Some gamefowl breeders may have been fed with faulty information at some point in their lives. Such misinformation can lead to malpractice. It is now time to debunk these breeding misconceptions so that you could be a better breeder.
Myth #1: The gamefowl breeding business is only for the rich.
It’s a fact: running a gamefowl breeding business is very complicated. An ideal setup requires significant investments and capital requirements that include budget for breeding stocks, facilities, and manpower, among many requisites that a common breeder would not usually have at his disposal. This, however, does not mean that ordinary folks can no longer try it. If they’re already armed with the necessary knowledge in gamefowl breeding, they just need to set a realistic and practical goal to be able to get a good start in this new venture. They should range their gamefowls to a more manageable number, while opting to breed chickens at the level or demand of standard derbies, making them affordable to humble cockfighters. Always begin within your budget and with the right planning.
Myth #2: It is a good idea to specialize in many breeds – the more, the merrier.
Gamefowl breeding is no easy task. Apart from the perpetually mentioned financial demands, breeding takes a lot of one’s precious time. If you hastily pick on gamefowls that do not match your ability and capacity to handle well, you might just end up with low quality fowls since they were managed poorly. Focusing on just one or two types to maintain is the best way for breeders to produce high quality fighting cocks.
Myth #3: Cross-breeding will result in inferior stock and diluted bloodline.
This only happens to breeders who fail to carefully plan. Cross-breeding, like inbreeding, is not taboo but is a widely-used practice in the industry. This happens when breeders who wish to combine the traits of each chicken or mate two fowls from different bloodlines. If your Roundhead has gameness but falls short in the cutting category, you may infuse a better cutting prowess, which you can get from a Claret, by cross-breeding. Doing this will not dilute the bloodline but will only produce chicks that are better versions of their parents.
Myth #4: Hens are monogamous.
Gamefowl breeders have probably heard about this age-old myth that hens, or even chickens in general, are monogamous and will remain to mate with the same chicken. Because of this misconception, many amateur breeders just let their chicken loose, not thinking that their hens can mate with another rooster. This mistake in turn ruins the initial plan of the breeder. Chickens are not monogamous. They are primed to continue their breed and mate with the most suitable partners at the time. This is why experienced breeders provide specific breeding pens so they can have a controlled environment for the chickens to breed.
Myth #5: A good looking rooster is ALWAYS a good fighter.
This is not the case on every occasion. Yes, a good-looking rooster shows how much effort and care the breeder has put in but looks alone cannot determine one’s skills in the cockpit. Masters of the craft breed for fighting prowess over looks. They may try to have their birds look better but in truth, they are always much more interested in the bloodlines and how the gamefowl fights. It is only a plus factor that when a fowl is well taken care of, it shows winning looks. In fact, there are events when even the most good-looking gamefowls fall against the less gorgeous ones.
Myth #6: Chickens can’t survive in cold climates.
Lastly, amateur breeders would often claim that chickens cannot survive in high elevation areas where the climate is cold. They claim chickens will easily get sick because of the weather. However, experts have already debunked this, proving that chickens can adjust and survive in a cool climate. As long as they are given good care – warm water and shelter on cold days, suitable food and supplements, and ample time to acclimate to the weather, they are sure to survive.
For successful gamefowl breedings, it is always best to consult with an expert. It also won’t hurt to seek a second opinion.
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Sources:
https://www.totalgamefowl.com/common-gamefowl-breeding-myths/
