SHORT HISTORY

The man made evolution of Modern Game from fighting fowl is well documented in old Poultry Books. With the advent of Poultry Shows following the abolition of cock fighting in 1849, judges started looking for taller birds, shorter hackle and smaller tails.

Over the next period of 50 years Exhibition Modern Game evolved and later the name Exhibition was dropped from their name.

They went through quite a decline at the outset of WW1, especially the large fowl, but are now increasing on a world-wide basis and are as popular as ever. They are well supported in Holland, Germany, USA, Canada, Australia and our Modern Game Club UK has around 200 members.

There are 15 standard colours in UK.

The birds should have an upstanding carriage with short, flat backed heart shaped body. Hard feathered with whip tail. They are often aptly referred to as "The Showman's Breed". [this is a quote, and possibly should now be Showperson's breed :) ,Webmaster]

Part of our history is preserved in Edinburgh Museum where there are a pair of stuffed Large Moderns. You can actually read the notice in the enlarged bottom image !!!

This is particulary interesting as people always say how good the Large Moderns were in their heyday. This pair were stuffed in 1916 and preserved for posterity. They were Silver Wheatens by the colour of the female

Below the whole glass case of chickens, well worth a visit when in Edinburgh