When Bad Chickens Come Home to Roost, Results Can Be Good describes a refuge for ex-cockfighters — the actual roosters. A little bit about the “sport”:
Cockfights are legal only in Louisiana and New Mexico, but illegal combats and betting are common throughout the country, where there are an estimated 100,000 gamecock breeders. The fights, which take place in an enclosed area, end when one of the duelers dies or one of the handlers concedes victory. They can last more than 30 minutes and can generate tens of thousands of dollars in winnings.To prepare the birds, breeders trim their combs, wattles and earlobes to reduce weight. They inject the roosters with testosterone and methamphetamines and snip their spurs — nails on the back of rooster legs — replacing them with 3-inch steel blades. The roosters fly up into the air and dig the blades into rivals’ flesh.