Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did cockfighting affect the early breeding of chickens?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Domesticated yaks carrying supplies in colorful bundles walk along a rocky mountain trail toward Everest Base Camp, with snow-covered peaks in the background in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. — Domestication Domesticated yaks (*Bos grunniens*) carrying supplies to an Everest base camp in Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu region, Nepal.

The early domestication of chickens was likely driven by two primary factors: religious purposes and the breeding of birds specifically for cockfighting.1

While modern poultry production focuses on meat and egg yields, the initial selective breeding of these birds was heavily influenced by the requirements of the fighting pit. Breeders sought to develop "game fowl"—birds that possessed the physical traits and temperament necessary for combat. This practice prioritized aggressive characteristics and physical stamina, establishing a foundation for the selective breeding of the species long before chickens became mass-produced agricultural commodities in the 20th century.21

It is important to note that cockfighting involves the intentional injury and death of animals for human entertainment, a practice that is widely recognized as a form of animal cruelty and is prohibited by law in many jurisdictions today.2