The Modern Game is a purely ornamental breed, developed in England after cockfighting was banned to show off the upright, elegant lines of gamefowl in an exhibition bird. Tall, slender and long-legged with tight, hard feathering, they look almost sculpted — all stance and poise rather than production. They lay only a handful of small eggs and their sparse feathering means they're not cold-hardy, needing shelter in winter. A striking show bird for enthusiasts, not a practical layer.
Good with kids
Heat tolerant
Broody
Egg colorWhite
Egg production50–80 / year
TemperamentDocile
BroodinessOccasional
ClimateHeat tolerant
PurposeShow
Weight
Large fowl (Standard size)
Hen4.5 lb
Rooster6 lb
Bantam (Miniature size)
Hen2 lb
Rooster2.3 lb
How to spot it
CombSingle
Small single comb, dubbed (trimmed flat) on exhibition males
Earlobes
Red and small
Legs & feet
Very long, hard, clean legs — willow, yellow or slate depending on colour variety
Look for
An almost absurdly tall, whip-thin bird on stilt legs with a flat back and short tight tail, standing near-vertical
Single
