New Opportunities for Gamefowl

[varidgerunner]

I'm not very good at graphics, but this is a rough idea of what I'm talking about.

 

[centrarchid]

Need a double pulley with one closest to bird making so rope pulled horizontally.

 

[varidgerunner]

Need a double pulley with one closest to bird making so rope pulled horizontally.

Agreed. And probably built out of plywood. Kind of like a box with the open side facing the spectators. Load and position each bird and then pull out the divider. Establish some kind of time limit. The weight could rest on something like a clothes pin with contacts on the grip part. Weight holds clothes pin open. When it shuts contact is made causing a light on the respective roosters side to flash, indicating for all spectators that he lifted the weight. This would have to be some sort of standardized unit, most likely portable. The bottom should be made with some material that provides traction, but is able to be sanitized.

 

[varidgerunner]

So, we have some idea of a pulling contest. There is also talk of a flight contest. Distance, maybe timed. The thing that concerns me is that not everyone might be able to train their birds easily for this type of test. While they certainly are trainable, and that is one of the things that makes them special, I don't think this competition should be real specialized, it needs to be something people could understand, and embrace, join and be a part of. I still think a test of vertical flight up onto a perch would be pretty easily accomplished.

A test of flight could probably be won by another breed, say a jungle fowl or a phoenix. The pulling contest could go to a RIR. I keep trying to think of something that would really showcase gamefowl abilities. I thought of a piñata type deal, but I don't know how you could make that work. I keep reading about crowing contests, but I can't find out much about it. That is definitely something mine would be good at! If you made it kind of like a triathlon type event, I think that would come closer to favoring gamefowl.

 

[centrarchid]

You may have to limit competition to games. If not then games will still likely be all around best. My games would be able match Phoenix in flight but those with lots of Asian / Indian inputs will likely be too heavy in butt for sustained flight. I would enjoy proving that to the oriental fanatics out there. Same old world birds would also be very good on the brute strength of legs. Like many physical events training provided by a coach makes so you have teammates. Some birds will excel at learning which will rightfully give theme an edge.

Events I am thinking about now are as follows; vertical flight, horizontal flight, pulling for strength, pulling for endurance, pulling for speed, and number of sticking hits that can be put on a pinata. Birds might also be trainable to follow a laser pointer which could be used to direct them through an obstacle course. The training and conditioning aspects should not be overlooked as such are also importing to cockers trying give birds every edge they can in addition to breeding. It is not just breeding.

 

[fowlsessed]

Don't know what ever happened to this thread. But wow, this is funny. Interesting, though. I think it's actually a good idea, chicken athletic games. But here's some of my thoughts.

As to all the ideas you guys are presenting. I think they are great, but let's face it, they'll be chicken games and do nothing of major benefit specifically for our wonderful gamefowl. I think many different breeds will be found to compete quite satisfactorily.

And chicken games are for chicken people, an insider thing, I guess. You probably wont ever have people watching them like they do football. So "socially acceptable" is of less consideration, except for removing stigmas, perhaps. We can't always try to please the world, well, that's impossible. Some are against chicken keeping period.

 

[centrarchid]

Don't know what ever happened to this thread. But wow, this is funny. Interesting, though. I think it's actually a good idea, chicken athletic games. But here's some of my thoughts.

As to all the ideas you guys are presenting. I think they are great, but let's face it, they'll be chicken games and do nothing of major benefit specifically for our wonderful gamefowl. I think many different breeds will be found to compete quite satisfactorily.

And chicken games are for chicken people, an insider thing, I guess. You probably wont ever have people watching them like they do football. So "socially acceptable" is of less consideration, except for removing stigmas, perhaps. We can't always try to please the world, well, that's impossible. Some are against chicken keeping period. 

Selection pressure will undoubtedly take population into another direction. Gameness as measured in the pit will suffer unless breeders have method to continue such pressure which is already a reality with many lines simply bred and kept because they are "games". Rules can be set with respect to husbandry that continues many of the hardiness related chararcters of games. Speed, endurance and possibly even smarts could be enhanced with proper game design where winners get more time in breeding pens. Additionally competition can operate on female side as well.

 

[JShubin]

Selection pressure will undoubtedly take population into another direction. Gameness as measured in the pit will suffer unless breeders have method to continue such pressure which is already a reality with many lines simply bred and kept because they are "games". Rules can be set with respect to husbandry that continues many of the hardiness related chararcters of games. Speed, endurance and possibly even smarts could be enhanced with proper game design where winners get more time in breeding pens. Additionally competition can operate on female side as well.

I plan to build the tug-o-war apparatus this weekend. I am going to use my kid's bicycle rims as pulleys and I am going to buy small dog harnesses to strap the roosters. I will make a simple frame out of the left over metal from my avairy. I will document the build and post it on this thread (or maybe in the coop design section). If I finish this weekend I will try to post a video of two roosters competing.

I think the tug-o-war would promote aggression and strength in gamefowl (or any breed) but not "gameness" as cockers view it... depending on how long the competion will last it will also promote persistance and endurance. I still cant visulize how the roosters will react to the idea, which is why I need to try it out.

I dont think it would ever be mainstream, but its worth a try at least for the gamefowl enthusiast likes us... Maybe in some Asian countries where gamefowl are popular and they dont have Football.

 

[centrarchid]

I would like compare hangtime when flying down from a standardized perch. vertical high jump / flight, horizontal flight distance, and horizontal flight speed, running time from point A to point B possibly with waypoints like in a an obsticle course, and something that might involve problem solving to get at eats. Based on recent battle with trashcan, we might be able to have birds demontrate sticking abiltity with markers affixed to spurs where you count number of hits on a dummy target. Some of these would require extensive training so would demand mental and physical investment by both cocker and birds. I would not treat such events like hacking, rather you take enough of your birds so that you have multiple competing per team where winners of individual events and high mean score would be used to calculate winning team. To keep birds in all around capability I would have birds compete in multiple events each time.

This whole effort would be a lot more involved than preparing birds for pit, a lot more, even so some of the same conditioning methods would likely still apply.

 

[JShubin]

I would like compare hangtime when flying down from a standardized perch. vertical high jump / flight, horizontal flight distance, and horizontal flight speed, running time from point A to point B possibly with waypoints like in a an obsticle course, and something that might involve problem solving to get at eats. Based on recent battle with trashcan, we might be able to have birds demontrate sticking abiltity with markers affixed to spurs where you count number of hits on a dummy target. Some of these would require extensive training so would demand mental and physical investment by both cocker and birds. I would not treat such events like hacking, rather you take enough of your birds so that you have multiple competing per team where winners of individual events and high mean score would be used to calculate winning team. To keep birds in all around capability I would have birds compete in multiple events each time.

This whole effort would be a lot more involved than preparing birds for pit, a lot more, even so some of the same conditioning methods would likely still apply.

I like all those ideas... especially the kicking ability one and the obstacle course... although the course may have to be trainer led, kind of like how dogs follow their masters through the course. Otherwise I could see a rooster getting confused and just standing there if he cant see a goal/objective/or way through the course.

All the other events seems like they would be competing one at a time... comparing only data. Would you think you have side by side running, jumping and flying? Or do one at a time?

I also would think a beauty pageant would be appropriate before the competitions begin.