Oxford Old English Game

The second of two distinct standardised types of Old English Game recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain, the Oxford type is characterised by a taller, more upright build, longer back, and more rangy appearance compared to the compact Carlisle type. Developed by fanciers in the Oxford area and the English Midlands during the 19th century, the Oxford type was selected for a more elegant, longer silhouette that some argue is closer to the original fighting type of Old English Game. It has a single comb, clean legs, hard feathering, and is bred in an enormous range of colour varieties — OEG is said to have more recognised colour varieties than any other breed in the PCGB standard. After cockfighting was banned in Britain, the Oxford type became a pure exhibition breed. The Oxford-Carlisle divide is one of the oldest and most enduring splits in British poultry history. Not yet recognised separately by the EE Europastandard.