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Old English Game Chicken Breed Info + Where to Buy

Modified: Feb 28, 2023 by Phil · This post may contain affiliate links ·

The Old English Game chicken is a hardy, strong-willed breed that is used for ornamental purposes.

An adorable Old English Game rooster standing on the ground.

They do not lay very well, producing only about 140 medium white eggs per year. Hens are highly likely to go broody, further disrupting their egg-laying and sometimes becoming overly aggressive mothers.

They have excellent muscle distribution and make good table birds, but are not commonly used for meat. They are some of the longest-living chickens in the world, often living for over 15 years.

Jump to:
  • How to Buy Online Old English Game Chickens
  • Old English Game Chicken Breed Quick Info
  • Origins of Old English Game Chicken
  • Some Things to Know About Old English Game Chicken
  • How Easy is it to Keep Old English Game Chickens?
  • Special Care and Considerations for Old English Game Chickens

How to Buy Online Old English Game Chickens

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Old English Game Chicken Breed Quick Info

Old English Game Chicken Description

Old English Game Type/Size:Standard
Feather Color:Varies
Leg Type:Clean
Leg Color:Yellow
Skin Color:White
Old English Game Ease of Raising/Keeping:Difficult
Old English Game Special Care Needs:Yes
Is the Old English Game breed a common, rare, or protected breed of chicken?Rare, “watch” status

Old English Game Use

MeatNo
EggsNo
Dual PurposeNo
Old English Game Temperament:Flighty, aggressive, active
Old English Game Ability/Likelihood to Free Range:Yes

Old English Game Egg Production

Egg ColorWhite/Tinted
Egg SizeMedium
Estimated Number of Eggs Per Year140
Likeliness to Brood Eggs/Raise ChicksHigh

Old English Game Meat Production

Dressed Weight MaleN/A
Dressed Weight FemaleN/A

Old English Game Climate Tolerance

HeatPoor
ColdExcellent

Old English Game Age to Maturity

Number of Months to Reach Full Size6 Months
Number of Months to Start Egg Laying6 Months
Number of Weeks/Months to Reach Meat Harvest SizeN/A

Old English Game Size at Maturity

Male4 lbs
Female3.5 lbs

Origins of Old English Game Chicken

An adorable Old English Game hen standing on a wooden board.
Image source: Instagram

This ancient breed dates back to before the 1st century AD. Bred for hardiness and longevity, they were mostly used for fighting.

When cockfighting was banned in 1849, the Old English Game chicken became ornamental. They have a very gamelike appearance, which is the result of their 2,000-year history of fighting.

Some Things to Know About Old English Game Chicken

A beautiful black-white Old English Game rooster foraging in a backyard.

There are two main types of Old English Game chickens: the Oxford and the Carlisle. The Oxford is distinguished by being more active and long-tailed, coming in 30 color varieties. The Carlisle is slightly larger and meatier with a horizontal back. This type comes in only 13 color varieties.

These birds have the body style and shape of wild Jungle Fowl, with adaptations for fighting. They have compact, muscular bodies and are tight-feathered. Oftentimes their combs and wattles are trimmed or dubbed, which gives them a tenacious look.

Some of the color varieties that exist include white, black, spangled, blue-breasted red, and lemon blue. There is also a bantam variety of this breed.

How Easy is it to Keep Old English Game Chickens?

An adorable brown Old English Game hen in a backyard.
Image source: Instagram

Old English Game chickens are flighty and can be aggressive. They are not ideal birds for beginning chicken owners. They are easily able to turn feral and go back to the wild.

They fly well and can be noisy, but they can take care of themselves and avoid predators. They are good foragers and do well in a free-range environment. They are hardy in the cold but do poorly in the heat.

This is a breed that does not do well in confinement. They prefer to have room to roam and forage and will often roost in trees if given the opportunity. They can also fly quite well, so fencing should be adequately high to keep them contained.

Having multiple males can cause issues, as they can become territorial and aggressive toward one another.

Special Care and Considerations for Old English Game Chickens

As with all chickens with a single comb, there is a risk of Old English Game chickens developing frostbite in the winter. You can use a swipe of vaseline on their combs and wattles to prevent them from freezing in low temperatures.

It is best to separate male chicks from one another after 6 months of age; otherwise, they will become aggressive and fight.

Old English Game Chicken Breed Info + Where to Buy pinterest image.

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