Re: Can a Chukar live with chickens or pigeons? I really would appreciate any advice!

[lightchick]

I already posted this in a different section, but thought I'd get better answers here.
I want a Chukar or some other small birds like that, but not sure if they can live with anything that I already have. I know some people say no NEVER have quails or anything like that with chickens while others have them together without any problems at all.
Would there be a big problem if I kept one with my pigeons? I heard that Chukars can be mean. I thought about Button Quail, but I don't think they would survive a -20 winter.
Any advice? I thought about getting a duck, but they are really messy.

 

[dc3085]

Gamebirds have no resistance the many many poultry diseases that chickens often carry. Chickens carry diseases like MG, Coryza, Blackhead and more that they are resistant to and often carry their entire lives without ill effect. Those same diseases will be fatal to your quail with mortality rates for some diseases reaching 100% before you would be able to effectively treat them. When you put chickens with game birds you're playing russian roulette. Some people do win the game but there was a bullet in the gun the whole time they were playing....

Here is a list of poultry diseases so you have an idea how many there are and why some of us are so adamant about not letting these diseases get established in quail. Once a bird has Coryza or MG it carries it for it's entire life and will transmit it to any bird it contacts.

Button quail are the size of a small hamster they don't do well turned loose in a cage with other birds unless it is something like an aviary and they have plenty of hiding spots and as you are aware don't do well at low temps. (they actually don't do well at temps below 40* so well short of what you'll see in winter)

I understand why you don't want a duck but waterfowl are extremely disease resistant and would probably be the best choice for keeping in a cage with disease baskets...oops I mean chickens.

 

[birdman55]

i know a grower of several types of birds and he said they dont like other birds...so he keeps the quail with quail chicken with chicken chuckars with chukars...although he does keep his peafowl with pheasants....and also some other peafowl with turkeys and ducks...but thats it....so hope this helps

 

[Starkasm]

I already posted this in a different section, but thought I'd get better answers here.
I want a Chukar or some other small birds like that, but not sure if they can live with anything that I already have. I know some people say no NEVER have quails or anything like that with chickens while others have them together without any problems at all.
Would there be a big problem if I kept one with my pigeons? I heard that Chukars can be mean. I thought about Button Quail, but I don't think they would survive a -20 winter.
Any advice? I thought about getting a duck, but they are really messy.

Chukars are really quite friendly, if raised right. Remember though, in the wild they live in colonies. They like their little cliche and don't like a lot added in. I find them to be very sweet. Our 7 were raised with a guinea fowl and they still live with him. But they're used to him. They were originally started out with 2 ducklings, 3 bantams chicks and the guinea. The three bantams ended up being roosters and fought amongst themselves and had to be taken out of the pen. And as you stated, the ducks were too messy. (two baby Call ducks, but still slobs!)

As far as putting them with chickens...It's your call but I'd say it's better to be safe than sorry. You'd hate to lose them over something so easily avoided.

And you know, you could always get call ducks if you opted for ducks. They are quite small and full of personality.
But as a big Chukar fan - my favorite birds! (I have turkeys, ducks of all kinds, guineas, pheasants, geese, chickens, quail and chukars) I'd say try chukars!!! They're quite hardy too, as far as dealing with cold.

 

[lightchick]

What about with pigeons? Or would they be too mean to them?

 

[Starkasm]

What about with pigeons? Or would they be too mean to them?

I wouldn't think it'd be a problem. I'd try not putting the chukar in too young, so the pigeon didn't pick on it. After that, being raised together they should be fine.
My mom has a loose pigeon. She escaped years ago. She flies down here and eats with everyone. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear she has a crush on our mixed breed barnyard rooster (about 10x her size)! She gets along with everyone and everyone is used to her being in their pens eating their food.

 

[bbqsfarm]

I have chukar and pigeons together with no issues. Have done this for a couple of years. I also have big pens with lots of room. 12 x 12 with 6 chukar and the rest pigeons. I have roosts for the pigeons up high and rocks piled for the chukar so there are no space battles for roosting.