New Opportunities for Gamefowl

[JShubin]

There could also be utilized the swinging perch. And a chase, like chasing cockroaches! I like as much one on one, like the tug-o-war, but that's hard.

Chases would be cool.. count the number of coachroaches they can eat in 30 seconds or something like that. just make sure there are no hens around or else they'll just pick em up and drop repeateldy, trying to coax a hen over to eat it. Or maybe that can be a competition for hens... because hens go crazy after food.

 

[JShubin]

There could also be utilized the swinging perch. And a chase, like chasing cockroaches! I like as much one on one, like the tug-o-war, but that's hard.

I recently built a swinging/hanging perch that straddles two coops... but only one of my roosters will go on it. The other doenst care.. but I suspect if two were trying to taunt eachother on it, it would make for a good one-on-one competition. Its strudy enough for one rooster to balance on it, but it would probably be difficult for two, making for interesting competition... but I need to test it with another rooster that will actually try it out.

 

[centrarchid]

Chases would be cool.. count the number of coachroaches they can eat in 30 seconds or something like that. just make sure there are no hens around or else they'll just pick em up and drop repeateldy, trying to coax a hen over to eat it.   Or maybe that can be a competition for hens... because hens go crazy after food.

Cocks and bullstags go crazy after hens if properly conditioned. When releasing new hens onto a walk where cock has only a single hen, the new hen when released from sack would sometimes fly more than the length of a football field and cock would fly after her. This might be a way to promote exceptional activity. Some of my trained birds as chicks will fly a good thirty feet for mealworms when conditioned.

 

[fowlsessed]

Nice ideas.

Thought I'd share: In pigeons there's a sport of "thieving," and one in particular called "La Suelta." In La Suelta cocks which have been specially bred of the Pica breed and trained are let after a hen with a white feather attached to her tail. The cocks that get closest, and especially that mate, score highest. Funny sport. But quite a spectacle as there are often hundreds of cocks, which are vividly painted by the keepers, flying around after this hen.

For thieving, people fly, again, special breeds and trained, birds from their home and they go out looking for neighboring birds which they must avoid being captured by, and seduce into coming back home with them, trapping into their keepers loft. Interesting too.
I wonder if we could have hens choosing between cocks, LOL, the best judges, no? I'm just thinking out loud.

@centrarchid, have you ever considered raising pigeons? Seems like with your interest and what you do and all, they would fit in perfectly. They say they are one of the smartest birds, they tame down splendidly. And I knew a girl on the pigeon forum who taught hers to do all kinds of tricks and performances. Not to mention all their other benefits, small size, prolific, early maturation, interesting biology, can be kept every way imaginable. There's a guy who flies La Suelta demonstrations for the public indoors, too. I was just thinking it would be interesting to bring up.

 

[centrarchid]

I have kept pigeons as a kid but they were of feral stock. Gamefowl were part of formal upbringing and more to current interests. Some are smarter than given credit for and in my middle age it is possible to pursue some of the offbeat ideas pondered as a youth.


We could use ripe hens placed in a circle of cocks on tie cords. One hen will be placed at a time. Score would be given to cocks having hen submit for them.

 

[varidgerunner]

I like the idea of the hen choosing. They definitely have their preferences.

 

[centrarchid]

I like the idea of the hen choosing. They definitely have their preferences.

This would likely be an event where dubbing would handicap a male if they are like red jungle fowl.

 

[JShubin]

This would likely be an event where dubbing would handicap a male if they are like red jungle fowl.

I agree. The comb is used as a radiator is it not? I don't think dubbed roosters should be disqualified tho.

 

[fowlsessed]

I've heard it is used that wayJShubin. I think Centrachid means that wild hens prefer large, bright red combs on cocks. I've not noticed this in my yard, I don't believe. Closer observation is in order! Dubbing, I think, most assuredly shouldn't be DQ

 

[centrarchid]

I do not think it would be a disqualification, rather if events are repeated many times it will become evident that dubbing is a handicap for males in the attracting hens arena. My hens are also very good at picking up on males that are in poor health relative to worms, even when all are dubbed.