Wildlife

Partridge Welfare in Rearing and Release

Red-legged and grey partridges are reared and released in large numbers for shooting, with welfare concerns throughout the production and hunting cycle.

Key Facts

Approximately 10 million red-legged partridges are released annually in the UK
Grey partridges have declined 92% in the UK since 1967 due to agricultural change
Reared partridges are susceptible to disease and stress in high-density conditions
Beak trimming is used but does not eliminate injurious pecking
Released partridges often have poor survival rates and rapid weight loss

Welfare Considerations

Partridge rearing faces similar welfare challenges to pheasant production — overcrowding, disease pressure and beak trimming. Partridges are smaller and more fragile than pheasants, making transport and handling stresses proportionally more severe. Grey partridge conservation through habitat management offers an alternative approach that bypasses rearing welfare concerns altogether.

What You Can Do

Support farmland habitat improvements that benefit wild grey partridge populations
Advocate for higher welfare standards in red-legged partridge rearing facilities
Encourage shoots to adopt voluntary code standards for bird welfare
Support research into reduced-intensity partridge production systems