- Oct 11, 2012
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Hey, just wondering about chukar. Are they easy to tame? Can they free run in the yard if you do manage to tame them? How are they in the winter?
Thinking about getting Chukar
- Thread starter roweyurboat
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In my experience, they are not easy to tame and I cant say I've ever seen one that tolerates human contact well. Since they are a game bird, they would not do well free ranging, and you would probably lose most of them fairly quick after releasing them.
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- #3
- Oct 11, 2012
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Performance poultry was advertising them as being tame and I found another post on this site that said that they kept their chukars free range in the garden and they came back to the coop every night.
I think it would definitely be a good idea to talk to a few breeders and people who have raised them to get an idea of their temperament. I've had a few quail and pheasants (all gamey type of birds) that were tame but they seemed to be the exception not the rule. The chukars shown at the fair each year would be so nervous they would bloody their heads on the roof of the cage trying to escape (what a nightmare to deal with).
I've seen some chukar that come into the wildlife center that are more calm than others, but I would be very nervous to free range these birds. I imagine if one is able to tame them, it would take a lot of handling as chicks.
Remember, chukar are not domesticated like our turkeys, chickens, ducks, and geese. So they will always be a bit more flighty (in general) than these other types of fowl.
I've seen some chukar that come into the wildlife center that are more calm than others, but I would be very nervous to free range these birds. I imagine if one is able to tame them, it would take a lot of handling as chicks.
Remember, chukar are not domesticated like our turkeys, chickens, ducks, and geese. So they will always be a bit more flighty (in general) than these other types of fowl.
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I love chukars!!!! They are sweet and comical and play. My daughter holds them everyday and feeds them meal worms from her hands. Ours are super friendly.
I don't know why more people don't have them. They're easy to raise and unlike some birds, not mean. When I first hatched my chukars any new born things would go in with them. While they were sweet as babies, my baby guineas were not. So when we had a late hatching guinea the others tried to eat it. It went in with the chukars and still is with them at 6 months old.
Roweyurboat if you have any questions at all just yell at me. I'll answer anything I can. I love my chukars!!
Thought a picture would say more......
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- #7
- Oct 11, 2012
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AWESOME!!! Do you ever let them outside? How cold tolerant are they?
I've read they're pretty cold hardy. I would assume it'd have to be a case of them getting used to it. You wouldn't throw an indoor dog outside to sleep. I have not had them outside yet. They were hatched in the fall and then I broke my leg (klutz). Not to mention we've had an unbelievably cold winter! So they have been indoors. I plan on putting them out this spring and letting them gradually get used to the weather. I'm in Maine so cold is an issue. As far as being loose, I'm not sure. Ours are very thrilled to come running for meal worms so I think treats would help. We always have fox problems in the spring and had a weasel and hawk problem in the past. I'm not sure if I'd let them loose, but it could work. They fly but not often and not far. They're more likely to run, walk, and hop.
I hope you decide to get them. Of all my birds (quail, turkeys, chickens, several kinds of ducks, guinea fowl) I think the chukars are my favorite!
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- #9
- Oct 11, 2012
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you should be ok if you get them roosting in a coop with an attached run. Gradually let a few out to eat each day for increasingly longer periods of time if you want. They already seem so accustomed to you so I think you would have no trouble as long as you kept an eye on them. I was hoping to get eggs for my chicken to hatch so she can raise them.
Well right now they're in a big 4' cage with shelves and seem pretty content. We tried the roosts for them but they seem to like shelves better. From what I've read they huddle in small caves etc. for warmth in the wild..I don't know if they like to roost or not. Mine don't seem to.
I bought a 6' high pen with a top for spring (get em early and on sale when there's 2 feet of snow outside!) I think letting these loose isn't an option for me. We've become quite attached to them and would be heart broken if something happened to a single one. Sometimes living in the woods has it's disadvantages!
I wish you luck with yours. You will love them!
I bought a 6' high pen with a top for spring (get em early and on sale when there's 2 feet of snow outside!) I think letting these loose isn't an option for me. We've become quite attached to them and would be heart broken if something happened to a single one. Sometimes living in the woods has it's disadvantages!
I wish you luck with yours. You will love them!
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