Waterfowl and Gamebirds · WHAT ARE “WATERFOWL ... • 20 sq feet per bird (pheasant) • 1-2” flight netting • “Bouncy” sides • Good cover • Protection from hail. FEED/NUTRITION

V E R S A T I L I T Y T O P R O F I T A B I L I T Y

WATERFOWL AND GAMEBIRDS

WHAT ARE “WATERFOWL”

• Birds that have the capability to swim and live in or near the water

• Waterproof/Water resistant feathers• Bill, not Beak• Webbed Feet• Domesticated

WATERFOWL CLASSIFICATION

• Ducks and Geese• Breed• Size

• Call (Ducks)• Bantam (Ducks)• Light, Medium, Heavy

• Purpose• Exhibition• Meat• Egg Production• Hunting• Training

DUCK CLASSIFICATION

• Bantam• Call Ducks• Mallard• East Indie

• Light• Runner• Welsh Harlequin

• Medium• Cayuga• Swedish

• Heavy• Pekin• Muscovy

GOOSE CLASSIFICATION

• Heavy• African• Embden• Toulouse

• Medium• Pilgrim• Pomeranian• Sebastapol

• Light• Canada• Chinese

RAISING WATERFOWL

• Keep them warm and dry• 0.5-1 square foot per bird• 95 degrees• 20% protein starter• Adjust as they grow

HOUSING

• Largely variant on space and needs• Smaller, less aggressive species will require at least

6 square feet per bird• Larger, more aggressive species will sometimes

need up to 25 square feet per bird• Can be indoor and outdoor, or just outdoor• Depends on whether the goal is warmth, dryness,

shade, shelter, or simply containment

WATERFOWL HOUSING

• Use what you have• 6-16 square feet per bird• Inside- 1/3, Outside 2/3• Keep the inside as dry as

possible• Feed and water far away from

each other

FEED/NUTRITION

• 20% protein starter for 10 weeks• 15% protein grower for weeks 10-20• 16-20% layer/maintainer• NON-MEDICATED• Full access to water at all times• Extra options:

• Cat food• Meal worms• Grains• Scraps

WATERFOWL PROFIT POTENTIAL

• Many options if you can find the right niche• Meat• Eggs• Fertilizer

• Keep track of expenses• Find buyer willing to pay what you need to make a

profit

SELLING DUCKS FOR MEAT

• Expenses (per duck)• $5 (buy duckling)• $11.34 feed (0.3 lb feed/day for 18 weeks)• $10 (water, labor, bedding)

• Income• $26.34 in total expense• Sell for at least $30 each, buyer pays for processing

WHAT ARE “GAMEBIRDS”

• Fowl that have traditionally been hunted for sport or food and have the capability to survive in the wild

• Many different types from all around the world• Upland gamebirds• Ornamental gamebirds• Domesticated

GAMEBIRD CLASSIFICATION

• Species• Breed

• Purpose• Sport• Dog Training• Exhibition• Hobby Farming• Feathers• Release/Stocking• Meat

GAMEBIRD USES

• Sport• Dog Training• Exhibition• Hobby Farming• Feathers• Release/Stocking• Meat

GAMEBIRD SPECIES

• Pheasants• Quail• Partridge• Turkeys

• Ducks (Mallards)• Doves/Pigeons

ORNAMENTAL PHEASANTS

• Mostly used by hobby farmers for yard decoration, but can also be used for fly tying

• Red and Yellow Goldens• Reeves• Lady Amherst• Swinhoe• Silver

SMALL QUAIL

• Coturnix• California Quail• Mountain Quail• Scaled Quail• Gambel’s Quail• Button Quail

SPORT GAMEBIRDS

• Ringneck Pheasant• Chukar Partridge• Bobwhite Quail

RAISING GAMEBIRDS

• 30% starter feed• 95 degrees• ¾ square feet per bird• No corners• Marbles in water to

prevent drowning• Red light to prevent

pecking• Keep them dry

HOUSING

• Largely variant on space and needs• Smaller, less aggressive species will require at least

6 square feet per bird• Larger, more aggressive species will sometimes

need up to 25 square feet per bird• Can be indoor and outdoor, or just outdoor• Depends on whether the goal is warmth, dryness,

shade, shelter, or simply containment

QUAIL HOUSING

• Many small quail are raised on wire• Must be kept dry• If outside, must have 1” or less flight netting• Sides must have “bounce”• 6-10 sq feet per bird

ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT HOUSING

• Can be kept loose in the yard• Separate flight pens• 20 sq feet per bird• Dark area

SPORT GAMEBIRD HOUSING

• Flight pens• 10 sq feet per bird (partridge)• 20 sq feet per bird (pheasant)• 1-2” flight netting• “Bouncy” sides• Good cover• Protection from hail

FEED/NUTRITION

• Water at all times• Non-medicated feed• 20% or higher protein at all times• 30% as chicks up to 6 weeks• 20% layer/grower/maintainer throughout maturity• Purina Gamebird Grower• Extras:

• Scraps• Millet and other grains• Meat• Greens

GAMEBIRD PROFIT POTENTIAL

• Many different opportunities if you have the resources• Release for hunting• Dog training• Fly fishing (feathers for tying)• Meat• Yard decorations

• Regardless of what you choose, must plan on moderate-high losses• Aggressive/cannibalistic• Meant to be raised in the wild

PHEASANT SALES EXPENSES

• Expenses• Pen construction• Transport cages• Catch nets• Blinders• Feed• Chick purchases

Around $7-9 per bird by maturity

PHEASANT SALES OTHER

• How many can you sell?• How well can you advertise?• How long are you willing to hold onto birds for buyers?• Can you make it through the first year?

• Death/loss• Plan on 10-20% death loss before 6 weeks of age• Plan on 10% more death loss before 18 weeks of age• Know that this is going to happen when you purchase birds

PHEASANT SALES PROFIT POTENTIAL

• $7-9 expenses per bird by 18 weeks• Add $1-2 per bird for every month after• November-April, $10-20 per bird• Goal: $5 net income per bird

WATERFOWL AND GAMEBIRDS

• Very versatile animals that can offer livestock growers a variety of benefits

• Keep them healthy and happy and they’ll do the same for you

• If one is willing to put in the effort, there is a potential for profit

CONTACT INFORMATION

Zach Hooker

[email protected]

(970)222-6822

THANK YOU

• Please write any questions that you may have on a piece of paper or notecard and I will do my best to answer them with the other presenters during the roundtable discussion, thanks!