Learn How to Raise and Keep Wild Game Birds

We offer information and tips on raising quail, pheasant, partridge, waterfowl, guineafowl and many other species of wild game birds that you have wanted to keep. If you are a beginner there are detailed instructions written with a 'how to' approach. We have information available in both printed books and the new digital format. If you want free articles to read about game birds, this is the ideal site for you!

Dr. Leland Hayes writes and edits the information. Dr. Hayes is the leading authority on game birds in the English speaking world. He has written many books and articles on the subject and is known for his down to earth approach in easy to understand English. Google him and find out for yourself.

Upland GameBirds

Upland game birds (Galliformes) is a very fascinating and popular family of birds. They are found all over the world and most are ground dwelling. They have become a very popular back yard species where room for aviaries is limited as some are quite small. Other members of this family are quite large and striking. One lovely thing about the upland game birds, they are very colorful for the most part. While some may be called drab in coloration, the male birds sport outstanding coloration with patterns that only Mother Nature could design. Besides being attractive, their undying popularity is due in part to the fact that some species can lay many eggs. More ...   Click here.

Chinese Painted Quail

The great popularity of Chinese Painted Quail (also know as Button Quail) among aviculturists comes only partly from their tiny size and vibrancy of color. A large part of their popularity results from their availability and ease of care. It matures at six weeks of age and will lay an egg every day of it’s life if it receives a proper diet. Chinese Painted Quail can be raised totally on commercial game bird feed as their nutritional requirements are very similar to Turkeys. Do not feed them a ration prepared for laying hens or chickens as there is not enough protein in these feeds. More ...   Click here.

The Free Leland Hayes' Gamebird eZine

This is a weekly publication sent to your eMail address. It is full of good information about raising all species of game birds. There is a 'Questions and Answers' section, with answers to questions sent in by readers. There is a 'Feedback' section each week giving the readers a chance to share things they learned about their birds. Free Ads are provided for those that have birds and bird products for sale. You can opt off the subscriber list at anytime! Subscribe to FREE Gamebird eZine via eMail ...   Click here.

"Special Editions" of the Gamebird eZine will be available from time to time. The current issue has information on Quail disease (Ulcerated or Ulcerative Enteritis) which affects Bobwhite, California, Mountain and Gambel's quail, Sharptail and Ruffed grouse, Chukar and European partridge, Wild turkey, and of course domestic poultry. If you are in the gamebird business (or hobby) you have either a chronic, periodic, or infrequent outbreak, or a consistent fear of Enteritis. This one disease of quail nearly makes a preventative level of antibiotic in feed a necessity. News articles about antibiotic bans in livestock heap an additional layer of stress on the already stressed bird grower. To read the rest of the Special Edition eZine ...   Click here.

The Quail Breeders' Newsletter

Especially for those who love quail, the Quail Breeders Newsletter contains information for both the novice and experienced quail lover alike. These Newsletters are downloadable each month and are about 15 pages long covering 16 species of quail and other related topics such as Game Bird Finances, Hatching eggs, Brooding chicks, Building pens, and other informative subjects. You can download a free Sample Issue and see for yourself ...   Click here..

The Partridge Letter

The partridges and francolins kept in captivity are usually very hardy birds. Their keeper never has to worry about cold or hot weather as long as they have shelter from the cold wind and hot sun. They do not get as many diseases as quail. Most are hard to kill, which makes them a good aviary bird for anyone. Many of the species of partridges kept in captivity are very tame and gentle. There is just something appealing about a beautiful, hardy, and tame and gentle bird. They will fly up to your hands for a treat or make you step around them when you visit their pen. You can download a free Sample Issue ...   Click here..

Free PDF Articles

How to Begin and Survive a Commercial Game Bird Farm

In many ways "commercial" game bird breeding is identical to raising the ornamental species of game birds. There is a difference. Housing, management techniques, and even differences in the birds themselves contribute to some confusion as to what "commercial" as opposed to "ornamental" game bird breeding really is. However, at the root of the difference is the motivation of the game bird breeder. This 33 page booklet discusses this in detail along with other subjects such as: the different commercial species that can be raised, what to do to get started, game bird finances, and other interesting topics that need attention if the commercial bird breeder is to survive. More ...   Click here.

