Partridge breeding and keeping at home. Bird room

Modern poultry farming is constantly expanding the list of birds bred in captivity. One of these, still new, but already quite popular species, in demand in amateur poultry farming, is the gray partridge.

Features of the view

The partridge is a small bird, its average weight is about half a kilogram. Males are usually slightly larger than females. With their physique, partridges most closely resemble dense small chickens.

An undoubted advantage is the very high fertility of partridges; in one clutch there are up to 25 eggs, one per day, after which the female begins to hatch. It should be noted that such a long laying period also negatively affects the hatching period of the chicks. In large clutches, egg mortality can reach 30%.

Female partridges are very conscientious hens; in the household they even allow themselves to be removed from the nest, but they will not leave the clutch without permission. An important point is the tendency of partridges, which stay in flocks in autumn and winter, to split into pairs during the mating season. Unlike other poultry, which are characterized by polygamy, breeding material at home must be provided with a place where couples can live separately and raise chicks in comfortable conditions. The male takes part in both incubating the chicks and raising them. In addition, when starting to raise partridges, you need to be prepared for the following:

• The meat of these birds is tasty and nutritious; there are many hunters for it; partridges can become prey for birds of prey, such as hawks or crows. Therefore, when organizing your own farmstead, it is necessary to take appropriate measures to protect your pets;
• The partridge, even domesticated, has wings and is capable of flight. As soon as a reason arises (a sharp sound is a sufficient reason), they take off, lifting the entire flock with them. Until the birds get used to it, they should be kept in cages and, if possible, all irritants should be excluded;
• In the area intended for walking, shrubs must grow - a natural, habitual shelter; in addition, birds like to hide in the shade of dense plants;
• If there are rats on your farm, it is better to take the eggs and place them in an incubator. This is worth doing for two reasons: to exclude the possibility of eggs being stolen by rats and the likelihood that females will break the eggs, frightened by uninvited guests.

What you need to know to breed partridges

In order to organize a backyard, you will need adult birds, several pairs. You can “obtain” them by hunting yourself or purchase them from farmers who are already breeding birds of this species. If it is not possible to acquire adults, then you will have to start by hatching chickens from eggs. This method is more labor-intensive, but, in the absence of anything else, it is used.

Laying is carried out towards the end of April. Hatching of chicks lasts about 25-26 days. At home, you can ensure that laying begins earlier, in March, by increasing the length of daylight hours to at least 15 hours. Moreover, this must be done starting in January.

If you still plan to get offspring with which to start your farm, then place the eggs in a basket covered with a thick, dense layer of straw or hay. The eggs should not touch each other and should lie with their blunt ends down. During the first two weeks, the eggs must be turned every two days. The basket with the masonry should be in a cool, ventilated place (without drafts), and the hen should be placed on it.

Chicks

The first day after birth, the chicks remain in the nest with the hen, after which they need to be transplanted into a cage divided in half. After the kids get stronger and gain strength, they can be let out for a walk in a fenced enclosure on the grass. Chicks need sunlight and dry soil to grow properly. After a week, the hen is removed.

Feeding the chicks

The first food in life for chicks in captivity is boiled and crushed egg yolk. But gradually chopped greens are mixed into it - dandelions, cabbage, yarrow. By the fourth or fifth day, the diet is enriched with ant eggs and boiled meat. Portions are gradually increased, feeding occurs in the morning and afternoon.

Partridges have good immunity, but it is better to avoid contact with other poultry. To prevent birds from getting sick, during the cold season they are kept in a room whose floor is lined with a layer of straw. The litter must be changed regularly.

Poor-quality grain can be another source of disease; you need to carefully monitor the quality of food for partridges.

Partridges are birds of the pheasant family, relatives of domestic chicken, and live throughout Russia. The small bird is the subject of sport hunting, often commercial hunting. Despite the absence of a threat of extinction, there is a decrease in the number of partridges in nature.

First of all, this bird is bred for its dietary meat. But partridge eggs are no less in demand due to their potassium, iron, and phosphorus content. They are difficult to find on the open market, and the price of partridge eggs is much higher than chicken eggs. One egg will cost an average of 15 rubles. It is also unlikely that you will be able to buy partridge meat at a low price. In different regions of the country, the cost per carcass ranges from 1000 to 1300 rubles. But supply is not keeping pace with demand.

Breeding and keeping partridges at home is not an easy job, but with the right approach, the profit that the breeder can get will justify all the trouble.

What breeds of partridge should I choose for breeding at home?

In nature, there are several subspecies of partridge. The most famous of them are the following:

• white;
• tundra;
• whitetail;
• gray;
• stone - chukar.

They differ in appearance, which depends on the region in which the species lives. Birds are prone to dimorphism, a condition in which a bird changes appearance at a time of danger.

