Game bird meat is becoming more popular and is available in high-end or boutique restaurants and supermarkets. So what are game birds?
Game birds are any species of wild birds that are hunted for food or as a sport. The birds such as guinea fowl, partridge, pheasants, squabs, and quail can be hunted in the wild or raised on farms. A farmer will raise multiple species on one farm.
Our Top Game Bird Books on Management and Medicine
It is not easy to raise game birds; the task is labor intensive, time-consuming, and financially constraining, especially if you intend to breed for commercial purposes.
It is, therefore, important to understand birds’ physiology and biology and how to prevent and treat certain ailments to save time and money.
As a game farmer or an avian practitioner, you want to be equipped with all the necessary information to start you off on the right path.
There are many books on bird game management and medicine. A choice of avian medicine book will depend on your needs, whether you are an avian practitioner, a student, a breeder, or a pet owner.
Prevention is better than cure, therefore, if you are considering becoming a game bird breeder, it is important to know how to raise game birds, as it is not easy, and they are prone to infections and other diseases.
Some of the books are more scientific, which may not be easy to understand by someone who has not studied bird science.
However, most of the books have beautifully detailed illustrations that depict the ailment, diagnostic process, and treatments.
The presentation also matters; most books have color-detailed illustrations and photos. Readers enjoy this as it breaks up the book and also helps in the visualization of the content.
Not all game breeders have a medical background; therefore, the books must not be too technically complex to understand. The presentation of the information should be such that even a layperson who knows nothing about avian species or health can understand.
Some books focus only on specific avian species, which can be limiting if you want to become a breeder of various game birds.
It is also important to note that some books are older editions and therefore do not have information on advances in avian science.
We have done some research and found several books available on the market. The consideration as to why these are great books is that they contain extensive information that specifically addresses various medicine and management of game birds and other avian species.
No one book has all the information on all game birds and avian species; you will have to choose a book that best suits your needs.
Here are our top ten books on game bird management and medicine.
This book by Beth Williams details the raising and management of pheasant and partridge birds on a game farm. It is a step-by-step guide based on practical information on best practices in game bird breeding.
The book details how to start raising pheasants and partridges, choosing the breeding stock, incubating eggs in game bird hatcheries, rearing the game bird chicks, and preparing for game season.
A hands-on, practical, step-by-step guide that draws on a wide range of accepted best practices.
You will get advice on how to raise these two breeds of game birds cost-effectively while not compromising the quality and welfare of the birds.
The book also has detailed illustrations, diagrams, and photos breaking up the pages and making it interesting as the reader can visualize references made in the book.
The book is typically for anyone interested in starting a game farm raising pheasants and red-leg partridges or just for general knowledge. It will provide clarity and details on how to go about the process with ease.
However, this book is more for a hobbyist, game bird farmer, or small-scale outfit, as it does not detail the financial aspects required to run an entire commercial business.
This book is about rearing and raising two avian species; the pheasants and partridges. It does not go deep into medical physiology or extensively examines avian diseases.
If you need data on other species, you must look at the other books we have recommended.
The book is a hardcover copy, and you can find good brand new or used copies in good condition.
This book is a contribution of various authors and is available as a new book in paperback, mass market paperback, and an ebook on Amazon Kindle.
The book has timeless education value and has extensive detailed information on how to breed pheasants and grouse. Since it is an old edition, the content does not include the current research and methods of breeding pheasants and grouse.
The book has chapters on game preserving, hatching, rearing, diseases, moor, and habitat management.
There is also an extensive examination of some ailments suffered by pheasants and grouse and the correct steps for treatment and therapies.
Anyone interested in learning how to breed pheasants and grouse will find this book useful. If you want to become a breeder, this book will clarify the issues, such as why you would like to breed pheasants, how to prepare for the breeding season, how to breed pheasants and partridges, and just game birds in general.
As a breeder, you will also understand the role of a game manager.
This antique book is a reprint, and it contains a wealth of knowledge for those who want to breed pheasants and grouse or are already game breeders of these species.
