Authors : Alper Yilmaz and Cafer Tepeli
Abstract: In this study, chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) were caught from mountains located in Ermenek province of Konya. The partridges, 4 males and 12 females, were placed in an indoor enclosure that was 15 m2. The enclosure was designed to contain different types of substrate, rocks and bushes to resemble the natural habitat of the species. The birds were exposed to 16 h of light, 8 h of darkness. In the breeding season, a total of 150 hatching eggs were gathered and 125 chicks were ultimately hatched and reared. These chicks were put into 20 breeding cages that were 0.65x0.40x0.48 m WidthxDepthxHigh (WxDxH). One male and 3 females were placed in each cage. The daily light period was increased from initially 12 h light and 12 h darkness to 16 h light and 8 h darkness. Egg production, overall fertility, overall hatchability and hatchability of the fertile eggs were measured over 2 years as 39 eggs female-1, 68.22, 61.97, 89.95%, respectively in year one and 28.54 eggs female-1, 68.84, 57.83 and 83.43%, respectively in 2 years. As a result of the study, it is clear that chukar partridge can be raised under intensive captive conditions when some management techniques are provided. Therefore, ecological balance can be recreated for chukar partridge population in natural habitat by way of rearing and releasing of chukar partridges.
Alper Yilmaz and Cafer Tepeli, 2009. Breeding Performance of a Captive Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) Flock. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 8: 1584-1588.