Physical Fitness in Poultry

[LaFleche]

I want to try not to conflate overall health with physical fitness.

We humans, at those of us old enough to see cardiologist and other doctors, are given physical fitness tests and told to exercise to a cerrtain elevated heart rate for twenty to thirty minutes multiple times per week.. There are defined measures of physical fitness based on age and timed running and such. You can find them on the internet.

How would we know a bird is physically fit other than by the looks of it?

I'd say that a bird is physically fit when able to survive predator attacks for many years while free-ranging.

Or did you have some kind of agility/fitness-parcours for chickens in mind?

 

[raingarden]

Fighting gamefowl might be a special case. They have to be physically fit, but they also have to be athletic.

I have been known to use physical fitmess and athleticism interchangably. Then I found essays on the internet (it has everything, you know) that describe differences. Physical fitness seems to be related to health and being able to perform life functions efficiently with stamina. Athleticism seems to be related to proficiency at sports and stamina.

I'm not into the blood sports and don't know much about gamecock fighting. But, it is said that a winning bird needs phyical fitness, stamina and skill. Evidently, there is as much nuisance in the moves make by fishting chickens as there is in professional boxing. I've also heard locals say that they train their gamefowl. It's all sort of hush-hush so a person would never reveal their secret details. It would be interesting to know if they train like Myhammad Ali in his documentary;

 

[raingarden]

I want to try not to conflate overall health with physical fitness.

We humans, at those of us old enough to see cardiologist and other doctors, are given physical fitness tests and told to exercise to a cerrtain elevated heart rate for twenty to thirty minutes multiple times per week.. There are defined measures of physical fitness based on age and timed running and such. You can find them on the internet.

How would we know a bird is physically fit other than by the looks of it?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yes

Of course

No health issues, no parasites, lots of eggs and healthy chicks.

Great fertility rates, great hatching rates, no health issues, no parasites, lots of eggs and healthy chicks.
When the average age of your flock is 7-10 years without any health issues whatsoever (accidents excluded)and the hens still laying and hatching chicks.

Healthy and very spaceous living conditions (free ranging), healthy and natural diet.
No overcrowding and careful selection for social behaviour to avoid abuse and the resulting stress and health issues.

Great answer!