Testing radiotransmitter attachment techniques on northern bobwhite and chukar chicks

We compared 4 external radiotransmitter attachment techniques to determine the optimum attachment method on chicks of 2 galliform species. The attachment methods included tissue glue, silicone gel, suturing, and leg harness. The study was conducted in captivity with a 2-phase assessment: first with northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), and then chukar (Alectoris chukar) chicks. We applied each technique and assessed effects on growth rates, retention times, ease of attaching the transmitter, and effects on physical development. No apparent adverse impacts on chicks were observed for any of the attachment techniques. We found the leg-harness technique was most reliable in terms of retention time, required the least amount of handling time, and was the simplest to administer. Modifications to our suture technique likely would result in similar retention times, but would still require additional handling time and complexity in attaching transmitters.