Battle of the Chickens (Chọi gà)
Raising roosters for cockfighting requires heavy
investments in time and labor. Professional trainers choose young chickens
carefully, individually preparing their food and drink, bathing them,
separating them from hens, and training them in fighting positions. A fighting
cock must be so acquainted with its owner that it will allow only the owner to
hold him. Fighting cocks, which come from three main species, are colloquially
called "sacred chickens" or "combat roosters". Black
roosters with a red comb and a long neck are full of stamina and will fight to
the bitter end. White roosters with ivory-colored feet and round yellow eyes
are hot-tempered and perform "lightning battles". Also popular are
"five-colored cocks" coated with black, yellow, brown, red and
blackish blue feathers. They fight with flexibility and often run away if they
lose.
The owners prepare a 1.5m-wide ring walled by a
20cm-high bamboo screen. Spectators stand outside the screen. Only the owners
of the fighting cocks are allowed to enter the area to care for their animals.
A rooster loses if it leaves the ring twice and does not return.
Before a cockfight begins, owners agree on the terms
among themselves. They compare the size, weight and combat achievements of
their roosters. If one rooster has longer spurs, its rival is allowed to wear
artificial spurs. After the discussion and agreement, the owners bring their
birds into the ring. The cocks are kept in two separate halves of the ring
until a signal is given to start the fight. Cocks usually attempt some trial
feints to gauge their competitor's reactions before giving mortal thrashings: a
double kick against the rival's body, a cut to the neck using spurs, or pecking
out the rival's eyes.
The fight continues until one bird is defeated.
Contestants time the rounds by burning an incense slick or draining water can
with a hole in it.
Vietnamese cockfights have two forms of compensation. In one version, the loser
pays an agreed-upon sum lo the winner; in the other, the loser forfeits both
money and the defeated bird.
