partridge hatched, what do I feed them?

[Casey207908]

My son stumbled on a partridge at a friends house and brought home the eggs after the mother flew away. I know he should have left them there but by the time I knew this I was holding the eggs in my hand. So i put them in the incubator and they are hatching. I didn't think they would hatch so I didn't do any homework. What do I feed the chicks? I am familar with chickens, do I feed them the same chick starter food and put them under a heat lamp? Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[dc3085]

Other than wings they don't have much in common with chickens. You will need something with a bit more protein chicken starters are usually around 19-20%. For starter you can use anything in the 25% protein range. Meat birds can be grown on 20%. Breeders can be fed chicken feed since they only need 16%.

Here is a good article about raising chukars. A bit outdated but still more info than you will need.

It is important that you give them plenty of brooder space and brood under red or infra red lights. They will kill and cannibalize other birds if they are crowded, too hot, or brooded under white light. They are more difficult to raise than some game birds. They don't mature for 30 weeks and it is pretty difficult to tell them apart male/female, until you know exactly what you are looking at. Even then it can still be difficult.

Also be careful to keep anything contaminated by your chickens away from the partridges. Wash your hands before handling anything in the partridges environment if you've handled your chickens. Chickens are disease baskets and carry many diseases they are resistant to but can be easily fatal to game birds.