9 Best Fighting Chicken Breeds (With Pictures)

If you’re considering raising fighting chicken breeds for sport or personal interest, choosing the right breed is essential. 

Fighting chickens are bred specifically for their aggressive and territorial behavior, as well as their strong build and athleticism. 

From the imposing roosters of the Game breeds to the lightning-fast speed of the Oriental breeds, there’s a wide variety of fighting chickens to choose from. 

Few people consider them to be small dinosaurs. Shamo and Aseel look like dinosaurs when they fight.

In this article, we’ll look at the top 9 best fighting chicken breeds, so you can find the perfect breed to suit your needs.

What Are Fighting Chicken Breeds?

These are breeds of chicken that have been bred specifically for their aggressive and territorial behavior. They tend to be more highly strung than other breeds and are sometimes used in cockfighting, although it is illegal in most countries. 

Fighting chickens can be identified by their large and imposing physique and their energetic and alert behavior. In most Asian countries, people keep them for cockfighting competitions, mostly in rural places.

9 Best Fighting Chicken Breeds

Below is the list of the top 9 best fighter chicken breeds:

1. Malay Game Fowl

The most famous of the fighting chicken breeds, the Malay Game Fowl is an imposing breed with a large body, long neck, and aggressive attitude. 

This breed is renowned for its strength and power, making it an excellent choice for cockfighting. It is also a popular breed for exhibition shows.

This breed of rooster is known for its aggressive behavior, and it is important to handle them cautiously. They can be easily agitated and fight other chickens if given a chance.

The main characteristics of the Malay Game Fowl are its large size and strong physique. 

The head is small with a sharp, pointy beak, and the body and legs are large and muscular. The neck is long, and the face and wattles are often brightly colored.

The Malay Game Fowl is a highly strung chicken that can be easily agitated. They are very territorial and will fight off intruders if necessary.

This breed lays large, brown eggs. This breed grows large, with roosters weighing up to 10 pounds.

There are a few advantages to keeping Malay Game Fowl chicken. They are robust and powerful, making them excellent fighters. Their large size makes them an impressive sight.

They are good egg producers and lay large brown eggs. Their bright feathers make them attractive to admirers. They are highly territorial, so they will protect their flock.

2. Asil or Aseel Chicken

Originating in India, the Asil or Aseel is a hardy and robust breed that has been bred for fighting for centuries.

It is considered one of the best fighting chicken breeds and a popular choice for cockfighting.

This breed of rooster is highly aggressive and can be quite territorial, so it is not recommended for a novice owner. They are also very vocal and will crow throughout the day.

The Asil is large, with a long neck and muscular body. Its feathers are red and black in color, giving it an impressive appearance. They have a deep chest and broad shoulders; their beak is usually yellow, reddish, and blackish.

This breed is intelligent and loyal, but it can be quite aggressive. They are known to be territorial, so keeping them separated from other chickens is important.

They lay large eggs that are usually white or cream-colored. The Asil breed grows to an average weight of 6–8 pounds.

So, Asil chickens are strong and robust, and lay large eggs. And have an attractive appearance.

3. Modern Game Fowl

This is the premier fighting chicken breed and has been bred for centuries specifically to provide entertainment such as cockfighting. 

This hardy bird is an active, alert fighter with a sturdy build and upright stance. Originally developed in England, it has the “game” attitude of standing up to its opponent without backing down.

The Modern Game is very heat-hardy and resilient, though they are slow to mature and tend to be poor egg layers.

One attribute that stands out with this breed is its aggressive nature. The Modern Game is known for being territorial and will generally stay close to its fenced area, protecting it from predators and intruders.

The main characteristics of the Modern Game are their upright stance and broad, muscular chest. They come in various colors, including black, blue, red, and white.

The rooster of this breed has a fast-paced and aggressive temperament. They are alert, active fighters, often challenging opponents to battle with little provocation.

Modern Game lays small to medium-sized eggs that are light brown in color. Modern Game chickens are small to medium-sized birds which weigh 5–7 pounds when fully grown.

4. American Game Fowl

This breed is a cross between the English and Irish Game fowl. It is known for its strong fighting ability, hardiness, and lively attitude. 

They were bred to perform in the ring or pit and are often used as gamecocks in organized cockfighting.

The American Game is known for its aggressive nature and can be quite territorial. They will attack intruders and predators without hesitation.

The American Game is a medium-sized chicken with an oval body and strong, muscular legs. 

They have a broad chest and upright stance, usually standing 18–20 inches tall. Colors include black, blue, red, white, and brown combinations.

The American Game has an active and aggressive temperament. They are outgoing, courageous fighters that will take on opponents without hesitation.

American Game hens typically lay medium-sized, light-brown eggs. American Game chickens are ‌medium-sized birds weighing 6–7 pounds when fully grown.

