21-Day Gamefowl Conditioning Program: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Ang conditioning ang pinakamahalaga mong trabaho bilang breeder bago ang derby. Kahit gaano kaganda ang bloodline ng manok mo, kung hindi maayos ang conditioning — talo ka.

The 21-day program is the most popular conditioning timeline in the Philippines. It gives enough time to deworm, build up strength, sharpen reflexes, and peak at the right time for fight day. This guide gives you a day-by-day framework that you can adapt to your own birds and situation.

Important: This is a general guide. Every bird is different. Observe your gamefowl closely and adjust as needed. Experienced conditioners will tell you — conditioning is as much art as it is science.

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Before You Start: Pre-Conditioning Checklist

Bago ka mag-start ng 21-day program, siguraduhing ready ang mga ito:

• ✅ Bird selection done. Choose which cocks/stags will enter the derby. Ideally, they should be healthy, at fighting weight, and showing good form in sparring.
• ✅ Health check. No signs of illness — clear eyes, clean nostrils, firm droppings, active behavior. Sick birds should NOT enter conditioning.
• ✅ Supplies ready. Conditioning feed, vitamins (B-complex, multivitamins, electrolytes), dewormer, delousing solution, antibiotic (on standby), calcium lactate.
• ✅ Conditioning area prepared. Clean fly pens, cording area, and cock house. Hygiene matters.
• ✅ Weight recorded. Know each bird's current weight. You'll track changes throughout the program.

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Week 1 (Days 1–7): Foundation Phase

The first week is about cleaning the bird internally (deworming, delousing) and starting to build a nutritional foundation.

Day 1: Deworming Day

• 4–5 AM: Administer dewormer (on an empty stomach — no feed the evening before)
• Place bird back in cage with clean water only
• 9–10 AM: Light feed — soft diet (moistened conditioning feed or cooked rice with egg)
• 5 PM: Resume regular conditioning feed
• Observe droppings — check if worms are expelled

Feed: Start conditioning feed mix. Target 20%+ crude protein. Mix: commercial conditioning feed + whole corn (10%) + red wheat (20%) + oats (10%) + green peas (5%).

Day 2: Recovery and Nutrition Start

• 7 AM: Morning feed + oral multivitamins
• Allow birds to rest at cording area
• 5 PM: Afternoon feed
• Perform rotation (move birds to different cord stations to prevent boredom and territorial stress)
• Provide electrolytes in drinking water

Day 3: Delousing

• After morning feed: Bathe birds with medicated delousing solution (permethrin-based shampoo works well)
• Allow to dry under morning sun (6–8 AM only — avoid midday heat)
• Administer injectable B-complex + amino acid (1 hour after morning feed)
• 5 PM: Regular feed + rotation

Day 4: Light Exercise

• Morning: Regular feed + vitamins
• Afternoon (3–4 PM): Light fly pen exercise — 5 minutes per bird. Don't overdo it.
• 5 PM: Feed + rotation
• Monitor weight and droppings

Day 5: Supplements Focus

• Morning: Provide calcium lactate before rotation
• Oral supplements after morning feed
• Afternoon: Rest — no exercise today
• 5 PM: Regular feed
• Add electrolytes to drinking water (AM and PM)

Day 6: Immunity Boost

• Morning: Multivitamins to boost immunity
• Regular feed schedule
• Light exercise in fly pen if bird seems restless
• Rotation as usual

Day 7: First Sparring Day

• Morning: Regular feed. Add ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) to help ward off stress and colds.
• Allow birds sun time from 6–8 AM only
• 3 PM: First sparring session. Keep it short — just 2–3 buckles to assess form and fighting style.
• Record performance. Note each bird's aggression, timing, cutting, and endurance.
• 5 PM: Light feed + anti-stress supplements
• No afternoon feed if you plan to deworm again the next day (some programs do a second deworming)

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Week 2 (Days 8–14): Building Phase

Week 2 is about increasing exercise intensity, building stamina, and continuing nutritional support.

Day 8: Second Deworming (Optional)

• Some conditioners do a second round if the first deworming showed heavy worm load
• Same protocol as Day 1
• If no second deworming needed, continue with regular feed + vitamins

Day 9–10: Increased Exercise

• Morning: Regular feed + B-complex injection
• Afternoon (3–4 PM): Fly pen exercise — increase to 8–10 minutes per bird
• 5 PM: Regular feed + rotation
• Focus on building stamina — the bird should be lightly tired but recover quickly

Day 11: Rest Day

• No exercise. Let the bird recover.
• Regular feed schedule
• Multivitamins in the morning
• Observe each bird carefully — any signs of illness should be addressed immediately

Day 12: Second Sparring

• 3 PM: Sparring session — slightly longer than Day 7. Aim for 3–5 buckles.
• This is your key assessment day. Compare performance to Day 7.
• Record everything: Which birds improved? Which ones are struggling?
• Decision time: Based on Days 7 and 12 sparring, decide which birds will be your derby entries. Cut the weak ones from the program.
• 5 PM: Feed + anti-stress

Day 13: Delousing Round 2

• Second delousing bath — same protocol as Day 3
• B-complex injection after morning feed
• Regular feed schedule
• Rotation as usual

Day 14: Evaluation and Adjustment

• Weigh all birds. Compare to Day 1 weights.
  • Gaining too much? Reduce feed portions slightly.
  • Losing weight? Increase portions or check for health issues.
• Adjust feed mix if needed — some birds need more protein, others need more carbs
• Afternoon: Light exercise in fly pen
• Evening: Regular feed

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Week 3 (Days 15–21): Peaking Phase

Ang Week 3 ang pinaka-critical. This is when you bring the bird to peak condition — not too early, not too late. Fight day performance depends on timing.

