You might have observed this brutal sports, where two roosters fight each other over nothing until they start bleeding from injuries and may even die in the process.
You would have noticed that the people surrounding the fighting animals continue to cheer them on instead of separating them and stopping the fight.
Well, what you just witnessed is one of the most brutal and cruelest sports in the world.
It is commonly known as cockfighting, rooster fight, chicken fight, or chicken fighting.
But is it legal for people to make animals fight one another even to the point of death? What has the United States government have to say about this? Is there any states in the country that legalizes this sports?
In this article, you are going to find out a lot about chicken fighting and its legal states, if any. You are also going to find out whether you should join in the sports or even sponsor it in one way or the other.
Well, let’s begin.
What Is Chicken Fighting?
Chicken fighting, as the name suggests, is a kind of blood sports, where chickens, usually roosters, are set against each other in a brutal fight.
The animals are placed in an enclosure or a ring and allowed to fight until one is either dead or too injured to fight. This kind of game is usually part of illegal gambling and gang activity.
How Is Chicken Fighting Played?
In some cases, chicken fighting involves allowing the animals to fight themselves with their natural claws and beaks. But in most cases, the chicken owners enhance the birds’ claws with sharp metal blades or spurs so they can inflict deeper and graver injuries on the other birds they fight with.
So, how do they play cockfights?
In the first places, these animals are specially trained to be aggressive and brutal. They are also trained on how to fight to kill. They are trained to never give up or give way to their opponents until they drop dead. This is a form of animal cruelty that should not be encouraged.
Secondly, a ring or pit is built for the chickens’ fight. The trained roosters are placed in the rings and they immediately turn aggressive when they set eyes on each other.
The roosters charge on their opponents and begin to tear them apart. The metal blades and spurs on their legs help them do this.
Meanwhile, their human spectators place bets on the chickens they believe will win.
By the end of the day, the chicken that remains standing is declared the winner and those that bet on it take home their bounty.
Unfortunately, in most cases, both chickens die from injuries they sustain during the bloody fight.
What Kind of Chickens Are Used in Chicken Fighting?
Usually, roosters, that is, cocks or male chickens, are used for chicken fighting. This is why it is also known as cockfighting or rooster fight.
But you have to remember that the roosters used for this bloody sports are bred specifically for this fight. So they are trained to be aggressive and fight to kill.
What Do They Do in Chicken Fighting?
As said earlier, this game is a blood sport that involves encouraging two specially trained roosters to fight each other to death.
However, while the roosters are busy fighting and killing themselves, their human owners, audience and bettors are making money out of them. This is because it is usually a form of illegal gambling that is found among people with shady behavior and association.
Should You Watch and Bet on Chicken Fighting?
Whether you should watch chicken fighting or not is a personal question that you have to answer by yourself, especially if you can withstand animal cruelty.
However, to participate in the sports by betting on any rooster is another thing altogether. Before you do something like that, you have to make sure that what you are doing is legal. You wouldn’t want to fall out of place with the law enforcement agents because you were found where they are hosting chicken fight.
Arguments for and against Chicken Fighting
Just like almost everything else in this life, people have mixed reactions and opinions towards rooster fighting. We will use this section to capture these reactions so you will know how people feel about the game.
Arguments in Support of Chicken Fighting
You might be surprised to know that there are people who speak in favor of cockfighting. The following are the things they say to support this bloody game:
- Chicken fighting is a cultural tradition. The people that hold this view believe that stopping the game means forcing them to lose their cultural heritage.
- The sports is an avenue for making money. Remember, people place bets on the chickens so it is a kind of gambling for them.
- The game offers opportunity for people to come together to socialize and have fun.
Arguments against Chicken Fighting
Despite the arguments presented by the supporters of chicken fighting, many people still believe the game should not be allowed to see the light of the day.
Their arguments for kicking against chicken fighting include:
- Chicken fighting is a form of animal cruelty.
- It is usually practiced by gang members and drug traffickers
- It teaches animals to be violent, especially to one another.
- It fosters crime, violence, gambling, and gang activities.
- It can make players become insensitive to the sufferings and pains of others.
Chicken Fighting Legal States
It is good to know that none of the 50 states in the United States have legalized cockfighting. What this means is that if you directly or indirectly engage in cockfighting activities in the United States, you will be breaking the law and will, therefore, go to jail if caught.
Why Was Chicken Fighting Banned in the United States?
Chicken fighting is banned in the United States for several reasons, especially those we mentioned below:
- It is animal cruelty; it goes against animal welfare; and it displays barbaric and inhumane treatment of animals.
- It is a form of gambling.
- Such birds can spread diseases, such as bird flu (avian influenza) and Newcastle disease, to humans and other animals.
- People have changed their cultural views and opinions about cockfighting.
However, the major reason for banning cockfighting in the United States is that it is a form of animal cruelty.
Let’s Wrap It Up
Cockfighting is not legal in the United States. This means that none of the 50 states across the country allows anyone to engage in it. So, if see any group practicing rooster fighting, let them know they are breaking the law and also committing a crime. And, whatever you do, don’t join the spectators or bettors in this game. Remember you will go to jail if you’re caught.