Brood-rearing habitat: the key to gamebird chick survival

Brood-rearing habitat is one of the most important factors influencing the survival and productivity of gamebirds. For species such as grey partridge, red-legged partridge and pheasant, the period immediately after hatching is critical.

The most important requirement is an abundant supply of insects. A grey partridge chick may consume up to 2,000 insects a day to support rapid growth and feather development. Key prey include sawfly larvae, caterpillars, aphids, weevils, leaf beetles and small ground beetles.

Historically, suitable brood habitat was widespread across the British countryside. Thin, weedy cereal crops supported large insect populations and provided ideal feeding conditions. Agricultural intensification has since reduced both weed diversity and insect abundance. Modern crops are typically denser, cleaner and more heavily managed with herbicides and insecticides. While improving crop yields, these practices have reduced the availability of chick-food insects and diminished brood-rearing conditions.

Structure matters as much as food

Food availability alone is not enough; vegetation structure is equally important. The best brood habitat provides a protective canopy overhead, screening chicks from predators, while remaining open and accessible at ground level. Chicks need to move freely through vegetation while foraging. Dense, matted or wet cover restricts movement and makes feeding more difficult, whereas sparse cover exposes chicks to predators and poor weather. An ideal structure combines shelter with easy access to food-rich areas beneath the vegetation.

The location of brood habitat is also important. Newly hatched chicks are mobile but cannot travel far. If feeding areas are too distant from nesting sites, broods may struggle to obtain enough food during this critical stage. Locating insect-rich habitat beside nesting cover allows chicks to feed efficiently soon after hatching and increases their likelihood of survival.

Margins, headlands and wild bird seed

Field margins are among the most valuable brood-rearing habitats. Wide, well-managed margins support diverse plant communities and high insect densities while experiencing relatively little disturbance during the breeding season. They provide excellent feeding opportunities and often link habitats across the wider landscape. Margins next to nesting cover are particularly beneficial as they provide immediate access to food.

Conservation headlands remain one of the most effective brood-rearing options. These are strips around cereal fields where pesticide use is reduced and fertiliser applications are generally avoided. This encourages broadleaved plants and associated insects while maintaining a more open crop structure. Conservation headlands consistently support higher numbers of chick-food insects than conventionally managed crop edges and can make a major contribution to breeding success.

Further opportunities can be provided through unharvested cereal headlands, wild bird seed mixtures and wildflower plots. Unharvested cereal headlands, typically 3m to 6m wide, provide shelter and feeding opportunities throughout the brood-rearing season. Wild bird seed mixes containing a range of plant species can support large numbers of insects while creating suitable canopy cover. Well-designed wildflower plots attract diverse invertebrates over an extended flowering period, providing valuable feeding conditions for growing chicks.

Areas containing a mixture of native flowering plants, broadleaved weeds and grasses support a far greater abundance of invertebrates than intensively managed crops. A varied plant community also extends flowering times, helping maintain insect availability from late spring to early autumn.

Beetle banks can also play an important role. These raised grass strips support ground beetles and other invertebrates that contribute to a chick’s diet.

Three essentials, close to the nest

Effective brood-rearing habitat combines three essential features: plentiful insect food, protective cover and unrestricted movement at ground level. Where these requirements are met close to nesting areas, chick survival can improve substantially. Consequently brood-rearing habitat remains a cornerstone of successful gamebird conservation and sustainable population management across the UK countryside.

Alex Keeble is the GWCT’s game and wildlife adviser for Central England. Alex grew up in Suffolk, with a passion for farming, fieldsports and wildlife conservation. He previously spent 10 years as a full-time gamekeeper and deer manager on estates in the Cotswolds and the Chilterns.