Calcutta Aseel Club

This is the most desirable Asel colour and such birds are known as "Siyah". This strain was created by the Nawab (ruler) of Rampur, a state in Northern India. This strain died out and the only specimens are throwbacks. They should have white eyes and white shanks, spurs and nails.

These birds are divided into "jala lakha" (literally colour of overburned brick), "lakha" (colour of normal burned brick) and "khula lakha" (light red). "jala lakhas" have reddish brown (maroon) hackle and saddle featheres as well as a dark brownish colour. "lakhas" are slightly lighter in colour, with red hackle and saddle feathers. Both these categories have hackles and especially their breast streaked with black. The "lakhas" have black markings on their back near the base of the neck and near the wing joints. A ready reckoner, to differentiate between the above two colours types, is that of the "jala lakha" birds. They have dark feathering over their ears while "lakhas" have red or golden feathering over their ears. "khula lakha" birds, a fiery red in colour with no black markings, also have reddish feathering covering their ears.All three of the above colour types may have pied or white primary and secondary wing feathers. The hens are grouse coloured with black necks and blackish tails. The "reds" were also known as "Ghans" (sledgehammer) as they were considered to be the hardest strikers.

These are known as "Zardi" because their hackles, saddle and back feathers are golden in colour. They have black or blasck streaked breasts and wing joints. These birdsalso have pied or white primary and secondary wing feathers. The hens are wheaten in colour with black hackles and tails. As a bird of this colour type was once bought for its weight in gold. It is also known as "Sonatol".

These are hennyfeathered Aseel.They range from cocky looking birds with hen type rounded edged feathers to specimens which look completly like hens. Blackish coloured known as "siyah madaroo" are regarded the best Aseel. However such birds are rare.

These are birds whose phenotype or external apperance show a throwback to the Red Jungle Fowl. They have a big, either completly or partially upright comb, with deep edges like that of ordinary poultry, as well as normal sized wattles. In all respects they resemble Aseels and are considered to be superlative fighters. Such birds are also very rare.