"WHATS THAT? A PREHISTORIC CHOOK?"
This is what I hear quite often when people come to buy or look at the poultry. The asil (Asil, or Aseel, which is an Arabic word meaning “pure” or” thoroughbred”) is indeed an old breed, in fact it has graced the earth for some three and a half thousand years. Initially the Asil was bred for fighting and used for endurance battles which could last for two days, or more. Cock fighting was so popular in England that nearly every town had a cock-pit. The boys were even allowed to fight cocks in the classroom on Shrove Tuesday. Cock fighting was outlawed in England in 1834, but is still discreetly and in some cases lawfully practiced in many countries worldwide.
It is thought that the Asil is a direct descendant of the jungle fowl with breeders selecting firstly for endurance, intelligence and beauty. The crow of the asil is identical to that of the jungle fowl being short as if cut off. The low tail carriage also resembles that of its ancestor. They bear small ear lobes, almost no comb and a total lack of wattles. The eye in the centre of the face, being pearl-white with a greenish tint, gives this breed its well defined Jurassic look. The breed exists in various colours of plumage including black, white, duckwing, red spangled, and pyle. It has yellow or white skin, the feathers being hard and sparsely distributed with little or no under fluff. They are a heavy bird, for their size, their body compact and muscular. The adult male weighs up to 3 kgs (7lbs.) and should not exceed this weight. In general the Asil should be wide in the hips, have prominent shoulders, a narrow stern, but thick and strong at root of tail. It has a heavily fleshed breast and thick and muscular thighs. The breed should have moderately low carriage and powerful limbs.
A good specimen is very quick in its movement. (This I have observed and am often amazed at how quickly they can move). They are very quiet and docile making them easy to handle. The hen is an exceptionally good mother laying one or two clutches a year and tending to her chicks for six to twelve months. She lays a tinted or white egg. Snakes and other vermin are no threat to the chicks, as the hens are very protective; but will allow the breeder to handle them without protest.
The major drawbacks of the breed are mainly their pugnacious nature between individuals. So much so that some breeders have gone to the length of specially training dogs to break up fights. Males cannot be kept together and will spur one another through wire. They have also been known to dig and try to escape. The hens may or may not get along together, but can be let run with other unaggressive breeds.
The Red Asil along with Old English and Malay games is the ancestor of the Indian Game (known as Cornish in America). More than one type of Asil exists in both outward appearance and size. There are two main types; a small type known as the Reza Asil and a larger type known as the Kulang. The Kulang can then be further divided into sub-varieties depending on the area of their origin. There are also differing colour strains such as the “Reds”, which is further divided up into different colours and the “Goldens”, also known as the Zardi, given this name after a famous bird that was bought for its weight in gold! Other recognized physical deviations in the asil exist including, the madaroo which is henny feathered and the Bihangam whose phenotype shows a resemblance to that of the red jungle fowl.
The Asil is often referred to as being the purest pure-bred in the world, a reflection of its fighting history. I am sure other owners of this stunning breed will no doubt tell you that the Asil is an intelligent, unique and interesting bird and a very rewarding specimen to have in ones yard.