The Satsumadori Chicken or Kagoshima Game is a Large Pit-Game Long-Tail

BREED NAME: Satsumadori

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The Satsumadori Chicken or Kagoshima Game is a large pit-game long-tail. The rooster’s spurs are heavy and he’s ready to fight, something bred into him for many centuries, though not a common activity today.

He maintains aggressive tendencies, but with consistent and gentle care can be quite tame. His tail is fanned and moderately long.

Traditionally saddle feathers are moderate, too, though not abundant as in many long-tails, though modern colored varieties are fuller and longer feathered. He looks the part of a stout but elegant game-fowl, a force to be reckoned with. Hens are about 2/3s the height of roosters and of heavy body.

Satsumadori Chicken, The Facts:

Class: Heavy-set and light-weight

Size: Standard Male: to 7.7 Ibs. / Standard Female: to 5.5 Ibs.

Comb, Wattles & Earlobes: Red comb, wattles, earlobes, brows and face.

Color: White is the standard, though black breasted silvers and reds, black tailed red ginger, and blacks have been developed for exhibition by crossing other long-tail breeds.

Place of Origin: Japan

Conservation Status: no specifics but popular in Germany and Japan with other European flocks

Special Qualities: Pure white, black breasted silvers and reds, and black Satsumadori are colors seen in most recent times; white being traditional and other colors developed for exhibition purposes. Some that know the breed feel that color development has reduced some of the most desirable characteristics of the breed.

The pure white was prized for fighting cocks, hard as it might be to appreciate, for the dramatic effect of red blood on white feathers in the pit.

A modern visitor to Japan relayed witnessing a mock fight between two Satsumadori as part of a day-long festival. Their spurs were carefully wrapped to prevent a serious fight.

The rooster’s face is red with rounded brows framing his large silver, gold or red brown eyes and a triple or walnut comb with moderate lobes and wattles.

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