This book only focuses on the breeding of pheasants and grouse and, therefore, will not be ideal for breeders interested in other types of game birds.
This book is the latest of all the books on our list and contains current information on duck production. It is the only book on the list with detailed information on duck genomics and biotechnology.
Breeding duck is quite popular as duck meat is in demand as specialty meat in boutique restaurants and retail stores.
Due to the popularity of duck meat and more people gravitating toward breeding ducks, this book touches on the aspects, constraints, and recommendations for improving duck farming globally.
If you are interested in breeding ducks as a hobbyist, this book is also for you. The book is also perfect for educational purposes; and is best for practitioners, researchers, and students due to its scientific approach to the breeding of ducks.
The book emphasizes the rearing of ducks while providing an overview of duck production and management. Some interesting topics are the nutritional value of duck meat and eggs, slaughtering and processing of duck meat and eggs, and the value-add of feathers and other parts of a duck.
The author takes a scientific approach and provides information acquired by examining and reviewing the anatomy, physiology, genetics, breeding, nutrition, incubation, and hatching practices of ducks.
The nutrition requirements and evaluation of duck feed and what influence feed has on the gut microbiome are some of the topics discussed in the book.
You will also learn about common duck diseases, treatment regimens, and preventative measures to prevent infections and diseases.
The book also highlights the current state of duck breeding by stating existing data on various bioinformatics, genomic applications, and sequencing.
This book exclusively focuses on the science of duck breeding based on modern scientific research and technology, which none of the books on the list address. It, however, does not talk about the financial requirements of profitability breeding ducks for commercial purposes.
If you are looking for information about other types of game birds, you will have to purchase additional books.
This book was put together by academics Dr. A. Jalaludeen, Dr. R. Richard Churchil, and Dr. Elisabeth Baéza, but there are contributors from various industry experts. It is available on Amazon Kindle and in hardcover format.
- Storey's Guide to Raising Poultry, 4th Edition: Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Geese, Guineas, Game Birds
If you are a poultry breeder or aspiring to become one, this book is for you. Raising poultry is popular as it is much easier than raising game birds but still requires care as they easily get infections and diseases.
This book is for hobbyist breeders who want to raise poultry in their backyard, and the book is a great starting point for those who want to start poultry farming for commercial purposes.
The book has information on the breeding of a wide range of popular poultry and medical information on specialty birds such as pigeons, doves, emus, ostriches, peafowl, and swans.
The book also contains expert advice on breed selection, housing, feeding, behavior, health care, and processing your meat and eggs.
This book will show you the process from egg to table. The book emphasizes raising poultry ethically.
Space requirements for birds to roam freely, breed coverage, and heritage are also expounded in the book to help the breeder raise healthy poultry and prevent diseases.
Getting feed is costly; the author also writes about growing your feed for your poultry, the day-to-day care, and feeding instructions so you can safely raise healthy birds.
When you read this book, you will be confident that you can raise multiple poultry species in one space.
The book is the 4th edition of the book, and the following information with the following updates;
- Expanded breed coverage, including heritage and rare breeds.
- A more detailed day-to-day daily care and feeding instructions.
- It focused on ethically raising poultry by ensuring they have enough room to roam around.
- Tips on growing your feed.
- New information on small game birds like pigeons, doves, emus, ostriches, peafowl, swans, and other unpopular avian species.
This book is ideal for those who want to raise various types of game birds at the same time ethically and is the only book on the list that touches on the self-production of poultry feed.
The writer, Glenn Drowns, is an award-winning turkey breeder for his work and contributions to the identification and survival of rare turkeys. The book is available in eTextbook, hardcover, and paperback.
This book is a technical and scientific book with a detailed practical approach to therapies and treatments of diseases in avian species. This book is a great clinical reference for veterinary clinicians, and students would find it useful.
The book includes information on avian species like psittacines, pigeons, raptors, ratites, waterfowl, gallinaceous birds, and other uncommon species.
It also highlights current research and the latest advances in avian health regarding internal and behavioral medicine, anesthesia, analgesia, and surgery. Some chapters discuss welfare, conservation, and practice risk management.
