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AREA of ORIGIN: Asia

CATEGORY: Hard feather

EGG COLOUR: Tinted (Sitters)

This is the oldest pure game breed of domestic poultry.  A wonderful example of a fowl bred for one purpose – fighting. The most intelligent of breeds and a delight as a pet.  They are alluded to in the codes of Manu, an Indian work on sacred laws, religion and philosophy, written about the fifth century B.C.  Some give the date as 900 B.C. while others say 1280 B.C. A very ancient breed. Aseels are usually quiet to handle and never vicious, they love being petted. The name Aseel comes from Arabic and means “of long pedigree”. This style of fighting produced a muscular and powerful bird with a strong beak, thick, muscular neck and powerful legs and thighs and very pugnacious. The female has the same characteristics and is a poor layer but a very good mother. This standard refers to the small Aseel (often called ‘Reza’ Asil, which term actually applies only to birds of 1,6–1,8kg, or ‘Rajah’ Asil – which is a term not used at all in India).The Aseel is probably the oldest known breed of game-fowl, having been bred in India for its fighting qualities for over 2000 years. In different dialects it can be spelled ‘Asil’, ‘Aseel’ or ‘Asli’. In its native land the Aseel was bred to fight, not with false spurs, but rather with its natural spurs covered with tape, the fight being a trial of strength and endurance. Such was the fitness, durability and gameness of the contestants that individual battles could last for days. The Aseel has always attracted a few dedicated admirers prepared to cope with its inborn desire to fight.

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