The American Game Bantam: The Showy Bird

The American Game Bantam is a sprightly bird that is showy, yet easy for beginners to handle.

American Game Bantam Facts:

Size: Male: 30 oz. / Female: 27 oz.

Comb, Wattles & Earlobes: They have a small single comb with five points that stand upright. They have small, thin, and smooth wattles and earlobes. They are all bright red unless otherwise noted. The comb, wattles, and earlobes are dubbed (removed) in cocks for show.

Color:

Birchen: The comb, wattles, and earlobes are mulberry and the beak is black. The eyes are dark brown and the shanks and toes are black. They have standard birchen plumage.

Black: The comb, wattles, and earlobes are mulberry and the beak is black. The eyes are dark brown and the shanks and toes are black. They have standard black plumage.

Black-Breasted Red: The beak is dark horn streaked with black and the eyes are red. The shanks and toes are a bluish slate. They have standard black-breasted red plumage.

Blue: The beak is dark horn streaked with black and the eyes are red. The shanks and toes are a bluish slate color. They have standard blue plumage.

Blue Red: The beak is dark horn streaked with black and the eyes are red. The shanks and toes are a bluish slate color. They have standard blue red plumage.

Brassy Back: The beak is a dark horn streaked with black and the eyes are red. The shanks and toes are bluish slate. Male: The head, hackle, and saddle are brassy (lustrous yellow) with a black stripe down the center of each feather. The back is lustrous brass and the front of the neck, breast, body, wings, tail, and legs are black to lustrous black. Female: Primarily chocolate to chocolaty black, with some brassiness on the hackle and back.

Brown Red: The beak is black and the eyes are dark brown. The shanks and toes are black. They have standard brown red plumage.

Golden Duckwing: The beak is dusky horn and the eyes are red. The shanks and toes are a bluish slate. They have standard golden duckwing plumage.

Red Pyle: The beak is horn and the eyes are red. The shanks and toes are pinkish slate. They have standard red pyle plumage.

Silver Duckwing: The beak is dusky horn and the eyes are red. The shanks and toes are a bluish slate color. They have standard silver duckwing plumage.

Wheaten: The beak is dusky horn and the eyes are red. The shanks and toes are bluish slate. They have standard wheaten plumage.

White: The beak is horn and the eyes are red. The shanks and toes are pinkish slate. They have standard white plumage.

Place of Origin: New Jersey

Conservation Status: N/A

Special Qualities: A sprightly, showy bird that is easy for beginners to handle.

Frank Gary, a New Jersey breeder, is credited with coming up with this breed of chicken. Gary began trying to craft this show bird in the 1940's by breeding a common "pit game" bantam (a small fighting bird) with Red Jungle Fowl. Some were showing these Pit Game Bantams at the time, but they were not recognized by any organization.

Gary's goal was to develop a standard breed that would be recognized and he accomplished this. The APA still does not recognize the American Game Bantam, but they are recognized by the ABA. He accomplished standardizing the traits such as the color of the legs and earlobes and extra length on the plumage of the hackle.

The American Game Bantams are hardy and vigorous birds. The females are good layers that go broody and are exceptional mothers. These birds can tolerate confinement better than most game birds, but the males should not be confined together as they will fight.

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