This book has more than 800 photographs illustrating diseases, management strategies, and care guidelines. The illustrations provide an excellent visual presentation that helps the reader have further clarity when going through the book.
The summary tables simplify the lookup of key facts and treatment guidelines. It also has references in each chapter in case you would like to do further reading and research.
The book is a great study resource as it highlights some of the complex techniques and procedures in avian health management over the years.
The book’s downside is that the therapies and treatments date back to 2015, but with advancements in scientific discoveries, some treatments are outdated. There are plans to release a new edition in 2023.
The book has multiple contributors with expert knowledge of avian species and provides the necessary approach to diagnosis, surgery, and treatment of the game birds.
The author is Brian L. Speer, and the book is available for rent or purchase as an ebook on Amazon Kindle or purchased as a hardcover.
This book is a must-have for any avian practitioner; an excellent resource for reference for clinicians and veterinary students.
Even an individual with no avian education background will find this book interesting as it has extensive detail of practical information based on experience and advice that cover physical examination and interpretation of diagnostic tests.
The avian anatomy and physiology are also expanded with beautiful illustrations to explain the diagnosis, treatment, and therapies.
The details of diagnosis, treatments, and therapies are available for disorders in the following systems; the pancreas, liver, gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal, beak, cere, eye, and ear; cardiovascular, lymphatic, and hematopoietic, nervous, reproductive tract, and urinary.
The book also goes into detail on various disorders that affect the exterior of the avian species, such as skin, feathers, eyes, legs, feet,
The examination, testing, and treatment of internal body regions, including explanations of the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system, are also expounded.
The author also discusses behavioral problems, historical and new concepts of treatment of behavioral issues, and basic steps to behavior modification. Incubation of eggs, pediatrics, and surgery are also topics addressed in the book.
The book also has a chapter on oncology and provides more detailed information on the surgical side of avian medicine.
This book is a second edition, revised and updated with new diseases. It also includes new and expanded clinical techniques and an additional 100 color illustrations.
The following new sections are additions to the current edition,
- Husbandry grooming and nutrition
- Diagnostic imaging
- Endoscopy
- Oncology
- Cardiovascular anatomy
- Neuroanatomy
This book covers the old treatment and modern improved options. It’s the one book with a more balanced approach to avian medicine that encompasses new techniques in diagnosis and treatment.
The author Bob Doneley has over 30 years of experience in avian medicine. The book is available on Amazon Kindle, and you can purchase used or new hardcover copies.
This book is a collective contribution of some of the great authoritative practitioners in avian medicine and is a great reference clinical manual.
It has high-quality illustrations to depict ailments, diseases, diagnoses, and treatment processes.
It comprehensively covers clinical management, patient management, and sophisticated diagnostic techniques of avian species, including psittacines, raptors, bustards, parrots, finches, and more.
It addresses current research and findings in therapies, treatments, and procedures with practical advice and illustrations.
The book also has practical advice and the latest cutting-edge treatments and procedures.
This book covers ailments and discusses topics that are not usually studied, such as cosmetic surgery, avian intelligence, post-mortem, and forensic investigations in avian medicine. The book is an interesting read, even for a layperson who is interested in avian health management and medicine.
This is the book’s third edition and has the following revisions and updates to make it relevant for today’s avian practitioners.
- Revision of chapters, sections, and references of suggested readings to ensure readers have the most up-to-date information.
- There are new contributors to reflect the most current techniques and advances.
- The inclusion of more content on parrots, finches, and fruit-eating birds.
- Practitioners will have information on the latest surgical techniques and procedures, which are thoroughly updated.
- Additional MRI images have been incorporated throughout the text to complete the coverage of other advanced imaging techniques, such as CT scans.
The author is Jaime Samour, a leader in avian health, and the book is available for purchase as a hardcover, used or new.
This abridged edition of the book is best for veterinary students to learn basic assessment and surgical techniques. This will help understand complex surgical and medical procedures performed by much more experienced specialists.
