Chicken Pick of the Week - Old English Game Bantam

A bird that was originally bred for fighting, the OEGB is a small, but hearty bird. They are very proud and talkative. Their descendants were brought over to England by the Romans in the 1^st century A.D. where they were predominantly used for “cock fighting” until the sport was banned in England in the mid 1800’s. The breed was brought over to the U.S. in the 1800’s in order to preserve the breed. The OEGB’s of today are pretty much identical to their predecessors from 2000+ years ago, except for their smaller size. It is rumored that former U.S. Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln kept OEGB's and even may have fought them in the White House. The OEGB's were breed to be a smaller version of the original birds. This smaller size made it easier for one to conceal in their coats in order to avoid the police if they were to practice illegal fighting. 

The OEGB are now kept as pets and are especially popular for showing. They come in a variety of colors. They weigh 1.5 to 2lbs and the hens lay a small off-white egg. They are very friendly and personable. They are also very good flyers which makes them adept at getting away from predators.

The Hatching House is proud to offer the Silver Duckwing Old English Game Bantam. If you are interested in ordering the Silver Duckwing OEGB then go to our website at www.TheHatchingHouse.com.