I noticed that he seems to be a mature roo with not much for spurs.
The reason I brought up the spurs is that cockers (as cockfighters are known) usually saw the spurs down so they can attach the gaffs (razors) to the bird. Often they use a hacksaw on the spur, leaving a neat, level stump. Of course, someone may use a saw to trim their roo's spurs just to protect their hens from injury, so it's not a telltale sign of fighting. But it may be one more clue to Lucky's past. And gamecocks tend to be pretty friendly with people - after all they are handled a lot by their owners. If you have another rooster around when Lucky meets the flock, you'll know if he has a fighting past, b/c if he does, he'll go after the other roo like he's made out of cracked corn. But that might not happen - my Red Pyle APG cross was the low ranked rooster, and never tried to fight once.
I have an acquaintence who was raised as a cocker, who was a cocker until it was made a felony in PA. He is in his 80's and still raises birds, but does not fight them anymore. He grew up raising chickens and knows a lot of useful stuff. He dubbed my rooster for me when his comb got frozen, and I've talked with him about his past. Please don't take my association and the information I obtained therefrom as an endorsement of cockfighting. Game breeds are particularly showy and beautiful, and I support them being bred for show; I believe cockfighting is barbaric and cruel, and should be outlawed.
I am looking forward to updates on Lucky!
