The lirause Family A challenge for the aviculturist

by William A. Newlands Director (Information & Education) Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore, Scotland

The Grouse Family, the Tetraonidae, in pheasants and other gamebirds. When managing these birds in confme­ have a long and largely disastrous history Whether you are the kind of bird-breeder ment, one of the main points to be kept in aviculture. Although they are a fasci­ who pursues purely scientific aims, or the in mind is that many of the grouse are nating group, with some of the most type who seeks birds with what we might specialists. They have developed adapta­ theatrical of breeding displays, they are call "personality", the Tetraonids are tions which have enabled them to colo­ genuinely "difficult". worth persevering with. nize habitats little used by other resident The grouse have been widely studied as gamebirds, both in the wild and in Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus, displaying. captivity. Several species are among the most highly-valued of the world's game. Individually, these species have been examined in some detail and almost all ­ with the apparent exception of some Central Asian grouse - have been bred in captivity at one time or another. But the Family still awaits the support of a Peter Scott or a Jean Delacour who can see them as an entity, base useful research on an avicultural foundation, provide a clear­ ing house for information, and draw attention to their in teresting problems in the field and in the aviary. Much of the fascination of the Tetrao­ nids lies in the fact that within this com­ paratively small group of 16 species we find a full spectrum of territorial and dis­ play behavior. There could hardly be a greater contrast than between the aggres­ sive male Red grouse, who must stake out a territory on the moor or perish of star­ vation, and the beautiful Blackcock, liv­ ing in a companionable flock with other males and ritualising all his aggression on the meeting ground of the lek. The Red grouse and his mate look very much alike; the Blackcock and his hen are a very good example of sexual dimorphism and are completely different in plumage form and colour. Tame, confiding and vocal in captivity, the grouse have, above all, the attraction of their dramatic displays in the breeding season. Some of these include examples of the finest drama in the avian world: drumming, dancing, hooting, coo-ing, whistling, song-flights, plumage displays - the grouse have them all. They may be difficult to keep and to breed, but the effort is greatly rewarded. Grouse can never be said to be flashy, like some of the more popular pheasants! Grouse grow on you because they have character and because their tameness is not of the aggressive type so often found photo courtesy of San Diego Zoo. 14 bird species, such a sagebru hand being given the title of "King of Game­ mature pine forest. birds" at various times - the crown hav­ The 16 species which make up the ing been awarded at least to the Red Tetraonidae are as follows: grouse, Ruffed grouse, Sage grouse, Capercaillie. Blackcock, Priarie chicken Tetrao parvirostris Asia and the Sharptail' Black-billed capercaillie Although heavily hunted, none of the Tetrao urogallus Eurasia Capercaillie grouse appear to be in danger of extinc­ Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi Eurasia tion, other than two sub-species of the Caucasian blackcock Lyrurur tetrix Eurasia Prairie chicken (one sub-species of this Black grouse interesting grouse, the Heath hen of the RT. 1. BOX 218M • RED BLUFF, CA 96080 Lagopus lagopus Circumpolar East Coast barrens, is already extinct). (916) 527-6465 Willow grouse (inc. Red grouse) Lagopus leucurus N. America The adaptation of some species to Swans are my only business. White-tailed ptarmigan heavy hunting has been gradual. Origi­ Lagopus mutus Circumpolar nally, for exampie, the Ruffed grouse of Rock ptarmigan • Dendrogapus canadensis . America the eastern American forests was called PAIRS OR SINGLES Spruce grouse "fool hen" because it was so trusting; Accu rately Sexed, Correctly Pin ioned (syn. Canachites) Dendrogapus [alcipennis Asia today it is one of the wariest of all orth Mute