All partridges lead a sedentary lifestyle: they remain in their habitat both in winter and summer. The bird is very prolific, so it is distributed throughout the world. But the gray partridge is most suitable for breeding and keeping partridges at home.

The gray partridge is a small bird weighing up to 500 g. Breeding gray partridges at home is determined by several factors:

• The bird easily adapts to new living conditions.
• It has the highest egg production among other subspecies of partridges.
• The bird is unpretentious in food.

Recently, breeding chukars has become popular.

Chukar bird: care and breeding

Until recently, the chukar or mountain chicken could only be found in zoos. This subspecies of partridge is found in the mountainous regions of the Caucasus. This brightly colored bird is rarely seen in the European part of the country. Chukars are usually bred near their natural habitat.

Breeding partridges at home involves domesticating and raising wild birds, creating comfortable living conditions for them to live in order to obtain eggs and meat. Today, there are two opinions regarding the complexity of this process: some argue that there is nothing complicated about it, while others, on the contrary, warn against large investments and difficulties. Let's learn about this in more detail together by talking about the intricacies of caring for these birds.

Partridges are small gray wild birds from the pheasant family, which have been known to us since time immemorial as a favorite trophy of many hunters. And although none of the species of these birds today is endangered or under protection due to sport and commercial hunting, partridges are increasingly being bred at home. As experts say, this is a very interesting and profitable business. After all, the meat of these birds has long been a real delicacy and is highly valued due to its exceptional gastronomic qualities.

At present, commercial breeding of these birds has not been established, although some batches of partridges were raised for the first time in our country in 1972 at the Astrakhanskoye state special hunting farm. Until 1988, about 20 thousand artificially raised birds were released in different regions of the Soviet Union. In 2003, game breeding also continued at the Astrakhan enterprise, but today they have focused more attention on pheasants. Well, let's try to figure out what raising partridges at home involves.

Since partridge is a wild bird, there are some important points to remember when raising it at home. Firstly, the white meat of these birds is a desirable prey not only for many predators, but also for birds of prey. They are often attacked by hawks and even crows. That is why the first rule is that you need to protect your farm well with the help of enclosures and convenient shelters.

Secondly, partridges in the wild become accustomed to certain foods, so you should not feed them the same as other poultry. Read more about feeding rules in our next article. As for the walking area, in addition to the fact that it must be protected on all sides, there must be natural shelter - bushes. In the wild, partridges live in forested areas with dense vegetation, so they like to hide in shady areas. You can plant blackthorn, rose hips or any other shrubs in the enclosure.

So, if you decide to breed partridges, of course, the first question that will arise is where to get the bird? Let's say right away that it is easiest to start with adult birds. You can catch them yourself while hunting (which is quite difficult) or buy them from farmers. A must have pair. Another option is to find or again buy eggs and raise chicks. The last method is the most labor-intensive and requires additional knowledge on raising chicks. But, if it is not possible to find an adult bird, then you will have to use this method.

Let us recall that the gray partridge, which is most suitable for home breeding, today lives in nature in most of our country. For example, the distribution area occupies the zone from the borders of the CIS countries to Altai, the entire northern zone to South Karelia. The bird settles near the upper reaches of the Pechora and separate populations near the White Sea.

The female partridge lays eggs from the end of April; as a rule, she lays no more than 15 eggs. Hatches offspring for up to 26 days. Under home breeding conditions, partridge lays eggs from March to July and during this period can produce up to 60 eggs. But such indicators are possible only under the right care conditions and compliance with an extended light regime. For example, starting from January, the length of daylight for birds should be at least 15 hours.

So, if you have adult partridges, there are few things left to do: proper feeding and living conditions. It's another matter if you got hold of the eggs of these wild birds. By the way, taming chicks, as practice shows, is much easier. To get offspring you need:

1. Take a small basket measuring 30*30 centimeters and cover it with a thick layer of straw and hay.
2. Place the eggs so that they do not touch each other and lie with the blunt end down. They should be rotated every two days for 15 days.
3. Place the basket itself in a cool place, but place a light hen on the eggs.
4. After about 25 days, the chicks are born. On the first day, we leave them with the hen in this basket, after which we transplant them into a separate cage, divided into two sectors.
5. When the chicks grow up and become stronger, they can be released into a small enclosure on the grass. Babies need dry soil and sun to develop well.
6. After one week, the chicks are separated from the hen. After a month, the birds should be able to walk independently in the enclosure.

On the first day of life, partridge chicks are given the mashed yolk of a boiled chicken egg. Then, in the following days, you can mix chopped dandelion, yarrow, and cabbage greens into it. Afterwards you can give some white bread and crumbs. But on day 4-5, introduce half-cooked meat or ant eggs into the diet. The babies are fed in the morning and during the day, gradually increasing the amount of food.