The book is a useful reference guide to avian practitioners. Still, it can also be enjoyed by anyone interested in avian species, providing medical and scientific-technical information on avian medicine and management.
The book provides information on avian health, including diagnosis, drugs, therapies, and treatments.
The book includes sections on the companion bird, patient evaluation, treatment regimens, internal medicine, disease etiologies, surgeries, comparative medicine, and management.
There are over forty chapters, each detailing various diagnoses, treatments, and therapies. You can find information to treat most of the avian species’ ailments.
The book also has a dedicated chapter on the role of a veterinarian in avian conservation, which is critical in the sustainability of avian species. This is important for the longevity of the breeding of game birds.
Science is continually evolving, and although the book addresses advancements in tools and techniques, the information is from the 90s. The current developments made in science and research of avian medicine since the book’s first release are not part of the book, and some of the data is outdated.
Irrespective of this, it still contains a wealth of information for reference in the study and practice of avian health, making it a great study guide.
This book is an excellent resource as the basis of medicine is the same. However, it is an old version compared to the other books on our list. You will have to read the latest books on the topic to get updates.
Ritchie, Harrison, and Harrison wrote the book, and it is available used or new in paperback.
This book is for avian practitioners as a quick reference guide to answer questions on diagnosis, care, treatment, and therapies for avian species. The content covers various disciplines, organ systems, and avian species.
The book offers a unique format for the treatment of avian species in the form of questions and answers on various aspects of bird medicine, making it a great self-assessment tool for veterinary students.
The information contained is comprehensive and clinically oriented that is easy to read and understand by any veterinary practitioner.
The book has practical cases presented randomly, challenging the reader to address real clinical situations and offer, where possible, a comprehensive solution.
This book is in the second edition and has over 260 new color illustrated cases.
This is the only book on our list that has a question and answer format making it a great educational resource for student veterinarians. The presentation of the content is unique, focusing on providing practical solutions to avian medical cases compared to theorizing.
The book is a contribution of various industry experts and edited by Neil A. Forbes and David Sanchez-Migallo Guzman. It is available on Amazon Kindle and paperback.
This book is overall an excellent book for veterinarians to use as a reference guide. Breeders will find it helpful as they try to understand avian diseases, and pet owners can also learn how to care for their pets properly. It would be a great addition to any library.
It will also be a great educational reference book for students. The book covers avian health topics for most avian species.
It has clear and detailed illustrations to support the information on avian health. It also provides in-depth details on equipment and tools for diagnosis, treatment, and other tools for preventative medicine.
The contributions come from well-known specialists in the field who have extensively researched most avian species, including parrots, budgies, and cockatiels.
The book highlights emerging thoughts, techniques, and procedures currently assimilated into avian practice, with practical, useful diagnostic support in physical examination, nutritional evaluation, hematology, biochemistries, and endoscopy.
There are also breakthroughs in integrative medicine, wellness programs, preventive medicine screening, and low-risk pest control.
The book also has detailed step-by-step surgical procedures and techniques and has an extensive review of renal physiology and diseases.
The book is very comprehensive and detailed, with over 50 contributors and 50 reviewers with over 1,000 pages. It is the most thorough book on our list and covers an array of topics in avian health.
The book’s release was in 2005, and since then, there have been many advancements in the medicine and management of avian species. As scientific discoveries evolve, some of the information is outdated.
Gregg J. Harrison and Theresa Lightfoot compiled the book, which is available in hardcover. It is quite bulky and pricey, but the worth of knowledge contained is worth the purchase.
We’ve Got You Covered.
While all these books offer a lot of information, they each take a unique perspective and have a wide range of avian health medicine and management.
Our recommended read is Avian Medicine and Surgery in Practice: Companion and Aviary Birds by Bob Doneley.
The book is the newest on the list. It contains a wealth of information on diagnoses, treatment, and general care of various game birds using old and modern technologies and therapies.
So, whether you want to become a game bird breeder, an avian practitioner, a veterinary student, or a game bird hobbyist, there is a book for you; the choice will depend on your needs.
