A Glimpse into Ricky Cruzado’s Sabrina Game Farm

At the heart of Tanay, Rizal, lies the vibrant Sabrina Game Farm, a testament to the dedication and passion of Ricky Cruzado, a 50-year-old breeder. With meticulous care and a commitment to excellence, Ricky’s farm stands as a living canvas for his remarkable stock, boasting bloodlines that include Yellow Leg Hatch, McLean Hatch, Dan Gray Round Head, Sweaters, and Kelsos.

Ricky’s journey into the world of gamefowl breeding was sparked by the bravery and gallantry he witnessed in these majestic birds. Inspired by the achievements of prominent breeders, he embarked on his path with a generous gift of 2 trios—one from his uncle and another from a friend. Focused on McLean Hatch and Yellow Leg Hatch breeds, Ricky’s passion soon evolved into a thriving commitment to the art and science of breeding.

Daily care includes feeding, changing water, weekly vitamin supplements, monthly deworming, and occasional delousing. Cruzado selects breeding stock based on winning percentages, appearance, body conformation, and alertness to surroundings.|

Breeding challenges, from brooding to ranging, involve maintaining proper conditions, preventing predators, and addressing health issues. Detailed record-keeping, including wing and leg bands, helps track lineage and breeding records.

The rewarding aspects for Cruzado include the satisfaction of well-conditioned and winning gamefowl. Health maintenance involves good nutrition, regular vaccination, and addressing respiratory diseases.

Challenges faced as a breeder include chicken viruses, managed through regular vaccination and farm cleanliness. Preparing for shows involves conditioning through deworming, delousing, vitamins, and exercise. Cruzado advises new breeders to have passion, dedication, and recognize the time-consuming nature of gamefowl breeding.

Balancing ethical considerations involves setting target chick numbers, responsible cockfighting practices, and prioritizing family welfare. Cruzado sees potential benefits in Purebred Warrior Magazine, especially if it reaches the Philippines, given the country’s status as the cockfighting capital of the world. The magazine could be a valuable source of knowledge for those entering the breeding field.

We got a chance to talk to this good rooster-man, Ricky, and would love to share it you our dear reader.

Firstly, tell us about yourself and your gamefarm?
I’m Ricky Cruzado 50yrs old from Tanay, Rizal Philippines. I am the breeder and owner of Sabrina Game Farm, it is located also in Tanay, it has a cording, breeding, conditioning and ranging area.  As of now our stocks ranges from 550 to 600 heads. Our blood lines consist of Yellow leg hatch, McLean hatch, Dan Gray round head, Sweaters and Kelsos…

What inspired you to start breeding gamefowl, and how did you get started?
I was inspired when I saw how brave and gallant the game fowl is. And also to what I saw with the big breeder. How they produced beautiful and healthy chicken.  I started with 2 trios, one was given to me by my uncle and the other one was given to me by my friend. I started with McLean hatch and Yellow leg hatch.

How do you care for your gamefowl daily, and what are some common challenges you face?
We feed them twice a day and we change their water twice a day also. We give them vitamins weekly, deworm them monthly and delouse them once a month…

What are some of the most important factors you consider when selecting your breeding stock?
I personally select through their winning percentage how they win and where they won. Its much better if the breeding stocks you will choose has won in the Big time derby. Second is their appearance, they have to be balance in anyway and beautiful in your eyes. Third is their body comformation, I want a brood stocks with heavy bones and broad shoulders and bright red eyes. Lastly is how they react to their surroundings they must be alert and act smart.

What are some of the most challenging aspects of breeding gamefowl, and how do you overcome them?
Challenging aspect in my breeding of game fowl is from brooding to ranging. From the moment they are hatched we see to it that the brood pen was disinfected it has the right amount of heat and lights the space should be appropriate to the number of chicks  hatched, the bedding is fresh and clean. We give antibiotics for their first 5 days and after that we give probiotics. Vaccination is a must in our breeding program.  The challenges of ranging are the predetors. After one month in the brood pen we transfer them to the ranging area were they are let loose. That’s the time we will watch them from predetors like wild cats, dogs, snakes, owl, eagle, monitor lizard and other. 

How do you keep track of your breeding records and lineage, and what tools or resources do you use?
Record keeping is a must when your on to breeding. Every breeding season we record the old and new breeding stocks. We put wing band and leg band in our brood cocks and brood hens and write it down their blood lines, their parents and other remarks in our record book.

What are some of the most rewarding aspects of breeding gamefowl, and why do you enjoy it?
The time you will tie them in crod. That they look healthy and beautiful and smart. I enjoy it when they are consistently wining in the derbies and bring champion to our farm…

How do you ensure the health and well-being of your birds, and what are some common health issues you have encountered?
Feeding them good, giving them fresh water every day. Giving vitamins, deworming and delousing. Respiratory disease is a common problem. We treat them accordingly.

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a backyard gamefowl breeder, and how have you overcome them?
Chicken virus. We vaccinate regularly and keep our chicken healthy whole year round. Cleanliness in our game farm is a must.

How do you prepare your gamefowl for shows or exhibitions, if you participate in them?
We start the conditioning by deworming delousing and giving vitamins. We put in flying pens, scratch pens and spar them twice a week. We put them under the light in a scratch pens and tease them. 

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting as a backyard gamefowl breeder?
They should have a passion and dedicated time for game fowl breeding. Breeding game fowl is a very time consuming hobby. 

How do you balance the ethical considerations of breeding and cockfighting, and what steps do you take to ensure the welfare of your birds?
You have set a target number of chicks every season. Breeding game fowl is a money consuming hobby. For cockfighting you only bet what you can loose. Always remember you have a family to feed. And family always comes first.

What is your thought about this Purebred Warrior Magazine, and how can this be beneficial to you as a gamefowl breeder?
This is the first time I heard about this magazine. I think it’s better if your magazine we reach the Philippines, because for what I know our country is the cockfighting capital of the world. And it will be another good source of knowledge and idea for those who are planning to go on to breeding. 

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Mhar Delaben

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