Old English Game
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fun Fact
Old English Game birds have been selectively bred for over 2,000 years. Julius Caesar noted that Britons kept fighting cocks 'for pleasure and amusement' in 54 BC. The resulting gene pool contains some of the most diverse plumage genetics of any breed.
Britain's oldest breed type and one of the most historically significant chickens in the world, descended directly from the fighting birds that were kept in Britain before and during the Roman period. After cock-fighting was outlawed in 1849, Old English Game birds were redirected into the show world, where dozens of colour varieties were standardised. They are compact, muscular, and bold — naturally aggressive between males but manageable in single-pair or free-range systems.
🏷️ Breed
Old English Game
💭 Temperament
Bold, active, brave, territorial between males, hardy
📏 Size
Medium (2.3-3.2 kg)
⏳ Lifespan
5-10 years
🎨 Colors
Dozens of varieties — black-red, blue-red, duckwing, wheaten, pile, spangled
🌍 Origin
England — ancient pre-Roman origin; standardised post-1849
🏠 Habitat
Free-range or individual pens; males must be separated after maturity
🍽️ Diet
Layer pellets; excellent forager — historically kept on minimal rations
🎯 Purpose
Ornamental
🥚 Egg Colour
Tinted
👑 Comb Type
Single
🏅 EE Class
Large Fowl