The Dubbing Debate: Should You Dub Game Birds for Exhibition?
People are usually ready to share their opinions, whether asked or not. Well, when the topic is the dubbing of game birds for exhibition, people have strong opinions!
What Is Dubbing?
Dubbing is the practice of cutting off the comb, wattle, and earlobes of chickens.
Currently, game roosters entered into exhibitions must be dubbed in order to compete, according to American Poultry Association standards. Those breeds include:
American Game
When a roster is dubbed, the wattle, the earlobes, and the comb are removed using sharp scissors. It is best if two people handle the task. The bird is wrapped in a towel or other cloth so that only it’s head is visible. Then one person holds it while the other cuts. The scissors are sterilized with alcohol and some kind of blood stop should be on hand – just in case.
First, the wattle is cut from front to back, then the earlobes, and finally the comb from back to front. It is important to remember that, once the skin is cut away, it cannot be put back. Most experts recommend cutting less instead of more.
Why Dub Chickens?
Dubbing of game birds has a long history and there are a couple of reasons it is done today. One of those reasons is simply tradition. As the name “game” implies, these are chicken breeds that were traditionally bred for fighting purposes. During a fight, the wattles, combs, and earlobes were almost like handles for the opposing rooster to grab hold of, and terrible wounds could result if they were torn off. As chicken fighting is now illegal in 48 states, no one needs to worry about that anymore.
However, the look of a dubbed roster is still appealing to many. While the birds are not actually fighting, lots of people like them to look like they could win in a fight. It makes sense that if, all of your life, you’ve seen game birds dubbed you would think that’s the way they should look. This is the reason I believe the APA Standard of Perfection calls for dubbing.
The second reason people maintain that dubbing is good for game birds is more reasonable. If a bird lives in a cold climate and is not dubbed, frostbite can cause serious problems. However, there is fault in the logic of dubbing only game birds in cold climates because other birds with similar wattles, combs and earlobes can suffer frostbite as well. No one suggests that other breeds should be dubbed.
A Simple Solution
Reading through forum threads, chatting with poultry fanciers, or reading blogs reveals that people are divided over the question of dubbing. Some people believe that it is a sign of good animal husbandry and that a flock will be healthier for it. Others think it is unnecessary at best and, at worst, cruel. Regardless, of the plethora of opinion, the fact remains that the APA and ABA require dubbing of game breeds for competition.
There is a simple way to solve the whole debate: don’t make dubbing a requirement, but also don’t penalize birds that have been dubbed. Dubbing just should not be a factor in the judgment of game birds. My guess is that, eventually, dubbing would fade away and eventually disappear.
Do you raise Old English Game Bantams, Modern Game Bantams or American Game Bantams? Do you dub your birds? How do you feel about dubbing?
I raised Old English Game for years in N. Calif. I usually dubbed them but the ones I didn’t, I thought, always looked better. The demand for the dubbed ones was higher, sold tons of them in Gilroy to DeCarlo’s Feather Haven.
NO to dubbing,I hatched and raised Old English Game and they are sweet little things,why hurt them, NO DUBBING
NO to dubbing! If they were born with it it was there for a reason. If they are subject to freezing, KEEP THEM WARMER! Would YOU cut off your fingers because of frostbite, no, you’d wear gloves.
There is no need for dubbing in this day and age.
Dubbing is essentail for cleaning up the bird. It also helps with winter stress ( frost bite is horrible and lasts longer) . The dubbed chickens do do much better in the winter. The process of dubbing might seem a little cruel ,but in the long run beneifts the bird tremendously. Healthy chickens recover from dubbing within days. With no worse for ware.
I agree with the article. We raise moderns in California and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my cocks to have combs and waddles. It is my preference and I think I should be allowed to show my cocks intact. If others want to dub, go for it. I think you should be allowed. Im in America…. we should be free to show what we like!
We don’t dub, don’t like the concept. Have had many heavily combed birds in cold winters that did fine. It’s understood that some people may like it, but feel standards should be changed to either choice being accepted when entered in a show.
