The Aseel chicken breed (Asil chicken) is a martial-breed bird devoted to fighting. These chickens are majestic and loyal to their king or queen-like warriors.
It is no surprise to see even their chicks fighting among themselves for hours from day one.
Let’s plunge into the mayhem of the Aseel chicken breed and discover more about these bold birds.
History and Origin of Aseel Chicken
Aseel, also known as Azeel or Asil, means’ pure ‘in Arabic and’ original, ”high caste,’ ‘high born’ or ‘pure’ in Hindi. This name was given to chickens in India that were considered a game. The Aseel (Asil) chicken breed is highly regarded, which is why it got this name.
The Aseel chicken breed has a lengthy and fascinating history. These birds are part of the game bird breed known for having the longest documented records of any domestic bird.
They were initially bred for rooster fighting and were regarded as one of the best in the world.
This bird fights to the end, and the fight could last even more than a day. They were frequently taped to make the battle more enduring, unlike other game birds that sometimes had metal spurs to inflict maximum damage.
Aseel chickens are said to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and present-day India. They first appeared in America in 1887 and on English soil in 1847 after being introduced by Dr. H.P. Clarke.
An Indian text on law, religion, and philosophy known as “The Codes of Manu,” which dates back to 900 and 1280 B.C, mentions this breed. This goes to prove that these birds have an ancient past.
They were primarily bred as feathered pugilists, which has played a big role in their evolution, constitution, temperament, and, most importantly, majestic structure. Aseels have also played a big part in developing more recent and modern breeds.
Aseel Chicken Color Varieties
The Aseel chicken is a beautiful bird with a wide range of color varieties, and according to the British Poultry Standard, these birds don’t have a fixed color variety.
However, The American Standard of Perfection lists classify them into three varieties; dark, spangled, and black-breasted red.
Their beautiful and colorful breasts and long legs and necks make them stand out from other chicken breeds.
Aseel (Asil) birds are multicolored plumage birds, their primary colors being dark brown, golden, black, and other colors.
Some of the most popular Aseel chickens include Chitta (black and white), Reza (light red), Yarkin (black and red), Nurse 89 (white), Peela (golden red), Teekar (brown), and the Kagar (black).
Most of the breeds have red pea combs, but the redness varies from bird to bird. Their earlobes are also red in color. Many of these birds’ shanks are yellow with white skin and pinkish-red coloration on the breast and any other exposed body part.
Aseel Chicken Lifespan
Aseel chickens have a lifespan of approximately 10 years. The Aseel (Asil) male chicken takes up to 7 or 8 months to mature, while the female will take about 6 to 7 months. At only two months, the male starts to exhibit characteristics of dominance by fighting other chicks.
These birds are healthy breeds that fall ill less often than other birds. However, be watchful for any fights that break out within the flock. It might become a full-blown brawl that could last for hours or lead to serious injuries and death.
Throughout its lifespan, the Aseel bird will shed its feathers once every year. This is because once the feathers mature, their functionality dies out and needs to be replaced. This process is known as “molting.”
During the molting season, these birds become quite vulnerable and less active. Hens stop laying eggs, and the birds become unfit to fight. However, their vigor is restored once the new feathers have grown. The hens soon continue to lay eggs.
This breed grows rather slowly, and they successfully contribute to the discovery of more modern, fleshier breeds. Thanks to the Aseel (Asil) chicken breed, we now enjoy today’s commercial broilers because of their meaty proportions.
Aseel Chicken Temperament
The Aseel chickens were made to fight, and they rule the bird-fighting world. As soon as they can, these chickens start fighting from a very young age. This is because aggression is an undeniable trait among them. They fight well till death.
These chickens are never calm or gentle and have enough stamina for prolonged combat. Their martial characteristics are especially dominant in roosters. Having more than one rooster in your flock only leads to frequent and dangerous fighting.
Even with so much vigor, after some patience and a while of socialization, you can mix up a few breeds in their flock. They somehow fall back from attacking the other breeds and continue fighting among themselves.
These creatures are quite intelligent and friendly to their handlers, and they trust and look up to their human caregivers. They tend to seek us out any time they need assistance on issues.
Though it takes some discipline, the Aseel chicken is great around kids. They play with and protect little humans.
Aseel Chicken Hen Eggs: Laying Age, Count, Egg Size, and Egg Color
Compared to other chicken breeds, Aseels are poor at egg production. They are at the bottom of the egg-laying list, giving out only up to 40 eggs per year, and 40 to 70 is their best.
This number can even drop to a single digit per year for a hen from this breed. The egg colors these birds bring are cream and brown, and the eggs are either medium or large in size.
Even though they are poor layers, these hens are great sitters and go broody occasionally. They are also great with their chicks.
If their young ones are in danger, they have the courage to attack even a snake to ensure their safety.
Also read: Chickens that lay colored-eggs
Color, Size, Appearance, and Characteristics of Aseel Chicken
Color
These birds come in a wide range of color varieties. Though some say they have no color varieties, dark, black-breasted red, and spangled are the most popular options.
They stand out with their multicolored plumage. Some of the colors in this breed are black, white-silver, light red, black and red, white, golden red, and brown, among more subtle and popular colors.
Their beautiful and colorful breasts and long legs and necks make them stand out from other chicken breeds.
Aseel birds are multicolored plumage birds, their primary colors being dark brown, golden, black, and other colors.