Swans. Australian Blacks Sicklewing grouse American gamebirds. On the other hand, Black-Necked. Trumpeters Dendrogapus obscurus N. America the Spruce grouse - also called "fool Blue grouse • BOllaSQ bOllasia Eurasia hen" - is still a trusting bird and sur­ PAIRS START AT $295.00 Hazel grouse vives in numbers only where its boreal Bonasa sewerzowi Asia forest habitat is largely unhunted by man. Severtzov's hazel grouse BOl/aSQ umbellus . America Another tame grouse is the White-tailed Ruffed grouse ptarmigan, which in some places is so Aluminum Tympalluchus cupido N. America Prairie chicken approachable that squatting birds can be (inc. Lesser & A ttwater's) touched with a stick. And yet its very Leg Bands Tympal/uchus phasianellus N. America close relative, the Rock ptarmigan (the PROMPT SERVICE. HIGH QUALITY Sharptailed grouse Ptarmigan of our own mountains) is any­ Centrocercus urophasianus N. America ORDER 1979 BANDS Sage grouse thing but tame and flushes with a noisy Coded Parakeet Closed Bands. Palearctic: 7 spp. croaking call when an intruder is several Regular Initial Type Bands, not coded, Nearctic: 7 spp. hundred yards away. In this connection, in choice of colors, open or closed. Circumpolar: 2 spp. it is interesting that the orth American Plastic Family Identification Bands Apart from taxonomic groupings, the grouse are still tame only where people for keets or canary, choice of colors. Tetraonidae can be divided into monoga­ have not intruded. The Eurasian grouse Leg Band Cutters. Bird Claw Scissors. mous and promiscuous species, and also are tame only where people have intruded SEND SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED into species which have either solo dis­ so frequently, without causing harm, that ENVELOPE FOR COMPLETE PRICE LIST. plays or group displays. they can be ignored. This is noticeable Monogamous and solo displaying are at such places as the summit of the RED BIRD Tetrastes and Lagopus. Promiscuous, but Cairngorm chairlift, in the Scottish High­ PRODUCTS, INC. with a solo display, are Bonasa and Den­ lands, where Ptarmigan live close to large 2786 Fruitridge Road drogapus. Promiscuous, with a group dis­ numbers of summer and winter tourists P.O. Box 20004 (Dept. A.FA.) play (of varying degrees of organization) without alarm. Sacramento, CA. 95820 are Tetrao, Lyrurus, Tympanuchus and Grouse appear placid in aviaries, but Centrocercus. this is deceptive. They are subject to Most of these species have a wide stress and must be treated with care if range. Only four species could be said they are not to suffer from heart-attacks to have a restricted range. These are the and stress-ind uced disease. Caucasian blackcock, Severtzov's hazel The problem of disease is considerable grouse. the White-tailed ptarmigan with all Tetraonids in aviculture. With and the Sicklewing grouse. The Sage modern drugs compounded into the grouse has a wide geographic range, but pelleted diet, it should be possible to its preference for stands of pure sage­ combat most of these. However, grouse brush greatly limits the available habitat are usually kept in such small numbers QUAIL FOR SALE and it may have the most narrow distri­ that it is not possible to make special pel­ bution of any North American grouse. leted feed available. And the range of Normal Buttons.. $9.00 pair Most gamebirds are the products of drugs which can be introduced via the Silver Buttons. $15.00 pair "edge" habitats. Several grouse species, birds' water is quite restricted (and the Harlequins . $35.00 pair however, are able to make use of solid water consumption very variable). In blocks of a dominant plant species such practice, the most successful way of com­ as heather, sage, spruce, or pine. This bating disease has been to design accom­ 8051 968-4024 ability has made the grouse important modation which keeps the birds away as gamebirds in areas which do not have a from infection - particularly from the DOUGAL HOUSE wide selection of game, such as the boreal soil-borne parasitic diseases. 269 Orange Ave. forest and the upland heaths and tundra. At the Highland Wildlife Park we use Goleta, CA. 93017 This value has resulted in several species raked sand, where possible, but ideally

