Aggressive Poultry Breeds -
Dealing with Aggressive Poultry by
Katie Thear
Part 3 of 4
Genetic Tendancy to Aggression in Poultry
Some breeds and individual birds are more aggressive than others.
Game birds, with their close-fitting (hard-feathered) plumage, long
legs and sharp spurs have been used for the sport of cockfighting
for thousands of years.
There is some evidence that they have also been selectively bred
for this purpose, judging by the 17 th century advice: “In
your election chuse him which is of a strong shape, good colour,
true valour, and of a most sharp and ready hee.l” (Cheape
and Good Husbandry. Gervase Markham. 1614)
Generally speaking, the heavy red-feathered breeds that have been
developed as table or sitting breeds are less wild and flighty than
the light white-feathered egg breeds.
Similarly, utility breeds that have been bred for production have
less of an aggressive tendency.
Hybrids tend to be more docile than pure breeds. In recent years,
with the growing emphasis on commercial free-range, there has been
yet more effort to select for docility. The tendency of many hybrid
hens to squat down in the submissive mating position when approached
is an indication of this.
The following table indicates the relative docility of breeds, and
reflects the level of selection (and taming) that has taken place
for utility purposes.
Please be aware that it is only a generalised summary. There are
always exceptions depending on individual birds and strains of flock.
When buying birds, whether they are pure breeds or hybrids, question
the breeder about this aspect. It is in everyone’s interest
to avoid having aggressive birds.
Docility of Breeds of Poultry
Most Aggressive Chickens
Game birds, eg,
Old English Game,
Calder Ranger
Asil, Shamo,
Sumatra, Indian
Game, Malay.
Fairly Wild Chickens
Un-developed old breeds eg,
Old English Pheasant Fowl, Derbyshire Redcap, Poland, Campine.
Fairly Docile Chickens
Utility light breeds, eg, Leghorn,
Welsummer,
Bovans White
More Docile Chickens
Utility heavy breeds, eg, RIR,
Barnevelder,
Plymouth Rock,
Marans, Dorking
Most Docile Chickens
Hybrids, eg,
Calder Ranger,
Bovans Goldline & Nera, ISA Brown,
Hisex Ranger, Speckledy
Babcock 380
Part Four covers The Environment, Health and Condition Effects on Aggression in Poultry >>
Dealing with Aggression in Poultry
- Aggressive Poultry -
The Pecking Order in Hens
- Aggressive
Poultry - Male Aggression (Cockerels)
- Aggressive
Poultry - Which
Breeds - Genetic Tendencies, Docile Breeds of Chickens
- Aggressive
Poultry - Environment,
Health & Condition Effects on Aggression
Article Copyright © Katie Thear 2006 |
