Why did the chicken NOT cross the road?
Because it was too busy BODY BUILDING!
"Ayam serama" as they are known in Malaysia, or internationally called Batam chickens are a special breed of ornamental chickens. These exorbitant priced chooks are NOT for the cooking pot. They are supermodels on the "chookwalk."
The name Bantam comes from a sea port in Indonesia where these chickens were described by European sailors.
They have been around for so long, even deserving a mention in Marco Polo's journal. You can say they are miniature chickens as they are about one-quarter to one-fifth the size of their normal relatives. But what makes them different is their vibrant colours and vertical tail feathers.
I was moseying around now that Malaysians are allowed to mosey around when some clucks and crowing disturbed my aimless saunter. Alamak, I had walked into some runway models strutting their stuff!
These Bantam roosters are treasured prize possessions, too precious to be allowed to do the activities of normal chickens. They are not allowed to roam freely and involve themselves in petty cock fights over hens for fear of loosing any feathers or getting battle scars. They are instead seriously trained to strut for the "chookwalk."
In Malaysia, "Ayam serama" can cost as much as RM 6000 ($1500) each. Training these chickens to show off their bodies is a hobby seriously taken by the men folk in the east coast of Malaysia.
"Ayam serama" competitions are popular and the chickens are judged on their plumage colours and stance as they puff up their breasts (no silicon here, it is the real stuff). "Ayam serama" owners profess that their chickens have more personality than ordinary chickens.
Thus, the chickens strut on table top runways in the same way as supermodels in a fashion show, to gain the attention and hence extra points from the judges.
WAY TO GO ROOSTER BOY
Strut your stuff and puff up that chest.