Day 15–16: Maintenance Intensity

• Continue regular feed schedule with conditioning mix
• Exercise: 8–10 minutes fly pen daily
• Vitamins and electrolytes as usual
• The bird should be looking sharp — bright eyes, tight feathers, strong posture, aggressive demeanor

Day 17: Final Sparring

• 3 PM: Last sparring before fight day. Keep it controlled — 2–3 buckles maximum.
• Purpose is to confirm form, NOT to tire the bird
• This is your final selection. The birds that look best today are your derby entries.
• Record performance notes for each bird
• 5 PM: Light feed + anti-stress + multivitamins

Day 18: Rest and Recovery

• No exercise. Let the bird recover fully from sparring.
• Regular feed — slightly reduce afternoon portion
• Electrolytes and vitamins
• Begin reducing external stimulation — keep the bird calm and focused

Day 19: Pre-Fight Preparation

• Morning: Light feed + vitamins
• Final delousing bath — clean the bird thoroughly
• Allow to dry in shade
• Afternoon: Light feed or no afternoon feed depending on fight schedule
• Bird should be calm, focused, and at target weight

Day 20: Pointing Day

"Pointing" is the art of bringing the bird to its absolute peak on fight day. This is where experience matters most.

• Morning: Light feed only — the bird should not be full
• Monitor hydration carefully — the bird should be hydrated but not waterlogged
• Key indicators of a well-pointed bird:
  • Reddish shanks (sign of good circulation)
  • Shiny, smooth feathers
  • Strong posture
  • Head knocking (slight dehydration indicator — means the bird is "hot" and ready)
  • Bright, alert eyes
  • Active but not hyperactive
• Evening: Very light feed or no feed, depending on what time the fight is the next day
• Keep the bird in a quiet, dark area overnight

Day 21: Fight Day

• Wake up early. Assess the bird one final time.
• Light feed if the fight is in the afternoon (at least 4–6 hours before fight time). If the fight is in the morning, no feed — the bird should fight on an empty crop.
• Hydration: Small sips of water with electrolytes. Do not overwater.
• Transport: Use a proper carrying box or sabong bag. Minimize stress during transport.
• At the cockpit: Keep the bird calm. Minimize handling. Let the bird see the environment briefly to reduce shock.
• Pre-fight: Final assessment — weight, shank color, demeanor. If the bird doesn't look right, consider scratching (withdrawing).

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Key Signs to Watch Throughout the 21 Days

Good Signs (Bird is Conditioning Well)

• 🟢 Bright, alert eyes
• 🟢 Reddish shanks
• 🟢 Shiny, tight feathers
• 🟢 Firm, solid muscle tone
• 🟢 Active and aggressive in sparring
• 🟢 Clean, firm droppings (dark green to brown)
• 🟢 Good appetite — finishes feed without leftovers

Warning Signs (Something is Wrong)

• 🔴 Dull, sunken eyes
• 🔴 Pale shanks
• 🔴 Ruffled, loose feathers
• 🔴 Lethargy — sitting down, not moving much
• 🔴 Watery or bloody droppings
• 🔴 Loss of appetite — leaving feed untouched
• 🔴 Sneezing, nasal discharge, or wheezing

If you see warning signs, stop the conditioning program and treat the health issue first. A sick bird should never be fought.

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Conditioning Feed Mix Reference

Here's a sample feed mix used by many Filipino conditioners. Adjust ratios based on your bird's needs:

Additional 2–3x per week: Hard-boiled egg (mashed), dried fish meal, or cooked chicken liver for animal protein.

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Supplement Schedule Summary

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Final Tips

• Consistency is key. Stick to the schedule. Abrupt changes stress the bird.
• Observe, observe, observe. Ang best conditioner ay yung pinaka-observant. Every bird tells you what it needs — you just have to pay attention.
• Don't over-condition. More exercise doesn't always mean better. Over-worked birds peak too early and arrive at fight day flat.
• Keep records. Document what works and what doesn't for each bird. This becomes your playbook over time.
• Learn from others. Talk to experienced conditioners at the cockpit. Most are willing to share tips if you're respectful and genuinely interested.

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This conditioning program is a general guide based on common practices among Filipino breeders. Always consult experienced conditioners and veterinarians for advice specific to your birds. What's your conditioning secret? Share it with the ManokHub community.