Cock-fights were widely advertised in the eighteenth century. This was due to the fact that it was a sport that cut across class lines. Most of the more publicized fights were organized for gentlemen by gentlemen. However, common people were also very enthusiastic cockers. Most of the fights were held in an inn that was specially prepared or in a cockpit. A cockpit was similar to an amphitheater only smaller. It had a round platform in the middle and was surrounded by levels of bleachers for the viewers. The cocks were matched by weight. Their beaks were filed down and their wings were clipped. Each cock was also outfitted with spurs that the birds used as their major tool of aggression. Spurs made the fight bloodier than just using their beaks. A cock could be severely injured or mortally wounded as a result of the deep wounds inflicted by the spurs. Sometimes the cocks would not fight when they first came into the cockpit. At these time the cock's owners would push the cocks at each other. This would usually make the birds angry and the fighting would convene. If the cocks did not get angry then they would be removed and two more cocks would replace them. Individual pairings were the most common types of cockfighting, however, there were fights that involved large numbers of cocks. As many as thirty-two cocks would be put into a cockpit at one time. Few of the cocks survived this type of competition 4.
For the equipment used in cockfighting,click here.