The Reeves’ Pheasant

These rather large pheasants not only have a beautiful color pattern, but have "personality plus." The males can be rather aggressive toward their keepers. Our mature male was always watched very carefully. Our children would not go into the pen with him and when we had to feed and water it was a stand-off on who would intimidate whom. I like to think that we won as we never got jumped on, but I am sure that the male pheasant thought that he got the best of us. We had a trio in a very large pen and they kept their tail feathers in good condition. To do justice to a beautiful long-tailed bird like the Reeve's one should have them in a large pen. Never put in another bird of any species with them or the poor thing will surely be killed. The young chicks are also aggressive toward others and will even fight among themselves. They are hardy and a pleasure to have around.
More ...   Click here.

The Red-Breasted Goose

For many years while the Russian possessions were more or less closed to foreigners, very little was known about the very beautiful Red-breasted goose. Occasionally one or two pairs would be brought out but generally they were unknown to the avicultural world. The few that were in the hands of zoos and private breeders were not producing in captivity. The word got out that they would not produce in captivity for some unknown reason. Probably this bad reputation was the result of the sexes being identical (except the female is slightly smaller than the male). Some began to produce in captivity when vent sexing came about and true pairs were put together in happy environments. More ...   Click here.

Digital Web Books

Welcome to the future! What you will find here is the latest in the Web publishing industry. This technology is on the cutting edge. When you read the free Demo booklet you will not only have an idea of what this technology involves but you will also have some information about my two favorite game birds.

A word about the Free .DNL Reader. You must have this reader on your computer. It is much like the PDF Reader from Adobe. This reader will not harm your computer in any way. Once installed, you will be able to read any of the growing number of books distributed in this format.

This format allows you, the participant, to experience the interaction between you and the book. Begin by clicking on the cover of the book after it loads and then you will be able to hear sounds, look at gorgeous full color photographs, have informative pop-ups available right on the page where the text is being read.

A fascinating thing about these books to me is the actual turning of the book's pages before your eyes. The turning can be set to slow or fast. This and other features can be found on the drop-down menu had by right-clicking on any page. It will not hurt anything to click these toggle switches to see what they will actually do. Take a few minutes and see what you can find out.

Please thumb through this Demo Booklet and try out all the features that are included in each of the four Digital Web Books. There are two on quail, and two on pheasants. I think you will find that these Digital Web Books will be very informative and entertaining as well.

Two Favorite Game Birds - A Free Digital Web Book

Get The Reader First Download Demo Now

California Valley Quail

Long before I became a resident of California, people enjoyed the sounds and the beauty of the quail that was abundant in their state. The California Quail was so popular that in 1931 the State Legislature by unanimous acclamation declared the bird to be the State Bird of California. Resident from northern Oregon and western Nevada south to southern California and Los Coronados Islands of Baja California. Males have black throats and a chestnut-tinged abdomen and are chocolate brown behind the plume, while the area in front of the eyes and above the bill is whitish. Females have dark brown rather than black crests and lack black throats.
To read the first few pages Free ...   Click here.

Gambel’s Quail

Who are these birds that run out through the desert? These are Gambel’s Quail, the clowns of the Southwestern desert. Their jaunty, plumed topknot, carried by both sexes and not possessed by any other native quail, with the exception of the California quail, makes for ready identification. Always on the move, always talking to one another (only they know about what), looking as if they owned the desert and were rulers of it all.
To read the first few pages Free ...   Click here.

Golden Pheasant

What can be said about this beautiful little bird? Perhaps, this is the most popular pheasant in captivity. Nearly everyone recognizes the bright colors and the strong personality. Nearly every Bird Park or Zoo displays these birds because they are so popular with the public. Their striking brilliant color and exciting behavior keep them the center of attention especially during the breeding season.
To read the first few pages Free ...   Click here.

Amherst’s Pheasant

The Pheasant family is not a native group to North America. Many feel that these gamebirds are more colorful than the gamebirds that are native to America. I agree that there is no other family of gamebirds that is so striking in appearance as the Phasianidae genus, especially the Ruffed Pheasants. All members of this genus (pheasants) share some common traits such as: 1) the hen always is the nest builder 2) she is also the setter and raises the family without the assistance of the male 3) she is always the more plain in coloration.
To read the first few pages Free ...   Click here.