Carlisle Old English Game
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Hauska Fakta
The Carlisle vs Oxford split in Old English Game is one of the longest-running rivalries in poultry breeding — fanciers have argued about the relative merits of each type for over 150 years, and at some shows, Carlisle and Oxford birds are judged in separate classes to prevent bloodshed among the breeders, if not the birds.
One of two distinct standardised types of Old English Game recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain (alongside the Oxford type), the Carlisle Old English Game is characterised by a more compact, rounded build and a slightly shorter back compared to the taller Oxford type. Developed by fanciers in the Carlisle area of Cumbria in northern England during the 19th century, the Carlisle type was bred both for the cockpit and the show bench. It has a single comb, clean legs, hard feathering, and the characteristic gamefowl carriage. After cockfighting was banned in Britain in 1835 (effectively 1849), the breed transitioned to a pure exhibition bird, and the Carlisle-Oxford rift became formalised as two separate standards within PCGB. The Carlisle type is valued for its neat, balanced proportions and rich colour varieties. Not yet recognised separately by the EE Europastandard, which treats Old English Game as a single breed.
🏷️ Rotu
Carlisle Old English Game
💭 Luonne
Proud, intelligent, calm with keepers, aggressive with other roosters, alert
📏 Koko
Medium (2.3-3.2 kg)
⏳ Elinikä
5-8 years
🎨 Värit
Many colour varieties — black-red, duckwing, pile, birchen, spangle, and dozens more
🌍 Alkuperä
UK — Carlisle, Cumbria; developed 19th century, PCGB recognised as distinct type
🏠 Elinympäristö
Individual or paired housing; cocks must be separated
🍽️ Ravinto
Gamefowl-type high-protein feed; moderate appetite
🎯 Käyttötarkoitus
Fighting
🥚 Munan väri
White
👑 Harjatyyppi
Single