I feel like it’s the equivalent of removing a human mans junk. You’re taking your roosters manlihood. I never dub and never condone it, my roosters are in beautiful condition and dubbing makes a bird look so weird. Their combs and wattles are so big and beautiful… what if you had to have your ears cut off by some lunatic with scissors? And as for frostbite, I live in a state that gets below freezing for most of winter, and usually reaches 10° at points. Never had a problem with frostbite, as I keep my coop warm. There is no logical reason to require it for show whatsoever and really should be taken off the standard
Thanks so much for your honest and respectful comment! We appreciate you participating in our articles! I look forward to seeing additinoal respectful debate on this subject.
My daughter started showing Old English Game Bantams last year. We love them and they are beautiful birds. This year we are raising babies for the first time. They have to be dubbed for show, I know how to do it, I’m just not sure of the age or how long it takes to heal? I personally like the look of dubbing. I had a turkey hen rip a comb off of a game rooster once, I thought he was going to bleed to death before we was able to catch him. In all honesty I don’t feel dubbing is any different than cropping a dogs ears, docking a tail or cutting off a dew claw.
If your going to dub a stag why in the world would you leave a quarter of an inch on the comb !! whoever came up with the concept of following a white line in the comb makes no sense ,if your going to dub then take it as close to the skull to end up with a clean appearance as with wattles and ear lobes, or leave them on im sure there there for a reason. one to attract a hen, they were put there for a reason….. i have both on my farm and yes you do have to watch and maintain different approach in the winter but thats part of having BIRDS if you don’t want to take care of them properly then get out of being a CARETAKER.
I like the look of a dubbed Old English but hate to do it so I guess I’m a little torn on which I prefer. I do think it should be the exhibitors choice. It is nice when you have an otherwise beautiful cock with imperfect points not to have to worry about it as it will be trimmed anyway.
Thanks, Anne! We appreciate your opinion and comment! I tend to agree!~Shannon
I love my Old English and would really like to show my roosters however I think dubbing is absolutely horrifying. I have heard people referring to dubbing to docking ears. When a dog’s ears are cropped the dog is put under for the procedure. No vet will dub a chicken.
I think is the same as dog ear cropping is a owners decision not other people choice to be make,plus helps with the cold frosty issues and finally give them a good care as possible that’s all what matters.
I understand the appeal to dubbed roosters, I suppose. But it does feel a little cruel if it’s for no reason other than that it looks more appealing. If the reasoning is that you live in a cold climate and your birds are prone to being frostbitten, I say it’s ok. But I don’t know… I still hate the idea of cutting off a rooster’s comb, especially just with a pair of scissors, when that is a sensitive area for the chicken. That’s pretty much like someone cutting off your ears. So I have no disrespect for people who want to dub their chicken, and I don’t necessarily think it should be illegal, but I would never do it and personally dislike the idea
Orta, I believe this is the most accepting response we have ever received in this debate. I would have to agree with you wholeheartedly. Dubbing chickens for no other reason than to dub them and meet a breed standard seems extreme, however, I do believe that if it is in the best interest of the chicken, such as chickens that live in the rugged tundra, it makes a lot of sense. It truly does. So, thank you so much for your openness to freewill and the best interest of our birds in regard to their home. Take care, Anna.
What about a comb that is so big it flops over covering half of his face making him have to tilt head just so he can see and not have to be in a panic of been aproached on his blind side and going around in circles. He is healthy and I love him and he is my pet and I want to help him! I was thinking of cooling it with ice and cutting it about 1/2 to 3/4 inch above his head with one quick chop on the other side of a piece of wood on the chopping board. PS I dont care about asthetics or for fighting benefits I also wonder how long to keep him aline in peace till it healed?
Hi Raul,
I would agree that dubbing for the health of your roo could be beneficial in this situation. Especially, if he is unable to see well and it’s causing vision issues for him in the barnyard. I’d recommend taking him in to a farm vet for the procedure or at least for an opinion about whether it’s safe to do the dubbing at home. Sometimes, it can be hard to know where veins are with those bigger combs and you really want to make sure you don’t injure your roo or cause further issues. I don’t show myself anymore, so I am a comfort over asthetic person as well when it comes to my own birds. I trim my Silkies and Polish chickens tophats a bit on the sides so they can see well enough to get around the barnyard.