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138 Hand-Rearing Birds

Game birds hunted for sport and food are frequently raised commercially. Game birds are also
known for their beauty and are kept in zoos and private aviaries as ornamental birds. The most
common species for commercial game farm production are pheasant and quail. These species
adapt easily and do well with a commercial game bird diet. Although many species are common
and easy to raise, some in this order are among the most difficult birds to raise and maintain in
captivity. Many are secretive in nature, fastidious, and difficult to study in the wild, so little is
known about their life history and diet. Unfortunately, a native bird taken into wildlife rehabilita-
tion is frequently one of the most challenging species to treat. Information on domestic fowl dis-
eases and housing techniques may be helpful, but many aspects of rearing wild species differ,
sometimes in dramatic ways.

Identification Is a Must
Among the vast numbers of wild species within this order, many are specialists in terms of diet
(Elphick et al. 2001) and disease sensitivity (Altman et al. 1997). Correct identification is therefore
extremely important when a young Galliformes is admitted into care. Some field guides have
descriptions of the young as well as habiat, range, nest, and eggs. One excellent resource is A Guide
to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds (Baicich and Harrison 2005).
Although obtaining a history is important with any patient, the specific habitat of grouse and
other sensitive species makes the information of where the chick was found invaluable in identify-
ing a wild patient and may directly affect the successful rehabilitation of the individual bird.
It may be determined that a patient is an exotic species. It may have escaped from a local game
farm or zoo. If that is the case, the bird can simply be returned to the owner. Or, the new patient
may be a domestic chicken. Some breeds of chickens when hatched are striped and resemble wild
grouse, pheasant, or quail. Because of the commercial nature of many Galliformes, private owner-
ship may be a factor. Depending on your city, state, or provincial laws, this may have legal ramifica-
tions, and attempts to find the owner should be made.
Many Galliformes are legally hunted. It is beneficial to know hunting laws and have information
available regarding legal hunting seasons. Some states or provinces may discourage rehabilitation
of game birds. Be sure to check permits to clarify this status before a game bird is admitted as a
patient.

Highly Precocial Chicks
Galliformes chicks are highly precocial at hatch. Nests with rare exceptions are located on the
ground, because these are terrestrial birds and the young leave the nest soon after hatching. At
hatch, the primaries of many species are already formed (Ritchie et al. 1994; Sibley 2000).
Chicks are downy, striped, or mottled in color and blend in with their surroundings. Although
able to forage soon after hatch, chicks rely on adults to locate food (Williams 1991). Most
chicks feed themselves; however, some species, including turkeys, kill insects first before plac-
ing food directly into the mouth of their young (Skutch 1976). Chicks are sensitive to cold and
require brooding by the adult until well‐weathered. Chicks are capable of limited flight within
5–10 days. Many species have large families numbering up to 25 chicks per nest. The adult
communicates with chicks before hatch and shortly after, cementing parental imprinting and
voice recognition. Many species not only identify their mother’s voice, but that of each sibling
as an individual as well (Skutch 1976; Williams 1991; Gibson 1998). For this reason, fostering
can be difficult.