Unlike this bird, fighting roosters are usually battle-scarred.
Cockfighting has a reputation as a brutal sport and, for this reason, is illegal in many countries. While fighting is normal behavior for competing roosters, the loser is in a position to admit defeat and leave. In a staged cockfight this option does not exist and the birds fight to the death. They are also often equipped to inflict terrible injuries on each other, such as artificial spurs on their legs. If you suspect that a rooster has been used for cockfighting, look for the telltale signs before notifying the authorities. Bear in mind that people engaged in illegal activities can be dangerous and never attempt to confront the perpetrators yourself.
Instructions
1. Look for other birds. If hens accompany the rooster, it is unlikely the bird is used for fighting. The roosters reared for cockfights are rarely kept as part of a flock of chickens. If you see just roosters, housed separately, then chances are high they are being kept for fights
2. Examine the bird's face. Roosters that have been in a cockfight usually have visible injuries or scars, including missing eyes and torn combs.
3. Examine the plumage of the rooster. Patches of missing feathers are another sign of a bird that has been fighting. Furthermore, some owners pluck nearly all a rooster's feathers shortly before a fight, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This is supposed to increase the bird's chances of winning by not giving the competing rooster much to grab hold of. Such owners may also remove the rooster's wattles, the red flaps of skin both roosters and hens have underneath their faces.
4. Notify the appropriate authorities if you suspect the bird is used for fighting. This is normally the police. If you are unsure, contact an animal welfare organization for further advice. The Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals both campaign vigorously against cockfighting and can advise you what to do next.
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