Today I want to talk about the Sweater fighting cocks , birds that have stood out in Mexico, the United States, the Philippines and other parts of the world for their excellent fighting skills and genetic quality. They are undoubtedly cocks with a lot of breed, deserving of a great reputation among cockfighters around the planet, which they have earned for their great fighting style that is very fast and aggressive.
Sweaters are a winning breed par excellence, the best breeders of American and worldwide roosters want to have these specimens and get the best from them, which is a lot. During combat they are able to easily knock down their opponent, thanks to the blood infusions they carry, becoming one of the most feared roosters in the ring. Not for nothing are they the most sought after birds by all cockfighters.
It is believed that the formula from which the Sweater gamefowl came out is ¾ Yellow Leg Hatch and ¼ Kelso. The principal base for the Sweater roosters are the Yellow Leg that come from Mr. Hatch. Later, the Perry and McClean, until they get to Mr. Sweater McGinnis who came out with his first green legged Hatch and some yellow legged. From here it comes out that the Sweater is a line of the Yellow Leg Hatch with a little infusion of Kelso blood, of course with the personal touch that every breeder gave to their offspring, breeders like Johnnie Jumper, Carol Nesmith, Dink Fair and others that pushed the Sweater gamefowl since 1980 and have consolidated themselves as a winner race since then, due to their aptitudes and elegance that its required for playing with cutting edge weapons like the Philippine blade, depending on the breeder some of them are light colored, mid-colored of yellowish with a little spikes. Ones have mid spike and finer heads, ones have broader backs.
Did you know that the sweater gamefowl were introduced in Mexico with other names like the Kelso and the yellow Leg Hatch? When this birds became a tendency, plenty of yellow animals started to come into Mexico with those names and in reality they were the Sweater roosters.
Since before in Mexico the fine Sweater roosters where little known, just a few or anybody actually knew them, it’s because of this that plenty of people thinks that the phenotype of the Yellow Leg Hatch is yellow because that’s how they were first known. In reality, while the Yellow Leg is mostly colored and square headed, currently we all see the Sweater with turkey crest, round headed and yellow when some time ago were known for being orange with squared heads and saw crests.
Even if you don’t believe it, it’s real, because it was said by breeders with more than 25 and 30 years of experience. This is a race of roosters that came in strong and winning of the United States, Mexico and Philippines derbies. It went from being an unknown race to be the most used one in the new times, becoming the new kings.
From the first class fences to the corral fights, there couldn’t be a tall bird with defined yellow tones in the necktie and yellow feet because it was necessary to keep it cheap. A fun fact is that in the past tournaments that were hosted in the United States the yellow birds were the first to lose.
Currently in Mexico the Sweater gamefowl have become one of the most popular races (Kelso and Sweater are the most used). Without fear to being wrong, I can say that in any part of the country were the cock fights are hosted we’ll find a breeder that misses this family between all the others.
Sweater roosters Characteristics
- Born flyers
- Round head and pea combs.
- Very ligators
- Yellow or white legs
- Variety of colors, which are red, light and lemon.
- It is an aggressive breed.
- Fast on their feet.
- They have very good resistance.
- Good cutters.
- They are very aesthetically beautiful birds.
- Sometimes they have white guides on the tail and wings.
They are animals of spiky bodies, yellow and sometimes white legs, clear colored and yellowish, round head and turkey crests although previously these animals were known to have saw crests and square heads, normally they have white feathers in their tails and plenty of times in their wings. Aggressive, quick legged, good cutters and with high resistance, besides they are very pretty and stylized roosters.
The sweater gamefowl fighting style is up in the air since they are very flying roosters. Between their deficiencies, they are birds that don’t develop very good in the floor that’s why we should cross them with a line of floor fighting. The Sweater roosters are the most crossing family, they can be mated with almost any other, of course the most popular are with the kelso gamefowl, Hatch and Giro.
This line in the practice when the birds truly stick to the combat style in reference, they tend to give very good offspring, but surely they have their own weak spot in the fight and in the long term resistance, since there are birds that lack of bottom, that’s why it’s a good idea to cross them with Kelso and Hatch.
The Giro with Sweater are very rare and their original blood has high validity. These roosters are of platinum tones, with yellow legs, very good fighters, very tough and of good breed.
Fighting style
Sweater cocks have an aggressive and fast fighting style, they are tough birds and are good cutters. Their fighting style is above, as they are born flyers, they know how to dominate their opponent in the air, although one disadvantage is that they are a bit clumsy on the ground.
This breed looks great in the ring at game time, as they are bold, determined and energetic. The Sweater fighting cock has almost perfect qualities for derbies, making amateur and professional cockfighters want to have them on their farm.
It should also be noted that the Sweater is a very mating breed, that is to say, very good for crossbreeding. However, it is most recommended to cross with Kelso, Hatch and Albany.
Most important breeders sweater gamefowl
There infinity of variants in the Sweater gamefowl fighting style and each breeder has given an unique style to their family. The American breeders that outstand the most with these animals are:
- Carol Nesmith
- Bruce Barnet
- Dink Fair
- Johnnie Jumper
- Gene Batia
I want to remember that this aren’t all the breeders, I’m just mentioning the ones whom to my eyes are the most popular.
The Sweater possum and the Sweater 5000 that reach the top with Carol Nesmith, Bruce Barnet and the great breeder Dink Fair, but this family couldn’t have been part of the history of the gallistics if it wasn’t for the hands of the greatest breeder, Johnnie Jumper (cataloged by the breeders themselves). Rumor has it that he is the one that the Sweater roosters owe their existence.
