Each year we rear in excess 250,000 poults on six sites spread across the Welsh and Shropshire borders. All of the sites belong to Bettws Hall and each has an individual manager who has total day to day control over bird husbandry. Our partridges are reared in the traditional method, under gas brooders.
Traditional Brooders
The chicks are housed in small brooder sheds with overhead gas heaters to maintain a constant temperature. Automatic bucket nipple drinkers are used to ensure a clean water supply is constantly available. As soon as the weather will allow grass runs are available for the birds to go out in. This not only enables the birds to adapt to their new climate and environment in weeks to come, but also brings out the colour in the plumage and the distinctive red legs! In the runs, Minola Top Hat and trough feeders are used together with open water for added acclimatisation.
Our dedicated team of staff spends considerable time monitoring and observing the welfare of their flock to ensure the quality of the birds.
Feed & Water
The chicks start on a crumb and soon progress to pellets. At four weeks all our birds are on grower and fed via Minola Top Hat feeders and open hoppers. Water is then dispensed from Bell Hanging drinkers. This enables the birds to start adjusting to the wild, by finding food and drinking from open water sources.
Hardening Off
From our extensive experience in the shooting industry we know that birds must be hardened off well, capable of withstanding sudden fluctuations in the weather upon delivery. Therefore heat is gradually withdrawn from six weeks, so by the time they go to wood at twelve to fourteen weeks they are totally acclimatised.
Our team of experienced staff hand pick the best birds from each batch of poults. They check and grade the birds’ feathers, size and welfare before selection and place it in a crate, ready for delivery. The Crating Manager then loads the birds, again checking to ensure only the best are delivered to our customers.
Delivery
We now have quite a fleet of specially designed trailers and vehicles to deliver your poults to you, wherever you are in the UK. From trailers behind Land Rovers to lorries, we have a suitable method of transport to suit your requirements.
However, our primary concern is that we deliver the birds to your pen with minimum stress incurred.