15 Photo courtesy of San Diego Zoo. the pens would have concrete bases, landscaped with rocks and timber. In either case, it is a good plan to take the birds off public exhibit at intervals and put them on wire floors where they can be given prophylactic doses against such ailmen ts as blackhead under controlled conditions. We take all our birds off exhibit in the winter and they spend at least four months in small pens on wire. Lo ses during this part of the year are always small when compared with those during the summer. My own experience, and the trials held by various scientific escablishments (not­ ably the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology at Banchory, near Aberdeen, Scotland) indicate clearly that our native grouse species, at least, do best in captivity if they are kept in small, secluded pens ­ little larger than hutches - on wire floors. The basic difficulties in dealing with grouse have been understood for a long time. What is still lacking is the willing­ ness of private aviculturists and public zoological collections to put the answers into practice. It is considered unattractive to put grouse on exhibit on wire floors, or even on tinted concrete, which can be kept clean by daily hosing. This is a pity, because the birds are often condemned to Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbel/us, displaying. a lingering death from parasites when they could be kept happily for several larger and larger and production of young to keep pairs together throughout the years if given the correct conditions. declines. If the heather is enriched with breeding season and quite high levels of About 1900 the Red grouse was being fertilizer, the grouse pairs become more fertility and hatchability will be achieved. successfully bred in this coun try and the productive and the area required as a However, the promiscuous species pose Ruffed grouse was also reproducing in territory by each pair shrinks until as special problems. If the pairs are left captivity in the United States. By 1920, little as three acres may be needed, com­ together all season, the males may start wire floors were being tried experimen­ pared with 300 or more. to display to the females and even attack tally, notably at Cornell University in The captive studies of Red grouse have them fatally before the latter come into New York State. In 1931, Gardiner shown that a high-fibre diet is necessary. breeding condition. And eyen where Bump took up the challenge of breeding Curiously enough, even if given rearing matings do occur, few eggs are fertile. the Ruffed grouse and was so successful diets with high fibre levels, captive­ It is preferable to keep the sexes apart in that in 10 years he raised 2000 grouse reared Red grouse do not develop the accommodation where the female can and had birds of the tenth captive gener­ efficient digestive system of their wild see the male's display without him being ation. With a grouse of such complex relatives. The caecae, the blind gut in able to attack her. When she is ready for behavior, this was a fine achievement and which the heather is broken down by mating, she will be seen approaching the nobody has done anything better to date enzyme action, do not grow as long as in partition and lying down on the ground. - which perhaps emphasizes that good wild birds. As a result, captive grouse can If the pair are introduced before this management is more important than any never make a living for themselves on the point, fighting may result, but if the hen amount of miracle drugs or compounded moor: they die within a few weeks unless is in full breeding condition, mating feeds! given supplement foods such as corn should follow. I have found this to be the In Scotland, scientific work has been or pellets. best system with at least three species concentrated on the Red grouse, which is During the course of their stUdies, economically important since it is one of which have been aimed at discovering the few marketable products of our enor­ fundamental answers about aggression, mous acreage of heather moorland. Much territorial demands and so on, the Ban­ has been found out about the close chory scientists led by Dr. Adam Watson V> -0 relationship between the Red grouse and and Dr. Robert Moss, have set up a very C ro its food plant, the Ling heather (Calluna efficien t grouse rearing unit. ~ OJ vulgaris). In brief, this relationship is so The females of most grouse species are Z close that if the heather is of poor qual­ willing to lay eggs in captivity; the nutrition, deteriorating owing to age) the worthwhile level of fertility. In the .0 grouse cannot maintain themselves at monogamous types, including the Red o high densities, their territories become grouse and Rock ptarmigan, it is possible La. Prairie chicken. 