Introducation

It is difficult to define exactly how to sucessfuly keep and breed red junglefowl. Depending on the purity of the birds, the methods of keeping this species ranges dramaticly. Below are the general requirements to sucessfully keep and breed pure red junglefowl.

Shelter & Aviary Requirements
My red junglefowl are kept in a 500+ square foot aviary. The front is framed with rough-cut 2"x4" lumber and fenced with 4' welded wire fencing. The adjoining back is 6' chain link fence. Both the front and back sections are lined with 4' high, 1" hex wire to prevent chicks from escaping and rodents from gettingin. I use two inch netting due to the snow load here in the Northeast, however one inch netting my be more appropriate for this species if snow is not a consideration.

The shed in the middle of these two outside enclosures is approximately six feet wide by ten feet long, about 60 square feet. The junglefowl also seem to enjoy the fact that it is over fourteen feet tall, with very high perches inside. Generally, I recommend at least 300 sq. feet of space per pair, however successful propagation of the species has and does occur in much smaller pens.

Although I raise my birds on the ground other individuals say that keeping this species on wire is the best method. This way the birds are much less likely to acquire new diseases and parasites from the ground. I find that a well planted or sandy aviary also diminishes the chance of this occurring and is much better for the birds. This matter is one of personal opinion and each method has advantages and disadvantages.

Floor Bedding
Any number of mediums could be used as bedding materials for junglefowl. The floor of my main pen is concrete with a cinderblock foundation. On top of this is a thin layer (approximately one inch) of sand. I have found this easy to rake clean and is much easier on the bird's feet than bare concrete. Still, other materials such as straw or wood shavings also work quite well, however if these materials get wet there is a greater risk of mold.

Perches
All I can say for on this matter is, the higher the better! Red junglefowl love to roost up as high as they can get, so the higher you put their perches, the more comfortable and safe they feel. Here you can see the highest perch is at about twelve feet off the ground, with others for them to move around on. The windows provide light and warm sunshine in the winter and the bottom one opens to let air circulate in the summer.

One should note that if perches outside the pen are higher then the ones inside the birds will be more inclined to roost outside. In the summer, or places were the weather is not severe this isn't a problem, however in the north birds accustomed to sleeping outside may often become frostbit if they do not seek inside shelter in winter months.

Heat Requirements
Although heat is not required to keep red junglefowl, it is recommended in the colder northern states. Here in Connecticut it is not uncommon for the temperature to dip from ten to twenty degrees below zero in the middle of winter and because of this heat is available. Currently I am using heat lamps to take the chill out of the pen; however I plan on installing and running propane heat for next winter.

In other warmer areas heat may not be necessary. However, plastic is often used to keep pens draft proof in the winter months even in southern states. This is simply matter of personal opinion.

Food Requirements
All red junglefowl, regardless of purity should be fed milled gamebird rations. My birds are fed "Purina Gamebird Maintenance" during the summer, winter and fall. During the breeding season "Purina Gamebird Breeder" rations are provided. In addition to this milled feed I also provide fresh fruits such as apples and grapes on a regular basis. Foraging on their own junglefowl also will consume many insects, plant matter, and occasionally small reptiles and mammals, this diversifies their diet further.

Water Requirements
Like all birds, clean water is essential to the health of red junglefowl. I provide a two gallon stainless steel water fount for my birds. In the late fall, winter and early spring I also use a thermostat controlled heater base to keep the water unthawed. In warmer climates this may not be necessary. Water should be replaced or replenished on a daily basis.

Breeding the Species
Like other species of junglefowl it is best to leave the hen to incubate her own eggs and rear the young herself. Although artificial means can be used, this natural method seems to be quite effective and certainly more rewarding to the keeper.

Red junglefowl are polygynous in the wild, and in captivity one male will breed from one to three females or more. Of course, depending on the nature of the individual birds fighting may result between females if too many are kept together.

In their native range the breeding season of this species runs from March to May, and often into June. This pattern is undoubtedly due to the spring dry season that occurs in this area during this period of the year. Here in the United States, captive red junglefowl tend to start laying their eggs in April and finish by June. Obviously this certainly varies due to location, fluctuations in weather, individual birds and other factors.

To successfully breed red junglefowl the best setup to have is a large, densely planted aviary. This calms the birds and makes them feel secure to breed, lay eggs and then set the clutch and raise their young. Often the birds will make a shallow depression in the ground and line it with leaves, sticks, feathers and other suitable materials. Occasionally however the nest will remain a plain dirt depression in the ground. It is often placed in thick cover or at the base of a stump or in a clump of vegitation.

The female will usually lay between three and six eggs and after she is finished laying she will begin to set. The incubation time for this species is between 18 and 20 days. If for some reason her incubation is unsuccessful or interrupted a persistent female may re-nest, generally laying fewer eggs in the second attempt.

Rearing the Young

Again, if the female hatched a clutch of young I reccomend 

letting her raise the young birds herself. This is less time consuming for the keeper, less stressful for the birds, and for many it is more rewarding as well. Once the young birds become independent it is best to capture and separate them into different pens, since fighting and competition is likely to occur.

If one chooses to artificially hatch and raise this species, or take away newly hatched chicks to rear separately then special guidelines need to be followed. First, just like any young pheasant species red junglefowl young need heat, feed, water and space. As the birds mature be sure to increase the space available to them and incorporate fruits, vegetables and small live food if available. Once the birds are old enough to fend for themselves they can be moved to pens where they can grow to maturity.