Asil Bantam

Appearance

The Asil Bantam is characterized by a broad and very deep body with an upright posture, exuding a challenging and bold expression. Their short, broad head features powerfully developed eyebrows that cause the eyes to sit deep in the sockets. The face is smooth and red.

• Weight: Roosters weigh approximately 2.6 lbs (1200g), and hens are lighter at about 2.0 lbs (900g).
• Comb: They have a small, firm, low-set pea comb that is red in color.
• Wattles and Earlobes: Wattles are undeveloped or only minimally present, separated by a thick, unfeathered throat wattle. Earlobes are small, oblong, smooth, fine-textured, and red.
• Eyes: Large, courageous eyes, pearl-white to light orange, with young birds sometimes showing a reddish tint.
• Neck: The neck is round, muscular, and strong, of medium length, uniformly thick along its entire length. It is slightly arched at the back, with a short neck hackle that barely reaches the lower part of the neck.
• Body: The body is upright, very short, and broad, tapering towards the rear. The breast is broad, slightly flattened, and sparsely feathered, often revealing the breastbone. The back is broad at the shoulders, short, and straight, tapering slightly towards the rear.
• Wings: Strong, short, and held tightly against the body, with the shoulders standing out prominently.
• Tail: Short, carried somewhat drooping, with hard, narrow main tail feathers and narrow, medium-long sickles. The sickles are only slightly curved.
• Legs and Feet: Legs are unfeathered, set wide apart, straight, and strong at the hock joint. They are relatively short, but not excessively so. The shanks are smooth, with four short, straight toes. Color is yellow, with a dark tint sometimes allowed in darker varieties. Foot soles are yellow. Ring sizes are 5/8 inch (15mm, Size G) for roosters and 1/2 inch (13mm, Size F) for hens.
• Feathering: The feathering is tight, hard, and close-fitting, with very little down development.

Temperament

Asil Bantams are known for their gamey and combative nature, particularly among roosters, who will fight to the death if not separated. Despite this, they are generally friendly and peaceful towards humans, although a young cockerel might occasionally peck a hand, they rarely attack without provocation. Their alertness and challenging demeanor make them fascinating, albeit high-maintenance, birds.

Asil Bantams are primarily bred for their game fowl characteristics and form, with egg production being a secondary consideration. They are moderate layers.

• Egg Production: Hens lay approximately 80-100 eggs per year.
• Egg Size & Color: They lay medium-sized, yellow-brown eggs, typically weighing between 1.4-1.6 oz (40-45g).
• Broodiness: Asil hens are known to be good mothers and tend to go broody readily, making them suitable for natural incubation and chick rearing.

Apart from the differences in size and muscle mass, the Asil Bantam hen and rooster share many fundamental characteristics in type and form. Roosters are significantly larger and more powerfully built, with a more pronounced game fowl stance. Their combs are often firmer and more upright. They develop stronger and more aggressive expressions.

Hens are smaller and less aggressive in appearance. They share the same pea comb type, but it is often less prominent. The overall body conformation and feathering are similar, with no major secondary sexual differences beyond size. Apart from secondary sexual characteristics, no other significant differences.

Originating from regions with hot climates, the Asil Bantam is a hardy breed that tolerates warmth well. However, their sparse and tight feathering, with minimal down, makes them somewhat sensitive to cold, particularly during cold nights. It is crucial to ensure they have adequate shelter and food before cold weather sets in.

A well-insulated, draft-free coop is essential for their well-being in cooler temperatures. While they are active and enjoy foraging, direct exposure to prolonged cold or damp conditions should be avoided due to their limited natural insulation.

While form is paramount in Asil Bantams, several color varieties are recognized, with Black, Blue, and various Spangled patterns being common. The egg color is consistently yellow-brown regardless of plumage.

• Black: Solid glossy black plumage.
• Blue: A uniform shade of blue, often appearing somewhat lighter than other blue breeds.
• Spangled: Irregular distribution of white or other colored feathers on a darker base.
• Silver Duckwing: A classic game fowl pattern with silver tones.
• Golden Duckwing: Similar to Silver Duckwing but with golden tones.
• White: Pure white plumage.
• Wheaten: A light, wheaten-colored hen with a darker, typically black or blue, rooster.

Note that color and markings are secondary to form when judging this breed.

The Asil (or Aseel) chicken breed originated in India and other parts of Asia, where it has a long history as a fighting fowl, revered for its strength, courage, and distinctive gamey appearance. The name Asil itself means "pure" or "high-born" in Arabic, reflecting its esteemed status.

The Asil Bantam was primarily developed in England around 1880, where it was first exhibited. It was created by crossing larger Asil fowl with other game bantams, such as the Modern Game and Malay bantams, to produce a scaled-down version that retained the fierce character and unique conformation of the large fowl. The development focused on preserving the breed's distinct physique, challenging posture, and deep-set eyes, which are hallmarks of the Asil type. The bantam quickly gained popularity among enthusiasts for exhibition purposes.