16 17 which I have bred (Capercaillie, Black is the best - certainly during the first grouse and Prairie chicken) and it is 10 days. It is wisest to set up such a worth the hours of observation necessary. system indoors, where temperature, air­ Fertile eggs can be obtained from pairs flow and so on can be controlled as far as hSck bird kept in large aviaries, even with the possible. All young Tetraonids are very promiscuous species, but results are not susceptible to chilling - remarkably so predictable and the loss of even one for birds of such northern distribution ­ female is not worth the time saved, and must be protected against all farm draughts. I use compartments about 4 ft. 315 S. Laurel Ave. In this connection, it is worth noting Brea, California 92621 the very high price now placed commer­ square for rearing, with an electric infra­ 714 (529-9466) ~ cially on Tetraonids. One Brazilian-based red bulb offset towards one corner so German animal dealer is currently quot­ that there is a temperature gradient BUV-SELLUl~'~.) ing Black grouse at 440 francs per pair across. the floor of the compartment. Floor covering is coarse sand or sawdust. TRADE I , (hand reared) and Rock ptarmigan at 310 , francs. At this level, the prospective Food and water are offered as for the ~ grouse breeder is likely to find his labors more delicate pheasants. An antibiotic/ ?--r quite well rewarded. Such prices also vitamin additive is included in the water. MOST CAGE 1'·" mean, however, that birds must be man­ Some young grouse are not attracted by BIRDS . aged with skill if your bank manager is surface water and it may be necessary to FEED AND EQUIPMENT not going to hint that stamp-<:ollecting set up a dewdrop dispenser. This is most Ship Anywhere would be a wiser hobby. simply achieved by placing the water The hatching of large numbers of eggs container overhead with a strip of flannel is efficiently undertaken in an incubator hanging down into the pen and acting as a such as the Marsh Roll-X or some other syphon. Drips of water form at the Walnut Acres forced-draught machine ofmodern design. bottom of the flannel strip and are peck­ But for the small-scale breeder, it is diffi­ ed off by the chicks. It is, of course, Aviaries cult to improve upon the results from essential to have a drain of some kind, or Special Interest eggs set under bantams. If the bantams the pen quickly becomes damp and Australian Grass Finches come from a strain kept for their broodi­ even tually flooded! All birds aviary raised outdoors. ness (usually cross Silkies of some kind) Diet is a matter of personal opinion, FOR SALE: Diamond Sparrows, they can be relied on to bring out every especially in the early stages. I feed a Chestnut-Breasted Mannikins, possible chick. Whether the hens have pheasant starter, with sieved hardboiled Tri-color Parrot Finches, Fire Finches, Red Headed Parrot any part to play in rearing is a matter of egg, at first. I find that chopped green­ Finches, Cordon Bleus, Gold debate. food is very important. Later the chicks Breasted Waxbills, Lady Gouldians, At times, 1 have used bantams alone are weaned on to a pellet diet, depending Shaftails, Owl Finches for rearing, sometimes supplemented with on the species, with their basic plant feed Call or Write: Jerry Jennings an infra-red lamp. And I have also reared as a supplement (pine for Capercaillie, (213) Red grouse, Capercaillie, Black grouse heather for Red grouse and Rock ptarmi­ and Ptarmigan (L: mutus) under purely gan, birch buds for Black grouse). The 884-5416 artificial systems, without broody ban­ fibre level in the pellets for Red grouse 1803 Pontius Ave. tams. On balance, I find that a combina­ and Capercaillie is 12-15 per cent. More Los Angeles, tion system, with the bantam and a lamp, omniverous feeders, including the Black CA.90025 Male Capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus. "0'" C ~ ~ zw agapornis .D o .r:o Q.