5. Shamo Chicken

This is an ancient Japanese fighting chicken, first developed in the 1800s. It is a very intelligent bird, bred with high endurance and strength to make it a formidable opponent. 

The Shamo is also very heat-hardy and can withstand extreme climates, though it does not tolerate confinement well.

This Japanese chicken is a very aggressive bird, bred to fight in sumo-style competitions. It is known for having high aggression and will attack almost anything it perceives as a threat.

The main physical characteristics of the Shamo are its long, slender body and thick feathers. It has a broad chest with a long neck and legs and a short, curved beak. The Shamo has black or dark-brown feathers with occasional red and white markings.

The Shamo breed is ‌known for its aggressive temperament. However, with proper training and socialization, it can be a loyal pet that is good with children.

Shamo chicken is a relatively good layer of large, white eggs. It can also be used as a dual-purpose bird and produces a decent amount of meat.

This breed of chicken is relatively large, with roosters reaching 8 pounds and hens up to 6 pounds.

There are a few good reasons to keep the Shamo chicken breed. They are highly intelligent, making it easy to train. 

Shamo chickens are very heat-hardy and can withstand extreme climates. They are known for producing large, white eggs

Also, they are dual-purpose birds, produce a decent amount of meat

6. Old English Game

This is a breed that has been around since the 1600s. They have a game cock appearance and are bold, fearless fighters in the ring. 

The Old English Game, the chicken, is a good choice for those looking for an aggressive fighter. 

The birds have long, pointed tails and deep chests and are broad-backed. These birds are also known for their long, powerful spurs.

The Old English Game, the chicken, is an aggressive breed that can be quite territorial in defending its territory. 

They will use their spurs and claws to fight off rival birds and protect their flock. The Old English Game is also known for its tenaciousness in battle, but it should not be bred for fighting, as it may become too aggressive.

The Old English Game is a medium-sized breed with a deep chest, long tail, and broad back. These birds have an upright stance and can reach heights of up to 18 inches. 

They are usually light-brown with white markings, although some varieties may have black or blue-tinged feathers.

The Old English Game is a brave and fierce breed that can be quite aggressive when provoked. 

While ‌docile and good-natured, they can become aggressive if threatened or their territory is invaded. 

They may also fight with other birds in the flock, so keeping an eye on them is important.

The Old English Game is an average layer, producing around three eggs per week. The eggs are usually light brown or cream-colored and can vary in size.

This breed is known for its medium size, reaching heights up to 18 inches. They are also relatively lightweight and can range from 3 to 6 pounds.

The Old English Game Breed is a good breed of chicken. They are a brave and fierce breed good at defending their territory.

Not only this, they are an average egg layer with light-brown or cream-colored eggs. The  Old English Game chicken has a good-natured and docile temperament.

7. Sumatra Chicken

Black Sumatra bantam – quite a handsome breed of chicken
byu/KimCureAll inEyebleach

Sumatra is a large breed of fighting chicken that originated in Indonesia. They are known for their formidable size, strength, and courage. 

The Sumatra has a distinctive appearance, characterized by its tall stance, long legs, large combs, and long back feathers.

The Sumatra is an aggressive breed that can quickly become territorial and will use its spurs and claws to defend itself. It is known for being a tough opponent in the ring and is usually a strong fighter.

The Sumatra has a tall, upright stance, long legs, and large combs. The feathers are usually black or dark green, and the hens may also sport white neck feathers.

The Sumatra is a brave and fearless breed that is usually good-natured when not provoked. However, they can become aggressive if their territory or flock is threatened.

The Sumatra is a decent egg layer, producing up to three weekly eggs. The eggs are usually white or light brown in color and can range from small to large in size.

The Sumatra is a large breed of chicken, reaching heights of up to 30 inches and weighing 6–8 pounds.

The Sumatra Breed has many advantages. They are popular for their size, strength, and courage. Distinctive appearance with long legs, large combs, and long tail feathers are other specialties.

8. Indian Game Chicken

The Indian Game fowl is another popular breed of fighting chicken. This breed originated in India and was used for centuries as a game bird. 

It has a stocky, muscular body is known for its powerful wings and claws. People mostly use them as a meat chicken.

The Indian Game chicken is highly aggressive. It will run toward outsiders and peck at them. It is an easy-to-tame breed.

The Indian Game fowl is not recommended to keep these chickens near chickens. They are rarely friendly in nature and start pecking and fighting just after 3–4 weeks.

They are heavy birds with muscular bodies. Indian Game fowl have wide and thick legs.

Both the hen and roosters are not fluffy and have tight feathering.  The hens of this breed lay around 60-90 light brown eggs per year. 

