Game Bird Farm Welfare and Pre-Release Conditions

Millions of pheasants and partridges are reared in pens each year for shooting - welfare standards in rearing and release are highly variable and poorly regulated.

Key Facts

Around 50-60 million pheasants and 10 million partridges are released annually in the UK for game shooting
Birds are typically reared in large release pens or small laying pens before transfer
Laying pens for pheasants can be highly restrictive - cage-reared hens show high stress and feather pecking
Release pens provide more space but birds still face predation, starvation, and road mortality
A significant proportion of released birds die before being shot - estimates suggest 30-50% mortality
Animal Welfare Act 2006 applies to game birds in rearing but enforcement is limited

Welfare Considerations

Game bird rearing sits in a regulatory grey area - birds are farmed but not covered by the same welfare codes as poultry. Rearing conditions for pheasants and partridges can involve significant suffering: restrictive cages for laying birds, chronic feather pecking, overcrowding, and poor environmental conditions. Released birds face multiple welfare hazards including starvation, road deaths, and predation. The scale of the industry - 50+ million birds annually - makes this a major welfare issue. Growing pressure from animal welfare organisations is pushing for improved minimum standards.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for mandatory welfare standards for game birds in rearing
Engage with MPs and government consultations on game bird welfare regulation
Choose game products from shoots with verified higher welfare rearing standards if you consume game
Reduce or eliminate game bird consumption given welfare concerns
Support animal welfare organisations monitoring and campaigning on game bird welfare
Raise awareness of game bird welfare issues with friends, family, and food businesses