|
Raising Game Birds
|
| |
Whether it’s a hobby or a small business,
Premier can equip you to raise a healthy flock.
|
| |
|
Rearing game birds requires special attention. You must be willing to devote extra time to the intensive care they require.
|
| |
|
We asked our in-house game bird experts what they wish they had known when they started raising birds—specifically about how rearing game birds differs from chickens:
|
- Bird species vary in their habitat requirements. As an example, quail are adversely affected by excess moisture. So keep them very dry!
- As with chicks, heat is important. However, newborn quail and pheasant are even more sensitive to temperature changes. A consistent temperature must be maintained.
- Many game bird species mature quickly—so feed a starter with higher protein (26-28%) than you would normally feed chickens for the first two weeks.
- Don’t mix age groups until they are fully grown.
|
|
Good management practices will take most of the guesswork out of a bird farming operation, whatever its size or purpose. To that end, the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of California has published an excellent guide about game bird farming.
|
| |
|
|
| |
