Steps to Success with Releasing Game Birds

                     
     By Mike Alcorn

  Preparation for Arrival

1. In an ideal world you would construct completely new release pens on a different site from previous years every year. However this is seldom practical and most release pens are at least semi-permanent. Although consideration should be given to moving of the pens to a new site every 3-5 years as a routine to reduce build up of parasitic and infectious conditions, it is more likely that due consideration is given to extending or altering the pen. Many keepers have considered fencing off streams or extending pens onto open land so that birds can find sunlight from the woods.

2. If one has suffered a severe problem the previous season with diseases such as hexamita or worms then consideration can be given to treating the ground with slaked lime (not hydrated lime.)

3. Pens should be prepared for the arrival of the new season’s birds with an abundance of feed and watering points. One cannot really overdo in this respect for the first few days. Consider the number of feeders and drinkers in the pen per 1000 birds.  On problem pens you should look at keeping feeders and drinkers off the ground with wire mesh to reduce droppings contaminating the feed and water drinkers.   

Control of infectious conditions

4. There is no doubt that the stress involved in moving birds can leave them open to disease challenge. If the birds are then introduced to an environment with a high loading of infection –perhaps due to poor hygiene or other sick birds already on site, there is the potential for an explosive outbreak of disease. Good preparation as outlined above will help. There are also some useful preventive strategies that can be followed.

5. Coccidiosis; Firstly in respect of coccidiosis. Here it is good practice to ensure you birds have been treated for coccidiosis immediately before moving. This will mean that the birds arrive with a low level of coccidiosis. Birds treated in this way should not require treatment for at least 10-14 days after arrival and if in good condition no treatment is required at all. Birds supplied by Finn Valley Pheasantries are all handled in this way and will also have been checked by a vet to ensure they are healthy before shipment.

6. Gape worm and gut worm infestation is common in pens and a routine treatment shortly after birds arrive and again three weeks later is advised. Flubenvet is licensed for game birds and is also available in the water and is called Solubenol.

7. If conditions at the arrival site are difficult, due to preexisting disease on site or very inclement weather it is useful to treat the incoming stock with a broad spectrum antibiotic for a few days on arrival, rather than waiting for problems to develop. Consult a veterinary surgeon for advice.

Management Issues
8. Nutrition is a key concern. The basic advice is to use a proprietary feed from a recognized manufacturer for the first 2-3 weeks. This can gradually be replaced with whole grain after this time. Remember water is as important as feed. Abundance of clean drinking water should be freely available in the release pens. It is the fact that in wet weather the birds will get a considerable proportion of their water intake from other sources. This needs to be remembered when administering any medicines, as dosage rates may need to be adjusted to compensate. Again consult a vet for advice on what is safe. A useful hint is to use blackcurrant juice (“Ribena is best!”) at 1 litre/1000 litres of drinking water to enhance palatability and encourage water intake.

The season ahead is unpredictable both in climatic and economic outlook. Whatever lies ahead it makes sense that as many of the birds you buy in survive and are healthy, to ensure this it is recommended to buy from one source and not mix birds from different suppliers in the same pen.  So the key advice is to buy from a reputable source and follow the principles above.

With thnks to St David’s Game Birds Services for this informative article.