Also, the hens go broody and take care of their chicks very well. The average weight of Indian Game chicken is around 7.6 lbs for

9. Kelso Game Fowl

The Kelso Game fowl is one of the most popular fighting chicken breeds. It was developed from various American Game fowl breeds developed by the famous American breeder Walter A. Kelso. 

This is an aggressive breed that guards its territory. Its quick temperament makes it good in rooster fighting. They lay cream-like eggs and grow to an average weight of 4 pounds.

They have white or yellow legs and a pea or straight comb. Kelso Game fowl are usually black breasted reds (ranging from deep mahogany to light reds).

The Kelso Game fowl fighting rooster is one of the most popular and common rooster breeds used in cockfighting. The hen of this breed lay around 100–120 eggs per year.

They are not egg-laying breeds. But yes, people use them for meat purposes. They fully mature after 6 months of age.

Kelso breed is extremely intelligent, so they are known as smart fighters. The average weight of Kelso Game Fowl rooster is about 8 lbs, and hens weigh around 6 lbs.

Fighting Chicken vs. Docile Chicken

Fighting chickens and docile chickens are two distinct types of chickens with several significant differences.

• Fighting chickens are known for their aggressive behavior and are bred for cockfighting, while docile chickens are bred for their meat or egg-laying capabilities.
• Fighting chickens are ‌larger and stronger than docile chickens, which gives them an advantage in fights. They also have sharp spurs on their legs that are used for defense. On the other hand, docile chickens are smaller and less physically imposing, but they are mostly calmer and less likely to become aggressive.
• Fighting chickens are typically kept isolated from other chickens, while docile chickens are usually housed in flocks and are much more social. This can affect their behavior, with fighting chickens being more aggressive because of their solitary confinement. In contrast, docile chickens are typically more docile and less likely to fight because of their socialization with other chickens.
• Fighting chickens are trained and conditioned to fight, often through physical and psychological means, while docile chickens are not trained or conditioned for aggression.
• Fighting chickens are often used for sport and entertainment, while docile chickens are used for meat production and their eggs. In conclusion, fighting and docile chickens are two distinct types of chickens that differ in behavior, size, socialization, training, and purpose.

Major Problems With Raising Fighting Chicken Breeds

There are several significant problems associated with raising fighting chicken breeds:

Ethical concerns: Raising birds for the sole purpose of fighting goes against the ethical principles of animal welfare and is considered inhumane. Many consider it cruel to subject birds to aggressive and violent behavior, which can cause physical harm and psychological stress.

Legal issues: Raising fighting chickens is illegal in many countries and can cause severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and the seizure of birds and equipment. In some countries, possessing fighting birds is also considered a criminal offense.

Health problems: Fighting chickens are often subjected to extreme physical stress and may develop serious health problems, such as infections, wounds, and muscle damage. They are also often fed an improper diet to increase aggression, which can further compromise their health.

Disease transmission: Close confinement of fighting chickens can facilitate the transmission of diseases, which can spread quickly and cause significant harm to the birds.

Financial cost: Raising fighting chickens can be expensive because of the cost of breeding, feeding, and caring for the birds, as well as acquiring the equipment and facilities necessary for training and fighting.

In addition, the illegal nature of the activity means that participants may face additional costs associated with legal fees and penalties.

FAQs on Fighting Chicken Breeds

Where is chicken fighting legal? 

Chicken fighting is illegal in many countries and is animal cruelty. In the United States, it is banned under the Animal Welfare Act and is punishable by fines and imprisonment. In some countries, such as the Philippines, it is a cultural tradition still widely practiced despite being illegal.

Why do chickens fight each other? 

Chickens are naturally social animals and establish a hierarchy within their flock known as the pecking order. When two chickens challenge each other for dominance, they engage in physical combat, known as chicken fighting. These fights can occur between roosters, a rooster, and a dominant hen.

How to breed fighting chickens? 

It is illegal and unethical to breed chickens for fighting purposes. The breeding of fighting chickens involves selective breeding and training, which can cause physical and psychological harm to the birds. 

If you are interested in keeping chickens as pets or for egg production, adopting them from a reputable source that does not condone animal cruelty is recommended.

How much does fighting chickens cost? 

Purchasing or selling chickens for fighting is illegal, so there is no established market price. However, if you are interested in purchasing chickens as pets or for egg production, they typically cost between $5 to $20 per bird.

How to stay safe from the spurs of fighting chickens? 

Taking precautions when handling chickens is important to avoid being injured by their sharp spurs. When handling a chicken, hold it securely by its legs and avoid grabbing it by the wings. 

Wear gloves if necessary, and be cautious when handling roosters, as they are more likely to use their spurs in self-defense. It is also recommended to avoid reaching near their spurs when handling birds, as they can quickly kick out and cause injury.