Size
Compared to other chickens, Aseels do not appear as fluffy as other chickens. They often look lighter than other chickens, but let not their appearance fool you. Ironically, these chickens are heavier than they look.
The male Aseel (Asil) chicken weighs 4-5 kg. On the other hand, the hens weigh around 2 to 3 kg. Under all their layers of plumage, you can see that they have abundant muscles.
You can also tell they are quite weighty from their long, slender faces and necks that are not covered by feathers. Also, you can tell from their long and straight legs.
Also read: Top large size chicken breeds
Appearance
The most outstanding thing about the Aseel breed is their long tails, which are sometimes very extensive. These extensive tails sometimes look like they are rocking a cape.
Their combs and wattle are almost nonexistent, and you can only notice them when you look at them closely.
They use such parts for thermoregulation. Due to their aggressive behavior, they walk around holding themselves with confidence and great elegance.
This is a clear distinction that they were made to fight. Just one look and other birds will not want to start a fight with them.
Assets have long, slender faces with no feathers, compact eyes, strong straight legs, and long necks.
Characteristics
- Mature males are very aggressive among themselves. This is why it is not advised to have two Aseel roosters in a flock. They will fight to the death to maintain their territory, one of their dominant characteristics. However, they are less aggressive towards their human caregivers.
- The Aseel (Asil) chicken breed is not the most socially adept domestic bird. They may get accustomed to other breeds, but introducing another aggressive breed into the flock is not advised.
- Spurs among these birds are sure to leave fatal wounds. Always keep a look out for when they fight to avoid losing a number of your flock.
- When it comes to feeding, these birds love to forage and can feed on it for hours. They start their day with a meal of protein and calcium to help in egg and bone development.
- Aseels are very hardy and thrive in both hot and cold climates.
Aseel Chicken Hen Vs. Rooster
- Compared to Aseel hens, the rooster is quite confrontational and more aggressive. For this reason, the roosters should not be raised in the same flock.
- Aseel roosters have a more distinct look, unlike their hens. Even with their comparable sizable necks and small wattles, they have pea combs, separating them from the hen.
- The roosters have more prominent hips and are broader than the hens.
- Aseel hens weigh up to six pounds, while roosters can grow up to 15 pounds.
- While the roosters remain docile in the molting season, the hens go as far as to stop laying eggs until they have gathered new feathers on their skin.
Benefits of Raising and Breeding Aseel Chicken
- They offer you high rewards compared to their low maintenance. Because they are aggressive birds, they take good care of themselves without supervision. Just remember to watch out for any fights.
- They are very friendly with children and play with them with enough domestication.
- They offer great fleshy meat and are a popular delicacy in Asia. Though poor at egg laying, the amount of flesh makes up for it.
- Because of their fighting skills, they can be a source of entertainment for you and your family. Chickens are fascinating birds that love to play, just like small children.
- Aseels are very active chickens, and if you have a garden in your backyard, they can be very beneficial. They are perfect at pest control and eat all grasshoppers, snails, and other pests that threaten what is growing in your garden.
- Keeping your chicken for feeding is very healthy. The Aseel (Asil) chickens have plenty of meat for a family. Having these active birds in your backyard also helps boost your stress levels.
Problems in Raising Aseel Chicken
- Aseel chickens require a lot of space to be raised. They are quite active and love to run around. Even if it is the first flock you plan to introduce to your backyard, build a big enough coop to accommodate their movements.
- Chicken may seem like just livestock, but you may grow attached to them like your cat or dog. This means you will have heartbreak when they fight to the death, or you must put one down for their meat.
- The Aseel’s lifespan is generally longer than that of your other pets at home. If you are not ready to care for a bird for that long, it should not be your first choice for pets.
- Considering their combat nature, the Aseel (Asil) chicken breed is quite noisy. Their sounds are as loud as a dog’s bark, and the roosters crow all day long. The hens are quite noisy as well. This may lead to noise complaints from your neighbors.
- Because they can fight dangerously, Aseels require your attention most of the day. You need to feed them in the morning, keep an eye on their feeding habits, and ensure they are safe among themselves.
- They take a long time to mature, and you must wait a while to benefit from them.
FAQs
Are Aseel chickens good for backyard farming?
Yes, Aseel chickens can be good for backyard farming. They are known for their athleticism and fighting ability and have a muscular and compact body with short, hard feathers and a distinctive upright position.
While they can be pugnacious and even fight with other chickens, they can also be quite personable with their handlers and do well in the right situation.
Aseels are not the best for egg production, but they make excellent broodies and mothers, being quite formidable in protecting their young. They are also heat-tolerant and resistant to many backyard flock diseases.
Do Aseel chickens fight a lot?
Yes, Aseel chickens are known to be aggressive and have a history of being bred for cockfighting. They have a lot of stamina and fighting abilities, making them popular game birds in Southeast Asia. They are born to fight, which is what they do.
What is the price of Aseel chicken?
A day-old baby chick of the Aseel breed costs around $10-12 in the United States. If you buy an adult rooster or hen, the price depends upon the breeders.
Do Aseel chickens have long tails?
Yes, Aseel chickens have long tail feathers. However, it is important to note that the long-tail variety of Aseel chicken is only available in India and is not standardized in the US. Aseel chickens have compact body with long tail feathers and a small tail.
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