When purchasing partridges, you must remember that, unlike all other poultry, they are not polygamous. If in winter they live in nature in large flocks of up to 30-80 individuals, then in the spring they split into pairs. Therefore, you should definitely have paired birds; during subsequent breeding, the male plays a very important role in raising the offspring.

Do not forget that during the mating period different pairs should not be allowed to roam freely in the same enclosure, as the males will fight. That is, each couple must be provided with a separate “apartment” and an area for walking.

During the rest of the period, a large pen for partridges is not required. In the room for keeping them during the cold season, it is necessary to lay warm, dry bedding and change it regularly. No cracks or holes should be allowed. Not only can rodents enter them, but they can also create drafts, which are extremely undesirable for birds.

Partridges should be placed in a quiet place without loud noise, as the bird is very shy. There should be a net on top, since, being frightened, one female can fly up and drag the entire herd with her. As for the nest for laying, females dig holes for these purposes in thick grass or under bushes. The bird covers the nest with dry grass, leaves or its own down.

Of course, none of their poultry farmers want to spend a lot of effort and time on growing partridges and lose them due to diseases and other unfavorable factors. Fortunately, the gray species of wild bird has good immunity and tolerates even minor colds. However, risk factors may include infectious diseases, as well as poor-quality grain. Therefore, for your “dear” birds, it is important to buy only high-quality food or, best of all, to grow it yourself, if the garden allows. Do not allow partridges to come into contact with other poultry or animals. For even more details about this, watch the video.

In this article, using the example of the household of Boris Krawchik, a resident of the city of Shakhty, you can see how partridges can be kept, take a detailed look at the appearance of the females and males of these birds, as well as the approximate arrangement of their winter quarters.

Partridge is an excellent bird for home business

Diet and way of life of wild partridge

Homemade cages for keeping partridges

Need some advice?

I read your article and was delighted. But after I called my friend (he kept 200 partridges 3 years ago), it turned out that there is more than enough hassle with these birds, and even a specific stench from them. A friend said that he was already used to them, but his wife couldn’t stand the smell. So I had to tell the birds bye bye. Tell me, you don’t say anything about the stench from these little birds, but I would like to know if this is true and how to deal with it? Recently there has been a great demand for their eggs, so I’m thinking about getting some. I don’t want my wife to kick me out of the house because of the smell :).

But should the partridges have shrubs in their enclosure? Or is it only when there is plenty of space? Can just thrown branches work?

Good day. I live in the Sverdlovsk region. Where do you recommend getting quail eggs for breeding?

And although partridges are mainly kept in enclosures and in small rooms, you may need a cage for temporary winter housing of birds or for short-term housing of several pairs. For this, of course, you don’t need to buy anything, since you can do it yourself for partridges. How? Find out with us.

If you are seriously interested in breeding and raising these birds, then you have often come across information that a cage is not the best home for partridges. Yes, that is right. They are not very suitable for long-term keeping and as the main breeding site, since, unlike an aviary, they are far from the birds’ natural living conditions. Do not forget that the partridge is, first of all, a wild bird that requires special attention.

But this does not mean that such a house cannot be used at all. If you do not have the opportunity to make a comfortable enclosure, you can also make a cage, but according to special rules. It must meet the basic requirements:

In different countries, partridges are kept in all kinds of cages and cages. For example, in many French farms it is customary to build mesh enclosures for these birds, raised above the ground by about 70 centimeters. The side walls of such houses are made of plywood or plastic, the floor is made of mesh with a cell of 1x1 centimeter, the ceiling is made of fine mesh and also covered with a sheet of plastic. Such enclosures contain up to 50 birds at the rate of 3 individuals per square meter.

In Hungary, for example, wild birds are kept at home in floor aviaries with plank walls and a mesh top. Outside the breeding season, five individuals live in such enclosures, females separated from males. In Italy, it is customary to raise partridges in battery cages for ordinary chickens. As you can see, the concept of keeping and growing these “beauties” is approached differently in many foreign countries. Our experience in breeding birds still shows that it is better to raise partridges in aviaries or special raised cages.

Preparation for production

So, to make cages for partridges with your own hands, first of all, you need to prepare the necessary material and tools. How much material to take depends on how many partridges will live in the cage and how many total livestock you have. It is best to calculate 1 square meter for three individuals. For construction we will need:

• wooden blocks or boards;
• plywood sheets;
• mesh with a small cell for walls and ceilings, with a medium cell for the floor;
• woodworking tools;
• wire;
• nails.

