Sumatra Gamefowl: Types, Characteristics, Temperament

Sumatra Gamefowl Rooster

The Sumatra Gamefowl (or Sumatra Rooster) is a striking chicken breed prized for its exotic appearance. Originating in Indonesia’s Sumatran, Javan, and Bornean islands, these birds were imported to Europe and America in the 1800s. They are immediately recognizable by their very long, flowing tail and lustrous black-green plumage. In its native land the male Sumatra was traditionally caught each spring for cockfighting (then released afterward), but Western breeders soon valued it more as an ornamental show bird. Modern Sumatra Gamefowl are kept mainly for exhibition: they lay small white eggs and live a hardy, free-ranging life, but they are not generally raised for meat or heavy egg production.

Sumatra Gamefowl Fighting Style

Despite its “gamefowl” name, the Sumatra is not a natural aggressor in the fighting pit. In fact, the breed was historically “first promoted as a fighting bird – something for which the breed was not truly well-suited”. Sumatras tend to rely on agility and evasion rather than fierce attacking. They have a pheasant-like habit of leaping vertically to escape threats, and cockerels often have multiple sharp spurs, but even so they are generally less combative than other fighting breeds. Because of this, breeders historically crossed Sumatra stock with more aggressive game birds (see below) to produce champion fighters. In short, a Sumatra’s “fighting style” is one of alert dodging and spur strikes, not the relentless offense of, say, an Asil or Malay.

History and Origin of Sumatra Gamefowl Rooster

Black Sumatra Rooster

The Sumatra breed comes from wild fowl of Southeast Asia, specifically the Indonesian archipelago. These jungle chickens were first described by Western visitors in the 19th century and sent overseas for exhibition. In 1847 the first Sumatra cocks were imported to the United States for the cockfighting ring. Within a few decades breeders in Europe and America had refined the breed’s showy plumage. For example, the American Poultry Association admitted the Black Sumatra to the Standard of Perfection in 1883, and the breed was later imported to Britain (recognized there by 1906–1907). The Livestock Conservancy notes that in their native homeland, island villagers would catch male Sumatra fowl at the start of the breeding season for fighting and then release them afterward. Early breeders like Nelson Wood in the 1880s focused on enhancing the Sumatra’s long tail and glossy feathers. By the late 1800s the Sumatra had become a “royal” exhibit bird: even though the standard-weight cocks are only about 5 pounds, their elaborate plumage makes them appear much grander.

Types of Sumatra Gamefowl

Sumatra Gamefowl are usually classified by their plumage color. The major recognized types are:

Black (Green-Sheened): The original and most common variety. These birds are jet-black with a lustrous beetle-green sheen on the feathers. They have black skin and the bare parts (face, comb, wattles) show a deep purple-black “gypsy” coloration. The Black Sumatra was the first to be standardized – it was added to the American poultry standard in 1883.
Blue: A dilute form of the black coloration, with slate-gray and blue-black feathers (often still showing the greenish luster). The blue Sumatra was not originally recognized; it was only accepted by the American Poultry Association in 2003.
White: A patterned (splash) variety created by combining black and red genetics. White Sumatras have primarily white plumage with splashes of color. This color is recognized in Britain (the Poultry Club of Great Britain and European standards allow white Sumatras).
Other colors: In the wild there were occasionally black-breasted red Sumatras, and some breeders have produced dun or splash variants, but these are not part of the official standard. Bantam (miniature) Sumatras also exist among enthusiasts, sometimes developed by crossing with small Japanese long-tail breeds, but bantams are rare and not universally standardized.

Characteristics of Sumatra Gamefowl

Rooster and Hen Sumatra

Sumatras are light, active fowl with a striking silhouette. They carry their long tail horizontally back over their backs, almost like a pheasant’s tail The feathers are very full and flowing, especially the male’s sickle tail feathers which can be spectacularly long. Most Sumatra plumage is solid black, and under sunlight the feathers shine with a greenish sheen. Both sexes have a small pea comb and tiny wattles – traits that reflect their wild heritage. Another distinctive trait is the leg spurs: roosters often grow two or three sharp spurs on each leg (and even some hens can have small spurs) The legs and feet are typically a dark slate or black color, and the beak is black.

