Personalities of "Game" breeds

[JitterbugFarm]

Let me start off by saying I'm NOT asking because I'm looking to get involved in anything illegal (I'm actually a late-in-life law student, so I know better than to touch any of that garbage with a 10 foot pole). However, being newer to the chicken world, I'm familiar with the personalities of the traditionally owned laying breeds and ornamental breeds (ie: RIRs, silkies, polish, orpingtons, etc), but I'm not all that famililiar with the differences between different types of game birds and what their requirements are. I think that American Game Fowl is just absolutely beautiful, but I don't know enough about them to consider adding them to our new flock (can they even be mixed in with my others??). Also, what are the differences between Standard AGF, Old English Game Bantams, and Modern Game Bantams in terms of personality? I have what I've been told is a Silver Duckwing OE, and I also have two straight run moderns coming this summer from Ideal. Can I mix these in with my other birds? ...or will they need to be kept seperate? From what I've read so far, it's my understanding that the bantam game fowl breeds are much more docile...

So, I guess my question is, are AGF as aggressive as their reputation, or are they really just misunderstood? I keep thinking of them in relation to pitbulls: they're not aggressive unless you make them that way! (In fact, I work with an animal rescue and have two of the sweetest pits you could ever meet) Also, are the hens able to live in a mixed flock, or is it just the roos that are hard (impossible?) to mix in with our other roos/flock? Sorry for all the questions...I'm just a newbie and filled with questions!

Tammy

 

[centrarchid]

Hens can be kept free-range with even less concern than ornamental/production breeds. In confinement behavior generally not a problem either if in good nutrition.

Males more problematic. As adults they need to be isolated from other males. They are not more aggressive. They simply do not quit. This is not a conditioning issue, rather genetic.


With good husbandry technique you can get them tamer and more manageable than most chickens.

 

[JitterbugFarm]

I'm thinking of hatching them from eggs, so it would obviously most likely be a mix of pullets and cockerals. So it sounds like the hens realy wouldn't be an problem and may be interesting to have around. As for the setup we have, it's not really free range or coop...it's a 1/2 acre fenced with an 8x12 shed used as the coop. We also have two smaller coops (the kind you can buy pre-feb at any farmstore for about $200). So if there was a problem, we would have space and ways to seperate them.

Also, most of the pictures I've run across show them housed in blue or white plastic barrels with lines attached to one of their feet. Is there any particular reason other than just keeping the peace? I just haven't noticed any other types housed in this manner...

Tammy

 

[centrarchid]

Keeping piece is part of reason. Health / vitality promoted by more mobility and available edible greens in the form of grass. Males much more expensive to keep than other breeds, keep numbers low until you work out technique.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Most game breeders house their extra roosters tethered to a plastic barrel, keeping extra roos ensures that if something ever happens to your main breeder you have a replacemnet. Housing them seperately in the barrels keeps them where they're supposed to be so they can't fight with each other and still allows them access to the out doors.
I've loved every Game I've ever had. Mostly OEGB, but I've had a couple of Moderns too. They're wonderful foragers, even better broodies and mommas and all of mine have been SUPER friendly. They can do just fine in a mixed flock, problems usually arise when there are too many roosters. If you're only planning to keep one around for breeding, you'll be fine, otherwise you may want to consider some of those barrels or some cages yourself. Game roos don't do well in a bachelor pad type of situation (a coop that houses only roosters, which usually coexist peacefully since they have no hens to fight over). My hens tend to be just a little to bossy to my more docile breeds in a mixed flock, but not horrible. Here's a picture of a spangled OEGB I used to have, just to share

She was quite a few weeks older than the Silkie standing next to her!

 

[centrarchid]

OEGB and Modern Games have very little in common with American Games.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Was this in response to what I posted above?

OEGB and Modern Games have very little in common with American Games.

Considering the OP has OE and an order of Modern Games coming, I thought it would be relevant to talk about my experiences with them since that was why they originally made the post....to ask about peoples take on their personalities.

And nowhere in my previous post did I say that AGF and MG and OEGB were in any way similar. I actually didn't mention AGF at all, so....

I'm not trying to sound snarky, I'm just saying is all.

 

[centrarchid]

Was this in response to what I posted above?
Considering the OP has OE and an order of Modern Games coming, I thought it would be relevant to talk about my experiences with them since that was why they originally made the post....to ask about peoples take on their personalities. 

And nowhere in my previous post did I say that AGF and MG and OEGB were in any way similar. I actually didn't mention AGF at all, so....

I'm not trying to sound snarky, I'm just saying is all.

You are being snarky but OP wanted also comparison of AGF to OEGB and MGB which neither of us provided. Someone else needs to provide that. My limited experience indicates the latter breeds are not as tuff in a free-range setting relative to AGF's.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Take it how you'd like, snarky or not, I didn't feel it was a necessary comment considering I wasn't comparing AGF to anything. But whatever.



OP, here are a couple of threads I found about AGF, I hope they help. Good luck.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ning-meat-and-egg-production-or-is-this-crazy
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/484402/american-gamefowl-thread

 

[JitterbugFarm]

No, I appreciate the info on the OEG and MG traits being very different than the AGF. Even though they apparently have little to do with each other, I'm finding even my little 5 wk old Silver Duckwing Bantan is a feisty little guy...he escaped from the brooder last night and was running around the bathroom. I wouldn't have even noticed except he decided to leave me some "gifts" on the floor and I had to hunt down its source. Needless to say, the brooder now has a cover...

What I'm getting is AGF has a personality all of its own! I won an auction for 12 gamefowl hatching eggs this morning (three each of pumpkin husley, mel sims, and a third that I can't remember at the moment). I figure if half hatch, and half of those are roos, that will only be three to deal with...which I can hopefully manage without much drama.

Really cute pic of your silkie with your OEGB They are just so tiny!

Thanks for the advice....I welcome any and all info you all can provide!

Tammy