Farm Animals

Game Bird Welfare Pheasant and Partridge

Game bird shooting involves releasing millions of pheasants and partridges annually, with welfare concerns from rearing conditions, release mortality, and shooting practices.

Key Facts

Approximately 50 million pheasants and 10 million partridges are released in Britain annually
Game bird rearing in intensive pens carries significant welfare risks
Post-release mortality from starvation, predation, and traffic is very high
Lead shot used in shooting poses poisoning risk to wildlife and human consumers
The welfare of shot but not killed birds is a significant concern

Welfare Considerations

Game bird shooting involves welfare concerns from intensive rearing through release to shooting. The high proportion of birds that die from non-shooting causes post-release, and the welfare of wounded but not retrieved birds, are significant concerns requiring reform.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for better regulation of game bird rearing conditions
Advocate for the phasing out of lead ammunition in shooting
Engage with shooting organisations about welfare improvement initiatives
Support research into game bird welfare in rearing and after release
Learn about the welfare science of shooting and its evidence base