Chukar as a pet! (Getting to know your chukar) Help needed

[leo22334455]

Hello! I got a chukar as a pet and he's about 5-6weeks old, I bought him from the seller just a few days ago.

I caged him and am feeding him as the seller told me to however I'm not sure as to the temperament of Chukars? I can tell me doesn't like me because he pecks me when I get too close and walks away from me constantly. also he hasn't made any clucking sounds at all so I'm a little worried.

Is there any way for him and I to become friends? Also if he doesn't cluck is it normal? What should I do?

We are getting chickens soon so hopefully he won't be too lonely however advice would be great! Thankyou

 

[drowe005]

Chukars technically are still "wild" birds and haven't been domesticated like chickens. While you can tame them down a bit, you most likely wont be able to go pick him up like you could a chicken as easily. My chukars are rather tame, and will eat out my hand. You just need to spend time around it constantly and he will get used to you. AND LOTS OF TREATS!! Apples/clovers/cantaloupe/mealworms/and lots more.If its definitely a male that you have, get him a girlfriend, he'll appreciate it.

As for the chickens, keep them as far away as possible from the chukar. They carry diseases which are harmless to chickens, but will kill chukars and other game birds very easily. Don't risk it

 

[leo22334455]

Chukars technically are still "wild" birds and haven't been domesticated like chickens. While you can tame them down a bit, you most likely wont be able to go pick him up like you could a chicken as easily. My chukars are rather tame, and will eat out my hand. You just need to spend time around it constantly and he will get used to you. AND LOTS OF TREATS!! Apples/clovers/cantaloupe/mealworms/and lots more.If its definitely a male that you have, get him a girlfriend, he'll appreciate it.

As for the chickens, keep them as far away as possible from the chukar. They carry diseases which are harmless to chickens, but will kill chukars and other game birds very easily. Don't risk it

Oh thankyou! I think hes gotten used to me since I do my best to sing and talk to him every day, though I dont know if I can let him out of his cage because im scared hell fly away. Do Chukars need to exercise their wings at all?

Also I have some friends that would like to see him so should I show new faces to him? Right now he seems very lively so I feel a little better~

Thanks for the advice :>

 

[drowe005]

Oh thankyou! I think hes gotten used to me since I do my best to sing and talk to him every day, though I dont know if I can let him out of his cage because im scared hell fly away. Do Chukars need to exercise their wings at all?

Also I have some friends that would like to see him so should I show new faces to him? Right now he seems very lively so I feel a little better~

Thanks for the advice :>

No, chukars don't need to exercise their wings, they are ground birds, and only fly when in danger to escape a potential threat. If you let him out the cage freely, chances are that he'll be gone like the wind.

It should be fine to show him to your friends, just don't let them approach him to fast or he will get spooked very easily. They definitely recognize people that they know, and also know when someone's close that they don't know yet

 

[ANMwoodducks]

Your original post made me laugh, peck you and walk away hahaha i just cant see it. Anyways chukars are wild birds definatley dont let him out, and im sorry to say but i dont think you will ever get close enough to him to let you touch him, i had a breeding pair of chukars that i became very close to that would walk around me and feed out of my hand but if i ever even tryed to touch them they would freak out and not come close for several weeks, they would have to biuld trust in me again. Personally i think if you try to become close to a chukar you will just scare him more. Just take it super super slow and dont ever rush into things. Move slow and be nice to him and he will become familiar to you but not chummy chummy like a chicken can. Good luck


I would also like to add that chukars are very social birds and always live in a flock wether it be big or small which is what they like to talk with each other, i love when my chukars go crazy. Also it takes chukars a while to become comfortable with their surroundings to want to be vocal i would imagine its because when they are introduced to a new place they have that natural instinct to stay hidden and quiet.

 

[leo22334455]

Oh I see well thank you! This is super helpful, do you think they trust you more if they were raised as chicks?
Either way I've been making sure to keep him company and make sure my friends don't go spastic around him

I guess it takes a lot of patience to build their trust. I think after the first week he wasn't as jumpy and didn't peck me as much so I guess that's a start?

 

[CNSpots]

I hatched out 16 Chukar a several months ago and had them in my house in a Rubbermaid container with netting over it for the first 6 weeks. As soon as the little boogers could fly they started knocking the net off and getting out. Because I spent so much time with them, they would automatically fly to wherever I was sitting and perch either beside me or on me. When I put them outside in a pen they became aggressive to me & each other so I sold them. They even went after my male yellow golden pheasant...he was terrified of them! I really liked the chukar & loved the sound they made, but decided it would be better if I didn't have them unless I only had a few in a larger flight pen. It is possible to tame them down & make pets out of them, but they still have a wild streak. Mine did manage to get out a few times after I moved them outside, but they didn't go anywhere & I could walk up to them & catch them with a net because they were used to me. I probably could have caught them with my hands but after being bit HARD a few times I quit trying to pick them up.

 

[ANMwoodducks]

It definately helps if you hatch them and are with them from the start. It took my chukars a long time to become comfortable when i put them outside and walk around me and become vocal. Just give him some time and he should come around. In my opinion it would be better if he had some other chukars around, and i would not recommend putting them with other birds they can be very aggresive even to each other.

 

[sundancenbare]

I harched out 6 chucker last year. I brooded them with chicks and a few quail. I guess they all think they are chickens. They stay in the yard. Sometimes fly over to eat our of the neighbors bird feeder. They always come back. They roost with the chickens in the coop. They all come when called to get treats. I guess they didn't get the memo that they are suppose to be wild. They just started to lay in a secluded spot in the coop. I am looking forward to watching them hatch their babies. It will be interesting to see if they stay around with the babies.

 

[Billy-jean]

My chukar almost killed two of my doves..very aggressive if they are with smaller birds. Fine with my hens and ducks cause they're bigger,but my sweet doves were almost mulled to death..he's gotta go, never gain,as beautiful as they are,they're certainly are more wild than anything I keep.