The Australian Pit Game is a
breed
A breed is a specific group of breedable domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist seve ...
of
chicken
The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated subspecies of the red junglefowl (''Gallus gallus''), originally native to Southeast Asia. It was first domesticated around 8,000 years ago and is now one of the most common and w ...
, developed in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
in the early 1900s for
cockfighting
Cockfighting is a blood sport involving domesticated roosters as the combatants. The first documented use of the word gamecock, denoting use of the cock as to a "game", a sport, pastime or entertainment, was recorded in 1634, after the term ...
by
British soldiers
The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
stationed in
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
.
History
Australian Pit Game have been standardised since 1936, when the original standard was drawn up by the Big Game Club of Australia. A
bantam variety was standardised in 1981 by the Bantam Club of New South Wales and the Pit Game Club of Australia, founded the same year. They were included in the inaugural ''
Australian Poultry Standards
The ''Australian Poultry Standards'' is the official breed standard for poultry fancy in Australia. It is the standard of perfection from which all poultry in Australia is supposed to be judged when exhibited at poultry shows. It is published ...
'' in 1998.
Development
The Australian Poultry Standards suggest they were developed from crosses of English Pit Fowl (or
Old English Game
The Old English Game is a British breed of domestic chicken. It was probably originally bred for cockfighting. Two different standards are recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain: Carlisle Old English Game and Oxford Old English Gam ...
),
Malay Game and
Asil,
while the Pit Game Club of Australia lists the possible addition of
Sumatra
Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...
blood.
Standard and description
Australian Pit Game are one of the most loosely standardised breeds in Australia. The 2012 edition of the ''Australian Poultry Standards'' states "Pit Game may be big or small, single or pea combed, any colour whatever, cock feathered, hen feathered, muffled or tasseled."
Due to their ancestry as fighting birds, the standard does not regard colour as important (stating it is "immaterial") and instead focuses on health and vigor. It states carriage should be proud and aggressive-looking, with movements quick and "ready for any emergency". They should have a heart-shaped body, a short and flat back with well-developed
deltoid muscles, a broad and prominent chest with well-defined pectoral muscles. The belly should be free from fluffy feathers, and compact and tight; wings should be powerful and long; and the tail is to be of medium length, and not drooping but to be governed by the character of the fowl.
It lists many disqualifications, including flat-sidedness, thin thighs or neck, soft flesh, fluffy plumage, clumsy carriage, or white lobes. Standardised weights are broken into three categories instead of the usual two, stating "over 2.7 kg" for heavy males, and "over 2 kg" for heavy females. Under 2.7 kg and 2.0 kg, respectively, for light males and females, and under 1.36 kg and 1.135 kg for bantam males and females, respectively.
References
{{Poultry breeds of Australia , state=expanded
Chicken breeds originating in Australia
Chicken breeds
Cockfighting