Pheasants and red-legged partridges released for shooting are reared in captivity before release, with welfare standards varying significantly across the industry.
Game bird welfare spans both the rearing phase and the period post-release. Rearing conditions in intensive pens can cause feather pecking, foot problems, and behavioral frustration similar to poultry farming. The transition to release involves stress as birds encounter predators, weather, and natural food seeking for the first time. Large numbers die in the weeks following release. On shooting days, birds that are wounded but not immediately killed face significant suffering before retrieval. High welfare shooting requires trained dogs for rapid retrieval and recognition that wounded bird welfare is a primary responsibility.