Cockfighting training is an important method to build strong and skillful warriors. Owning a beautiful and brave fighting cock is the dream of many breeders, but making an ordinary cock into a quality fighting bird is a different matter altogether, which requires a very long and meticulous process from the caretaker. Details follow in this PHSPIN article!
Key Considerations in the Diet of Fighting Cocks
To ensure that fighting cocks develop well in appearance and stamina, a scientific diet is essential. The primary food for fighting cocks is grains, but you can also supplement their diet with special feeds, green vegetables, and minerals.
Feeding Method
When feeding, it’s important to maintain a regular schedule. Feed your fighting cocks two main meals each day:
- Morning: between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM.
- Afternoon: between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
Adjust the feeding times based on the season, whether winter or summer. Additionally, you can give them some special treats, fruits, or vegetables during lunchtime (12:00 PM to 1:00 PM) to balance their nutrition.
Amount of Food
When training fighting cocks, you should avoid overfeeding. Overeating can hinder their natural foraging instincts and reduce their activity levels, leading to laziness and obesity, which severely impacts their fighting capabilities.
A suitable amount of food for fighting cocks should be about 1/2 to 1/4 of their crop capacity. By the time you feed them in the morning and until noon, there should be little food left in their crop. At this point, you can supplement with a small amount of special feeds like lean meat, frogs, shrimp, or small pieces of fish.
Special Feeds
Adding some special feeds for fighting cocks is crucial for their healthy development and muscular strength. This also stimulates their fighting ability, making them more formidable. You can choose from several special feeds, such as:
- Gecko, sea horse, or house gecko soaked in alcohol (this feed is very nutritious for fighting cocks).
- Freshwater crabs: Limit the amount given; just a little will help them become stronger.
- Mix beef with maggots to feed them 1-2 maggots daily to increase their aggression.
Cockfighting Training Method – Conditioning
Conditioning is an essential part of Cockfighting training. It helps develop their muscles, making them aggressive and strong. You can have them spar with other cocks, with humans, or let them run in a cage while someone counts laps; each method offers unique benefits for the cocks’ development.
Sparring Intensity
The intensity of sparring needs to be scientific, combining sparring time with rest for the fighting cocks. Follow these principles to ensure they expend energy gradually, from low to high.
To achieve this, start training them with simple exercises, gradually increasing complexity. Once they reach peak sparring intensity, it’s important to lower the intensity to ensure they can perform at their best in the ring.
General Sparring Schedule
You can follow this general schedule for conditioning fighting cocks for optimal results:
- 1st Sparring Session: Lasts about 15-20 minutes, with an 8-day rest period. The 1st light sparring will take about 30-40 minutes, with a 7-day rest.
- 2nd Sparring Session: This will last longer than the 1st, from 17-25 minutes, with a rest period of 14-20 days. The 2nd light sparring will take 30-40 minutes, with about 10 days of rest.
- 3rd or 4th Sparring Session: Duration of sparring will be 17-25 minutes, with a rest period of 21-28 days. Afterward, have them kick for 5 minutes, followed by a 3-day rest before another 4th light sparring lasting 30-40 minutes, with a 10-day rest. After that, let them kick for 5 minutes, then increase to 10 minutes after 4 days, and rest for 7 days. This is the right time for the cock to compete.
=> Read more: What to Feed Cockfighting Before a Battle?
After the 3rd Sparring Session
In professional Cockfighting training, the time after the 3rd sparring session is critical for training kicks.
During this kicking phase, the trainer should pay attention to:
- The cock’s ability to jump when kicking.
- The sharpness of their beak during practice.
- The tension when they kick the opponent.
- The redness and breathing of the cock during the kicking phase.
The best time for kicking practice is on cool days with light sun and absolutely dry conditions; avoid hot, cold, or humid rainy days, as these can negatively affect the fighting cock.
Applying Herbal Paste
The right time for applying herbal paste is in the morning, after the cock has run in the cage, combined with spraying it with tea to boost excitement. After finishing the running exercise, spray tea, dry them off, ensure they take their medicine, and have a hearty breakfast before applying the herbal paste.
Applying the herbal paste significantly impacts the cock’s firmness, endurance to hits, and the strength of their attack. Therefore, when implementing Cockfighting training methods, pay special attention to this step.
The herbal paste is made from ginger from the south, cooked with alum, salt, and herbs for the cocks. The ginger is ground finely and cooked to a thick paste, then brushed evenly over the cock’s body, focusing on vulnerable areas like the head, face, neck, armpits, wings, and back.
For areas like the thighs and knees, dilute the herbal paste before applying it to avoid hardening the muscles.
Herbal Removal
After applying the herbal paste, you need to gradually remove it in three sessions:
The first removal will be after 6 hours post-application; use tea to spray the areas where the herbal paste was applied and gently rub to remove excess.
The second removal will occur 4 hours later, following the same procedure as the first.
The final removal is done by steaming with boiled tea and rinsing off with cool water or alcohol.
=> Read more: How to Help Fighting Cocks Recover Quickly After a Match.
Using Rice Grains
This Cockfighting training method involves using rice grains to entice the cock, making it run in circles inside the cage. Each day, the cock should run about 110 laps.
Cockfighting Training Exercises
Cockfighting training exercises are designed to enhance the fighting techniques of the cock. These exercises include:
- Tilting the neck side to side.
- Pulling down the wings to make the cock lift them.
- Hanging the cock and lowering it gently while stroking its wings.
- Pressing the cock down to create a proper stance.
- Push training for the cock.
- Making the cock turn in place.
Sun Exposure and Morning Dew
Training methods also include exposure to morning dew and sunlight. These practices help “toughen” the cock, improving their health and fighting spirit. Each day, you can let them sunbathe for about an hour, ensuring they have enough water in their cage.
Heat Treatment for Fighting Cocks
Heat treatment is another crucial factor in building a strong and muscular fighting cock. The fighting ability of the cock significantly increases after this treatment, enhancing its attacking power against opponents.
The Treatment Pot
The treatment pot will vary based on the stage of Cockfighting training. After a sparring session or competition, the pot may include raw ginger or dried betel nut, wormwood, and a little salt, used for about 4 days.
For subsequent treatments, substitute wormwood with fresh tea leaves and guava leaves, used for 5 days, after which a new pot is required.
The application process is as follows:
- Soak a cloth in the pot, wring it out, and gradually apply it to the face, neck, spine, shoulders, wings, touching the apples, rubbing the breast, and working down to the thighs, butt, hips, and toes.
- Repeat the process on the right side.
- Continue with the same method for the remaining areas.
Traditional Treatment Pot
The traditional treatment pot consists of two layers:
- The outer layer includes ginger, fresh tea leaves, guava leaves, and wormwood (used for experienced fighters).
- The inner layer, called the quack pot, includes bark, roots, and ground ginger with a bit of salt (for novice fighters).
Final thoughts
Above are detailed Cockfighting training methods compiled by PHSPIN. These methods are meticulously implemented and require the dedication and experience of the trainer. We hope this information provides enthusiasts with the knowledge to create strong, aggressive fighting cocks.
