Husbandry
Each keeper has their own ideas on the husbandry of their stock, from housing, diet to breeding and raising the young chicks. Grouse are not that hard to care for, but they do need a bit more time and effort spent on their needs to keep them healthy and happy.
Housing
I prefer to keep my breeding stock in covered raised pens, this keeps the birds clean and dry and helps to minimise the risk of disease.
It is important that each grouse species has as natural and varied a diet as possible and this takes a lot of time. They like fresh heather, catkins,
Diet
branches (fir, willow, pine etc) and seasonal fruits and berries which I usually spend my weekend gathering.
I also give my birds a feeder containing a low protein pellet mixed with oats and barley to give them a little extra and fresh water.
The chicks are incubated under bantums on the ground in a coup and run system and once hatched moved daily onto fresh grass. When the chicks are old enough they are moved into the raised pens.
Young Chicks
For more details or advice on housing, diet or the grouse etc please do not hesitate to contact me.