Sweater Rooster Lines
Now we will talk about the main lines of sweater roosters that are currently the sensation as they are gaining a lot of popularity.
Sweater 5000
It is no surprise to anyone that the Sweater 5000 is the most popular bird because it is quite strong, since in most cases it has a formidable body. They are birds that fight above, break the wind and soar high. It is an animal that you will almost never see scraping the wing of its opponent.
Sweater 5000 roosters features
- Speed : They are extremely fast roosters in their movements and attacks, which allows them to surprise their opponents.
- Endurance : They have a high endurance capacity, which allows them to maintain good performance during prolonged fights.
- Air Fighting : They are known for their ability to fight in the air, launching attacks while jumping or soaring to avoid hits.
- Aggressive character : Sweater 5000s have a combative nature, which makes them highly competitive in the ring.
- Good physical constitution : They are characterized by a robust body, with strong and muscular legs, ideal for fighting.
- Distinctive plumage : Their plumage is usually reddish or golden in tones, with patterns that make them visually attractive and distinctive.
- Combination of intelligence and attack : Although they are aggressive, they are also intelligent, able to adapt to their opponent’s strategy and change their attack style if necessary.
Sweater Possum
The possum is a line that has a style similar to the Sweater 5000. Although they are more warlike animals, another characteristic that makes them different is that they are birds with glued feathers and yellow feet, the work of the famous breeder Carol Nesmith.
Mutant Sweater
The mutant sweater rooster is very similar to the sweater possum, however it maintains its almost white pinto colors and white guides on its tail. It is a bird with excellent breed and some cockfighters point out that this line has a lot of depth since it is a hybrid with hatch or kelso since it is not really known.
Sweater Jumper
Little animals with excellent genetic constitution, yellow legs in most cases, have a very well-formed body although compact but strong, they are very bonding animals especially with the Kelso. Obviously they are birds that fight on top.
Golden Boy Sweater
For many, the most beautiful sweater is because it is aesthetically very pleasing. They are yellow and lemon-coloured animals, but the most popular are those with orange feathers. Most of the time, they have white legs, although you can also find them with yellow feet. They are birds that go very well with the Hatch and Albany.
Best crosses with Sweater roosters
Sweater cocks are known for their speed, agility and stamina in fights, making them an excellent base for crosses with other lines of fighting cocks. Some of the best combinations are:
- Sweater with Hatch : This is one of the most popular combinations. The Hatch provides aggressiveness and power, while the Sweater adds resistance and speed. The result is a balanced, strong rooster with a lot of attacking power.
- Sweater with Kelso : Kelsos are known for their intelligence in combat and ability to withstand attacks. When crossed with Sweater roosters, you get a specimen that is not only fast and strong, but can also be more cunning in its movements and strategies during a fight.
- Sweater with Radio : The cross with Radio brings toughness in combat and tenacity, complementing the Sweater’s abilities, creating a rooster that can withstand long fights without losing its rhythm.
- Sweater with Roundhead : This cross is noted for improving agility and evasiveness. Roundheads add quick reflexes and evasive movements, which combined with the Sweater’s endurance, results in a rooster that is difficult to hit.
- Sweater with Giro : Giro roosters are known for being very good flyers and capable of fighting well both in the air and on the ground. This cross gives the Sweater more aerial agility, complementing its speed and endurance. In addition, Giros are intelligent and tough roosters, which allows them to fight effectively on the ground, adapting to different combat strategies.
Each cross is designed to enhance specific aspects of combat, allowing breeders to choose based on the characteristics they are looking to strengthen.
How much is a Sweater rooster worth?
The price of a Sweater rooster can vary considerably depending on its lineage, purity, and specific characteristics. Some factors that influence value include:
- Purity of bloodline : Pure Sweater roosters, without any admixtures from other lines, tend to be more expensive. Depending on their endangerment, these specimens can cost between $300 and $1,000 USD or more.
- Age : Seasonal breeding Sweater cocks are usually cheaper, as they are at the beginning of their reproductive life and have not yet been bred. However, some breeders offer cocks that have already been tested and have given good breeding results. These specimens, which have already produced successful offspring, are usually more expensive due to their proven genetic quality.
- Breeders : Each breeder can add unique characteristics to their Sweater line, depending on the goals and type of birds they are looking to produce. Some prioritize speed, others endurance or specific plumage and behavior characteristics. This influences the price, as birds from reputable breeders can be considerably more expensive.
- Region : A breeding Sweater rooster will be more expensive if it comes from a breeder in the United States, since the genetic quality in many cases is superior due to decades of development in pure lines. However, it is important to note that in Mexico there are also excellent cockfighting farms that breed high-quality Sweater roosters, offering a competitive and, sometimes, more affordable option in terms of price.
In summary, a Sweater rooster can cost from about $ 3,000 USD to more than $2,000 USD , depending on the characteristics mentioned.
Interested in knowing more information about gamefowl. I invite you to visit some of the articles in this blog:
- The best gamefowl feeding guide
- Gamefowl breeding tips
- Gamefowl supplements and vitamins
- Best fighting roosters in the world
Conclusion
Sincerely, it would be difficult that such a complete race would give in the throne but the history is clear and strong.
Anyways, we should know that one of the best crossing are the Kelso with Sweater rooster due to the latter being a great line and an invaluable asset to the worldwide gallistics since there are the families of this great race that has given life to it, not for nothing they have reached the top in most of the countries. Cheers to the Sweater gamefowl and don’t forget that the small details make the great breeders.