FOR SALE All Species and Mutations of Lovebirds

Write for current price list (714) 727-1486 Lee Horton - after 6 p.m. 2376 Bella Vista Vista, CA. 92083

18 GROUSE DISPLAYS (after Hjorth)

Spruce grouse Capercaillie

Hazel grouse

o 5 '0 C~ r " , , r ' I Sicklewing grouse

Black grouse

Blue grouse

Sage grouse

Prairie chicken

19 grouse and Prairie chicken, do well on a It is when the breeding season comes high-quality growers pellet as used for around that the grouse come into their poultry. Too much protein in the grow­ own as exhibits. Penning should be de­ Bracken ing period can result in d~opped wings signed so that they can be allowed to and other malformations. On the other develop their displays as fully as possible. hand, a poor diet will result in vitamin A Ruffed grouse will need a drumming Bird Farm deficiencies, so care has to be taken to log, a Blackcock an arena where he can strike a balance which will keep the birds rookoo and show off his lovely plumage. growing but not too fast. In this connec­ The display flights of Lagopus and others Finches tion, I find the addition of quantities of will be hampered by wing-clipping, but Cockatiels chopped greenfood (especially clover) is this is inevitable. Lovebirds vital. The North American grouse have some Parrots Growing birds should be hardened off particula.rly fascinating displays and these Quails during a period of good weather and have been incorporated into the design of Doves moved to outdoor pens. This greatly im­ special aviaries at various times - notably proves the plumage and avoids losses in by Michael Flieg who was formerly at WE BUY, SELL, TRADE the autumn. There is always a tempta­ St. Louis Zoo. One of the most interest­ WHOLESALE tion to keep the birds indoors too long, ing of these was the construction of a but in the end this is a bad policy because sloping log so that a male Spruce grouse RETAIL they are difficult to acclimatize as the could be exhibited going through his full weather cools in late summer. They can drumming display, which takes place up be put out on sand/gravel, or the move an inclined tree. Male Prairie chickens can can be made to wire floors. I have always have a full booming ground. partitioned 100 PLUS AVIARIES found that this is the critical move, o that they can see one another without AT THIS LOCATION whether made at any point between 6 coming to blows. When in display, these weeks and 16 weeks, and birds tend to birds are fearless. I have had groups of die from stre S unless treated with great people actually in an aviary with Prairie care. chickens during their dancing and boom­ 714/792-5735 If possible. birds should be penned ing performance; the birds take no notice 10797 New Jersey Street individually from 18-20 weeks onwards at all. However. their mating is inhibited Redlands, CA. 92373 until the breeding season. Fertility is and if birds are kept on public show there low in several species until they are at is definitely a decrease in fertility. least two years old (e.g. Capercaillie) and The stage has now been reached in there is not much point in attempting to captive grouse managemen t where a com­ prehensive collection should be brought YOUR BIRD BOOK put males with female until they have together for comparative studies. There is HEADQUARTERS reached this age. By putting birds in indi­ vidual pens, the spread of disease is pre­ also an urgent need for someone to SEXING ALL FOWL by L. Strom­ vented and there are fewer injuries. undertake the task of providing a central berg. 96 pgs. The only book on the Where they are kept in large pens, rather information unit to collect and collate subject...... $4.95 than hutches. grouse should have one data about grouse in aviculture. If the challenge of these interesting species is A GUIDE TO BETTER EGG wing clipped: even the tamest of birds to be met, we must have some sort of HATCHING by J. Stromberg.$4.95 may flush one day if surprised by a wandering dog or low-flying aircraft and clearing house so that a clear picture can ENCYC. OF COCKATIELS by G. a fractured skull or broken wing is the be built up of the requirements of all the Smith. 256 pgs. 48 in color ..$9.95 result. Tetraonidae. PHEASANTS OF THE WORLD by White·tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus i. leucurus. Jean Qelacour (1977) New revised edition . . $35.00 PIGEONS & DOVES OF THE WORLD by O. Goodwin. 446 pgs. Very technical...... $29.95 EXHIBITING POULTRY FOR PLEASURE & PROFIT by L. Stromberg. 131 pgs. Illus. plus photos...... $4.95 o If you live in Wis. add 4% sales tax. o N Please add 50c for postage & handling. o Cl .'!! o Please send $1.00 (Refundable) for c: our new catalog on many bird sub­ Ul'" jects. '0 > Lloyd Imig Bird Books V> 310 Maria Drive Dept. BW ~ o::J Wausau, WI. 54401 U o (715) 845-5101 13 .r. a.

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