GAME birdproduction intheUKhasincreased markedly in recent years. About15million birds arereared annually, mostly forsport, butalsowithsomeincreased interest intable meat production. Conservative estimates suggest that itcosts between £10and£15toputabirdintheairtoshoot. However, the emergence ofgameshooting asasport hasmeantthat thehigh fees charged foraday's shooting havegenerated muchinterest ingamerearing. Feesinexcess of£15perbirdshotwithin a syndicate costing atleast £2000 tojoin, confirm that thesport isnowbigbusiness. Increased production hasrequired the increased useofartificial incubation andcustomhatching, increased numberofbirds placed underexisting brooders and over-crowding inrearing pens. Whenthis iscombined withthe fact that manyenterprises recently setupmaybemanaged by individuals previously unaccustomed tolivestock production, there isobviously aneedforconsiderable veterinary input. Rearing units comeinallshapes andsizes, andoften veterinary advice issought onlyona'fire brigade' basis. The principal gamebirds likely tobepresented tothegeneral practitioner aretheEuropean pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), thecommonpartridge (Perdix perdix) andtheredlegged or Frenchpartridge (Alectoris rufa). Mostsubmissions will be pheasants andalthough theadults ofthese species present little problems inidentification, their progeny areoften virtually indistinguishable intheir immature plumage, sogoodhistory taking mayhelpavoidembarrassment!