Important Maintenance Tips for Gamefowls

Maintenance Phase

During this time, we are not preparing our warriors for a scheduled fight. Maybe we have decided to take break because it is breeding season or our birds are shedding so we cannot put them in additional stress. Maintenance is one of the most important phase of taking care a rooster but often most cockers neglect this time. Some owners just let their warriors on the cord until it is time to condition them for a fight. 

A famous breeder and cocker once said that the best conditioning method is the "365 days" conditioning method. Meaning we need to give our gamefowls proper attention and care for the whole year and not only during time of conditioning or breeding. Without further ado, let us tackle the 3 most important things as gamefowl owners during the maintenance phase. These three are Deworming(Purga), Delouse(Paligo) and Inject(Turok). Let us discuss each of the items further.

Purga or Deworm

First item that should be regularly done for our gamefowl is Deworming. Through deworming, we help our gamefowl maximize the absorption of the healthy foods we give them. We help remove the internal parasites that may have been sucking the nutritional values of the food of our warriors. Remember, a healthy chicken will have bright red face meaning it is not pale. A pale chicken is a sign of an unhealthy chicken. With no other organism inside our gamefowl, we can assure that they will be able to absorb all the nutrients they need to be in tip-top shape which will show on their performance during gameday. 

There are different practices when cockers give their dewormer. It can be done early in the morning around 4am while others prefer to give it 8pm where the gamefowls are not fed. The important thing is to deworm our gamefowls when they are gut empty. Our dewormer will be more effective if our warriors are gut empty. On my personal practice, we deworm them during the days when we "fast" them. Fasting is skipping one meal which also offers benefits but we will discuss it on a separate blog. 

Deworming can be done once a month or as often as every 15 days

Paligo or Delouse

After deworming and removing the internal parasites, we move to removing the external parasites for our gamefowl. The same as deworming, less or no parasites means our gamefowl can absorb the nutrients they need only for themselves. Once that happens, our gamefowls will be healthier and a healthy gamefowl equates to a winning gamefowl.

There are different shampoos available for cockers to use. Delousing is normally done when the weather is good and the sun is bright after deworming. Usually, we will bath our gamefowls around 10am and target to dry them by 12 noon.

A good practice after bathing our gamefowl is to put them in a dust free area where they cannot scratch soil that may stick to their wet feathers. Putting them for few hours under the sun in a cemented area or with a mat is preferable. 

The same as deworming, delousing can be done once a month or as often as every 15 days.

Turok or Inject

Last item that is as important as the other two is Inject. Injecting vitamins and supplements is the third part of this maintenance routine. There are different brands and products that cockers can choose from but the main vitamin that they should target to provide to gamefowl is B-complex and liver extract.

The purpose and benefits of B-Complex supplementation for gamefowls are multifaceted, focusing on enhancing their overall health, performance, and well-being. B-Complex, rich in Vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12, and Folic Acid, plays a crucial role in promoting health by boosting the immune system, stimulating metabolism, musculature, and the nervous system of roosters. These vitamins are essential for various bodily functions, including the metabolism of food, the production of energy, and the development of muscles and feathers. B1 and B12, in particular, can help to stimulate appetite and improve weight gain in gamefowls and poultry.

B-Complex supplementation for gamefowls provides several key benefits:

• Improved Appetite and Weight Gain: B1 and B12 can stimulate appetite and support weight gain, contributing to the growth of healthy and active birds
• Enhanced Digestion: The B vitamins are critical for digestive health, aiding in the metabolism of food and nutrients.
• Increased Energy Levels: B vitamins contribute to energy production, ensuring that gamefowls have the energy they need for daily activities and growth.
• Better Muscle and Feather Development: These vitamins play a role in muscle and feather development, contributing to the overall health and appearance of the birds.
• Reduced Stress: B5 and B12 can help to reduce stress levels in gamefowls, which is beneficial for their overall well-being.
• Improved Liver Function: Liver extract supplementation supports liver function, which is crucial for the metabolism of nutrients and the removal of toxins, thereby preventing liver-related issues.
• Better Immune System: B-Complex supplementation boosts the immune system, helping gamefowls to fight off diseases and infections more effectively.

The above benefits provide us an idea how important that we regularly provide our gamefowls this supplements.

 Injecting our gamefowl with supplements can be done once a month or as often as every 15 days and alternatel. If you give today at right breast, then next injection should be administered through the left breast. Injection can be done on the same day as you delouse your gamefowl but in the evening around 6pm to 8pm.

Closing remarks

You will start to notice improvement of your gamefowl once you have done all the three items. Your gamefowls will start to have a better appetite, their body will bulk up but not become heavy with fat and their faces and shanks will become reddish. All are signs of a healthy and on good condition gamefowls. If you do this maintenance regularly, then you are already one step to conditioning your warriors.

Also, it is advisable to do all the three maintenance items whenever you acquire new gamefowls on your backyard or farm. If not, then make sure to do it with the other gamefowl on their next schedule of Deworm, Delouse and Inject.