American game crosses

[KenK]

Many years ago I raised game chickens from a start my uncle gave me. I'm looking to start back with chickens and would like birds similar to games except without so much gameness. Would be nice to be able to raise the roosters to butchering age without keeping them seperated.

I would like for the results to generally have the look of the games. A somewhat faster growing bird and meatier carcass would not be a bad thing but is not a high priority for me.

What are some suggestions for an easily available breed to cross with the games?

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Whe had good luck crossing American games roosters with white rock hens. Cross did not look like a game but put weight on well in free range setting and was not everly gamey.

 

[Illia]

Polish have a body and tail much like games. . . Plus they're not as aggressive towards other males.

Otherwise, most other breeds out there vary, really, when you out-cross them. If you're looking for a gamey bird without the behavior though, I believe some hatcheries have American Games?

But, really, the question is - To what extent do you want your offspring to look like games? How much meat do you want to keep on their bodies? Do you want to keep the broodiness?

 

[Vcomb]

try largefowl Old English, Cubalayas or something of that nature.

 

[RAREROO]

Quote:
Whe had good luck crossing American games roosters with white rock hens. Cross did not look like a game but put weight on well in free range setting and was not everly gamey.

Do you have any pictures of this cross ?

 

[ddroland]

Maybe a strange question, but why do you care what they look like if you are just looking to butcher them?

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Whe had good luck crossing American games roosters with white rock hens. Cross did not look like a game but put weight on well in free range setting and was not everly gamey.

Do you have any pictures of this cross ?

Has been over 30 years since making cross so no photographs. Appearance varied somewhat as a function of American game rooster color genetics . Hens best approximated by following image although most of ours were a little darker. Male siblings where brownred with irregular dark patches (no duckwing).
http://www.communitychickens.com/raising-poultry/which-chickens-are-best-to-raise-p1.jpg

The cross was heavy enough to have difficutly getting to roost if vertical flight more than 10 feet.

 

[ninjascrub69]

I've heard that the pumpkin hulsey game fowl from green fire farms are not overly aggressive. Maybe you could buy stock from them (kind of expensive, but they are beautiful birds).

 

[gallorojo]

Cubalayas will do everything you are looking for. All the "rugged/survival/broody/foraging" traits without the Game. There is a thread on here about them, and I explain at length why they are exactly what you are looking for...

 

[KenK]

What about Buckeyes? I wonder what the progeny of a grey cock and the buckeye hens would look like.