Step-by-step instruction

1. The first thing we start with when making a cage with our own hands is a frame made of wooden blocks. First, we need to make three compartments, the middle of which (length about 120 centimeters) will be covered on all sides with mesh (cell size approximately 1.5-2 centimeters), the rest will be covered with plywood.
2. We make two side compartments, each 40 centimeters long.
3. There is a frame, now we cover it with material: the floor is mesh, the top and side walls of the middle compartment are mesh, the remaining two compartments are covered on all sides (except the floor) with plywood sheets.
4. We attach special fastenings to both ends of the cage, on which we hang feeding boxes. We also make them from plywood or, if possible, from plastic. Feeder size: height – about 50 centimeters, width – 15 centimeters. We make sure to install a comfortable drinking bowl inside. Automatic is possible, but regular is better.
5. Now we make the supports-legs for our cage and everything is ready. All that remains is to plant the partridges.

For more details on how such a cage should look, see the photo and drawing. Good luck!

Video “Crown partridge in a cage”

In this video, using Boris Kravchik’s Don Zoo nursery as an example, you can see how crowned partridges live in a cage. Find out what space should be and what such a house could look like.

Often, enterprising people begin to think about what kind of business to open with minimal investment. Currently, farming is becoming increasingly popular. , poultry, cattle is in other countries. We bring to your attention a guide to running a simple and profitable business - raising partridges, as well as detailed instructions on their care and maintenance.

Partridges are unpretentious and require little investment. In addition, caring for these birds can bring you just as much pleasure and profit as it does. Moreover, income can be received both from the sale of meat and from the sale of eggs.

Where to start raising partridges?

It is necessary to start running any business with planning. You will need to think about the volume of your farm and, based on this, choose the size and number of specialized premises, as well as purchase feed and vitamins. It is also necessary to know that breeding birds and animals is accompanied by mandatory preventive measures in veterinary clinics.

Selecting a room

Most likely, you will have to intentionally build the space from scratch. It should be dry, clean and warm. A very important aspect is regular cleaning and replacement of litter. It is desirable that the building be spacious, otherwise the likelihood of disease and death of birds will increase. This room will also need to have a special extension, an aviary for walking. To do this, it is worth using a net so that the partridges do not fly away. Contact with other birds should also be avoided to avoid infectious diseases. Depending on your wishes, you may need more than one room, and then you will need a large plot of land. How much it will cost you can be calculated by.

Feed base

As we have already noted, partridges are an unpretentious and wild bird. Their maintenance does not require large amounts of feed, however, in addition to chicken feed or grain, the choice of which is also not particularly important, and vitamins, it is advisable to give them fresh grass and vegetable trimmings. Poultry needs animal protein. Namely, bugs and earthworms. It is important to change the water in the drinking bowl so that it is always clean. You can use chalk or egg shells as a mineral supplement to food.

Advice: If you don't plan to buy a supply of expensive bird food and plan to feed them "from your desk", be careful to keep your food free of salt, chemicals, glass shards and foreign objects.

Getting offspring

Laying and incubating eggs in partridges at home lasts from March to July. The hatching of offspring can be entrusted to both the birds themselves and specialized incubators, which can be purchased or listed in a catalogue. Moreover, in both cases, the chicks will have to be kept separately from the adult bird. A wooden or cardboard box or cage is suitable for this. At first, the offspring will need warmth, and after about a month, when they get stronger, they will need the sun and dry, clean soil. You don’t have to make a special choice of food, because from the first days the chicks will eat boiled eggs grated on a fine grater. Gradually, it will be possible to introduce small light grass and pieces of dandelion into the diet.

Advice: from the first days, partridge chicks may not be able to eat on their own, but if you lightly sprinkle their backs with grated egg, which will move with them, they will peck it from each other and thus learn faster. In addition to boiled eggs, you can give a little cottage cheese as an element of animal protein instead of bugs and worms.

Where can I get birds for breeding?

Since partridges are found in the wild, they can simply be caught and domesticated. But if you decide to buy them, you won't have to spend a lot of money. You can buy a lot of poultry at once, for example, but first it’s better to take a few partridges “for testing”. It is important that the first batch contains both males and females. Buying four pairs will cost you about 8-10 thousand rubles. There is an option to purchase not adults, but eggs that can be placed in an incubator. However, there is a small risk associated with the fact that not all eggs purchased may produce offspring.

Costs of raising partridges

So, to build houses and enclosures you will need lumber, slate, mesh. You can build this yourself, as their design is quite simple. In general, one such building will cost about 10-15 thousand rubles, excluding labor. Purchasing feed for a small farm will be relatively inexpensive - about 15-20 thousand rubles per year. Agree, the investment is really small.

Sales markets and income

The price for exotic bird meat is about 1 thousand rubles per kilogram, and one egg costs 15-20 rubles. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that you will be able to sell a lot of meat and eggs in the first year, but every year the number of birds and their eggs will increase, which means that income will also increase. Restaurants will probably be willing to buy partridge meat and eggs from you on an ongoing basis, since competition in this type of farming is minimal. You can also sell products to individuals.

Breeding partridges is a low-cost and profitable activity. It is suitable as a start for novice entrepreneurs who will later be able to use the proceeds to open, for example, a grocery store or further develop.