- May 15, 2015
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Hello there, if any of you are interested in grouse ownership here in BYC, you've came to the right thread! This is the only farm in the U.S. that successfully raise grouse. It's called "Snyder's Grouse And Waterfowl Park", hence the title. They also sell waterfowl like harlequin ducks and smew ducks. But this farm, however, centers most of its attention on grouse.
Unlike other game birds like quails and pheasants, grouse are really difficult to raise in captivity. There are several reasons why:
1. Grouse are way more likely to become sick/catch diseases, like coccidiosis and sour crop. Grouse, at the same time, don't have the immunity to ward off pathogens (diseases like bacteria, fungus, germs, etc.). The reason for this is, because grouse are used to living in the freezing temperatures of the northern latitudes, the cold temperature itself makes diseases/bacteria less likely to produce, making that a cleaner place for them to live. Because of this, grouse have an extremely hard time withstanding the heat. Therefore, it's not recommended you own grouse when temperatures are above an estimation of 70-85 degrees, since temps. any higher than the estimated temp. can allow bacteria/diseases to grow and reproduce.
2. Grouse need a specific diet; they need to be fed certain kinds of food in order to live, depending on the grouse. Take the spruce grouse for example; spruce grouse (especially during the winter), heavily feed on conifer needles, which make up their staple diet. On occasion, they will also eat some berries and insects during the summer. So when you want to own spruce grouse, you must offer them an array of conifers like spruce, pine, etc. if you want them to thrive.
3. Grouse need a place to live that mimics their environment. This is why sage grouse and prairie chickens have experienced a sharp decline in numbers. This is due to habitat loss, and grouse will not live without a place that mimics that grouse's habitat. Using the spruce grouse as an example again, they need a place that mimics their habitat; a huge aviary with lots of conifers can help.
4. Grouse need to be on their own grouse species; you should not mix any other bird species (even other grouse) with that species of grouse you are raising. For instance, you shouldn't mix capercaillies with prairie chickens - don't put different grouse species together in the same aviary; they have to be separate. Otherwise, they could transmit pathogens to each other or fight (whether they're fighting over food, territory, etc.). Either way, they could die.
2 links below will direct you to his website.
All the grouse he has to offer: http://www.grouseparkwaterfowl.com/#!fowl/c19oq
How they maintain their grouse (choose any grouse by clicking on the photo. Spruce grouse is more detailed. Blue grouse and harlequin ducks are coming soon.): http://www.grouseparkwaterfowl.com/#!about3/cgjd
This is all the info I could explain here. All info is reserved by Dan Snyder (the head of this farm).
For more info on raising grouse in captivity, please contact him below by:
Phone: (208) 566-3005
E-mail: [email protected]
Hope all this info helps a lot!
Unlike other game birds like quails and pheasants, grouse are really difficult to raise in captivity. There are several reasons why:
1. Grouse are way more likely to become sick/catch diseases, like coccidiosis and sour crop. Grouse, at the same time, don't have the immunity to ward off pathogens (diseases like bacteria, fungus, germs, etc.). The reason for this is, because grouse are used to living in the freezing temperatures of the northern latitudes, the cold temperature itself makes diseases/bacteria less likely to produce, making that a cleaner place for them to live. Because of this, grouse have an extremely hard time withstanding the heat. Therefore, it's not recommended you own grouse when temperatures are above an estimation of 70-85 degrees, since temps. any higher than the estimated temp. can allow bacteria/diseases to grow and reproduce.
2. Grouse need a specific diet; they need to be fed certain kinds of food in order to live, depending on the grouse. Take the spruce grouse for example; spruce grouse (especially during the winter), heavily feed on conifer needles, which make up their staple diet. On occasion, they will also eat some berries and insects during the summer. So when you want to own spruce grouse, you must offer them an array of conifers like spruce, pine, etc. if you want them to thrive.
3. Grouse need a place to live that mimics their environment. This is why sage grouse and prairie chickens have experienced a sharp decline in numbers. This is due to habitat loss, and grouse will not live without a place that mimics that grouse's habitat. Using the spruce grouse as an example again, they need a place that mimics their habitat; a huge aviary with lots of conifers can help.
4. Grouse need to be on their own grouse species; you should not mix any other bird species (even other grouse) with that species of grouse you are raising. For instance, you shouldn't mix capercaillies with prairie chickens - don't put different grouse species together in the same aviary; they have to be separate. Otherwise, they could transmit pathogens to each other or fight (whether they're fighting over food, territory, etc.). Either way, they could die.
2 links below will direct you to his website.
All the grouse he has to offer: http://www.grouseparkwaterfowl.com/#!fowl/c19oq
How they maintain their grouse (choose any grouse by clicking on the photo. Spruce grouse is more detailed. Blue grouse and harlequin ducks are coming soon.): http://www.grouseparkwaterfowl.com/#!about3/cgjd
This is all the info I could explain here. All info is reserved by Dan Snyder (the head of this farm).
For more info on raising grouse in captivity, please contact him below by:
Phone: (208) 566-3005
E-mail: [email protected]
Hope all this info helps a lot!
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