The McLean Hatch is one of the legendary gamefowl breeds that has stood the test of time among broodstock breeders, and its offshoot, the BlueFace Hatch has gained its own following among gamefowl aficionados looking for a good fighter. Ted McLean retired from gamefowl competition in December of 1954.

In the early thirties, Mr. E.S. Hatch and Mr. E.T. McLean were on the floor of the stock exchange as colleagues and were sharing some gamefowl for crossing to find that perfect fighter. At the time, the Hatch stock consisted of four basic bloodlines. These were the Kearney make up of the two strains Mike Kearney brought from Ireland, namely (1) the “beasty” Breasted Light Reds (Whitehackles) and (2) the Brown Breasted Reds, plus (3) the Herman Duryea fowl (commonly called Boston Roundheads) which he added when he worked for Mr. Duryea. With these 3 bloodlines Mr. Hatch crossed into a fourth, the green leg Thompson (Jim Thompson) fowl. The created progeny of the Mclean Hatch, Ted himself considered as ‘straight stuff’ gamefowl or cocks with gameness, toughness and power—the mark of the Hatch bloodline.

While the first McLean Hatches did not win all the time, they were admired by many for their aggressive, no-holds barred attitude and suicide attack mode.

Fighting Style

Buy Mclean Hatch Hen, Hatch were rather poor cutters, low-headed dumb fighters, that usually flly into two or three hits before throwing one of their patented haymakers at their opponents. They either won spectacularly or lost as incredibly as well. When modern gamefowl became faster, a pure Mclean Hatch became less of a threat, and they are now considerd at a disadvantage if fought pure. Their value today is as base stock or to produce battle cocks infused with the ‘straight stuff’ Hatch traits: gameness, power hitting, and toughness.

Buy Mclean Hatch Hen