Physically, Sumatra Gamefowl are not heavy birds – a standard cock weighs around 5 lbs and a hen around 4 lbs – but their profuse plumage makes them look larger. They have black skin and bones under the feathers. Because of these features, Sumatras are often compared to other long-tailed breeds: they share some similarities in build with the Yokohama and Cubalaya breeds, though the Cubalaya has shorter tail feathers (a “lobster tail”). Overall, the Sumatra’s elegant carriage and glossy black color give it a very regal, ornamental appearance.

Temperament of Sumatra Gamefowl

Sumatras are alert and wary birds – they retain many of the instincts of their jungle ancestors. They tend to be somewhat flighty and independent, not as docile or cuddly as typical domestic chickens. Owners often note that Sumatras will spring into the air or suddenly fly up to higher perches if startled. Roosters especially are known to be jumpy and not fond of handling; the breed has been described as “flighty” and “skittish”.

Because of this wariness, Sumatra Gamefowl do best on free-range or in spacious pens where they can roam and hide in bushes. They are excellent foragers and can fly better than most chickens, so their enclosures must be well-secured. They are active and “watchful” birds – you will often see them moving around with a proud, upright posture, pacing and flaring their wings like wild fowl.

Despite their nervous nature with humans, Sumatra hens are generally non-aggressive with each other and can be protective mothers. The Oklahoma State University breed profile notes that Sumatra cocks are not normally aggressive (except during the mating season) and the hens can become broody and good sitters. In short, Sumatras are best thought of as semi-domesticated ornamental birds: they are gentle in disposition (not mean or vicious), but their temperament is closer to a wild jungle chicken than to a friendly farmyard hen.

Egg Production of Sumatra Hens

Sumatra Hen with Chicks

Sumatra hens are fair layers for an ornamental breed. They typically lay around 100 to 130 small white (or lightly tinted) eggs per year. The eggs are smaller than commercial breed eggs, so heavy egg production was never a breed goal. Many references note that Sumatra hens continue to lay through winter if kept warm and healthy.

Egg-laying in Sumatras is somewhat seasonal. In their native wild environment they breed mainly in the spring, and in domestic flocks you often see a flush of fertility and broodiness in late spring. When a Sumatra hen does go broody, she is typically an excellent sitter and mother. In fact, one poultry breed guide flatly calls Sumatra hens “prolific layers and excellent sitters” – though in context this means they lay well for a heritage breed, not that they rival Leghorns!

In summary, you can expect a Sumatra hen to give you about a hundred small white eggs each year, keep laying through mild winters, and occasionally set on a nest. They are more productive than most fancy exhibition chickens, but far behind specialized egg-laying breeds.

Main Crosses with Sumatra Gamefowl

Sumatra gamefowl have been used in various crossbreeding programs, especially historically for cockfighting and breed development. One famous example is the Cubalaya of Cuba: this multi-purpose breed was developed in the 1800s by crossing Malay and Sumatra chickens (imported from the Philippines) along with other exotic gamefowl. The Cubalaya inherited the Sumatra’s long tail and sleek shape, while adding size and color variety from the Malay lines.

Another major use of Sumatra blood was in Asian fighting breeds. The Livestock Conservancy notes that Sumatras “cross well with Hyderabad, Rampur Boalia, [and] Sinhalese Game” birds. In other words, cockfighting breeders often mated Sumatra roosters with these Indian and Sri Lankan game fowl to produce hybrid offspring with better stamina or feather quality. In fact, Sumatra was valued more for this hybrid vigor than as a primary fighter itself.

In Australia, the Pit Game breed (developed by British expatriates in New South Wales) also includes Sumatra genetics. The Australian Pit Game standard mentions a “possible addition of Sumatra blood” in its development. Even today, some gamebird enthusiasts create Sumatra hybrids (sometimes called Sumalay or similar names) by crossing Sumatra with Asil, Shamo, or other hard-feather breeds to combine styles.

Finally, poultry fanciers have made non-game crosses. For example, crossing a Black Sumatra with a White Yokohama rooster will produce a white Sumatra variant (as noted by some breed club records). Bantam Sumatras have been created by crossing with small Japanese long-tail bantams. These mixed crosses can show off the Sumatra’s long tail in new colors, but purebred breeders consider them outside the standard.