The most critical time of the year for a cock is during the moult. If there is ever a time that he needs extra special care it is now. New feathers are so easily broken or damaged. I try to handle them as little as possible during the moult. If a new blood filled feather is broken or damaged it will not grow out properly and you could find yourself with a cock with missing wing or tail feathers.

If for some reason I find broken feathers, I make a note to check him every few days until the damaged shaft is dried enough to be pulled out so a new one can grow to replace it.

A cock's need for good feed is greater now than at any other time except perhaps during growing months. This is a time to watch for lice and worms. Lice wil damage new feathers giving you the shabby look instead of the sleek look you are hoping for.

Feed during this time is special. We mix ourown so this is the time for a high protein, low fat diet. There are many high protein feed supplements available. A good mixture is equal parts of Pigeon Grain, oats, wheat, scratch grain soaked in Clabber. Using this grain add half laying pellets at the highest protein contnet you can find. For feeding 100 cocks, I use about 2 quarts of Calf Manna, 1 quart Brewers Yeast Powder and 1 quart Calf Suckle Powder. By soaking the grain your yeast and suckle will stick to the grain.

Feed a big handful to each cock or hen and don't worry too much about over feeding as long as they clean it up. If they don't eat eagerly and clean it up, skip a full day without feeding to make them "eager eaters." We are fortunate to have an egg farm close by so we get blood spotted eggs every day. This is epsecially necessary for your young growing fowl. If you want to: raw eggs broken over your grain shell and all about 2 hours before feed time allowing the egg to coat and dry on the grain is a good way to feed cocks. (NOTE: This is Mike Strecker's thoughts and concerns about feeding fowl raw eggs: "There is a protein found in raw eggs called Avidin. This chemical inactivates Biotin, which is a vitamin. Thus, when you feed raw eggs, you are creating a vitamin deficiency in your birds. Boiling the egg kills the Avidin, so cooked eggs are very good for your birds, but raw eggs are not!")

A good feeder makes a good cock. I don't care how great a family of fowl you have if they are not fed properly, a good feeder can take inferior fowl and beat you in the pit. A well fed cock is sharp, healthy and strong.

After the moult is over is time enough to start decreasing the amount of feed to give in order to get the fat out of the gut. Don't ever starve fat off.

Your cocks will reflect their care or neglect this fall.

We are still fighting in August since we had so much rain this summer and our cocks held their feathers longer. The last week of July I fought in a derby and had a bull stag that got his leg knocked off, wing broken the first pitting with-out injuring the other cock. When I went to the drag, I hel little or no hope for a win. This little fellow got the trembles and was in shock. I kept his head and mouth cleaned out and his head warm between pittings. An hour and ten minutes later I counted out the other cock. Many times when they had 3 tens on me I was tempted to pull him as he was nearly dead but he would break one more time so I stayed with him. As long as he didn't give up I didn't. Be as game as your cock. It sure was a good feeling to win one like this.

I know I have more charity cases than most cockers, but I never destroy a cock like this. He is brought home and given the best care and you will be surprised how many recover. Very few will fight again but if he wins a fight like this for me he is rewarded for a job well done. OUr Government rewards its warriors who are wounded or disabled in battle. Should we be different? There are always beginers looking for good game brood cocks so this is where the reward for a job well done comes in. He gets his "place in the sun". Sure gives you a good feeling, doesn't it?