Pheasant ???

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I just bought 13 straight run pheasant chicks from a local feed store. Don't know to much about raising them, so I was hoping someone could advise me. Currently they are about 2 weeks old and are eating gamebird starter & are living in the same cage that I've used to raise bunnies, chicks, etc. My hubby and I are hoping to raise the birds to use for dinner as well as training his young gun dog. I was wondering if pheasants reproduce easily & if it is OK to keep them in with my chickens once they are grown? I have a small flock of layers & a rooster (mixed breeds). My chicken pen is pretty big and is covered so flying isn't a problem.

-- Elle (hotging@aol.com), May 11, 2000

Answers

we raised a few last year, i could not keep mine with our chickens they were to skidish around the hens. also once they were about 12 weeks old the cocks started to fight . a friend of mine used blinders on his. it is some type of plastic you put on or in their beaks so they can not see each other, do not know enough about that to tell you any more. we ended up putting ours in a field and letting then pair up and go "wild" . we still have 3 pairs in our back, just don't let anyone know! we have a big problem with people seeing them and wanting to hunt. good luck

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), May 11, 2000.

I have no direct experience raising pheasants. I've read that they are very secretive and stressed if their boundaries are not honored. I contemplated setting up covered runs in our young spruce trees last year that would provide them plenty of cover. I doubt that I would try to keep them with other poultry if I raised them. For what it's worth...

-- Mike O (olsonmr@yahoo.com), May 11, 2000.

Someone gave me a couple of pheasants once, and I put them in with my chickens, in a huge pen. The whole time I had them, they did nothing but pace the length of the fence & hide in the taller weeds. They were extremely skittish and afraid, and they never changed. They seemed so miserable that when their wings grew out & they escaped, I was happy for them! My opinion is that pheasants are one bird that are ill-suited for captivity.

-- Shannon (Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary) (gratacres@aol.com), May 12, 2000.

I've done quail, and kept them separate, and they were not any big problem. Never done the pheasants, but I want to. I would SUGGEST you keep them apart, but that's a gut feeling, not experience. Please let us know how you do. And folks! I know there are many of you who have been down this road! Help out Elle, and as a side effect, Brad of the Baskervilles! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), May 12, 2000.

raising pheasants is about the same as raising chickens or Quail.The only difference is the feed .The game birds will need the higher protien game bird feed for the rest of their lives.The chicken feed does not contain enough protein for the pheasants and it usually has medication that can be toxic to pheasant and quail.I am assuming you are talking about ring neck pheasants and if so in some states they are considered native birds and you will need to have a permit to raise them.I was never able to get them to hatch their own eggs,but they hatched in a still air incubator just fine.If i can help in any way let me know.Carla

-- carla (sloanfarm@aol.com), May 14, 2000.


My brother has been raising pheasant for years. They are "VERY" skittish and I would strongly suggest that you keep them seperate from your chickens. They do require different feed "Game bird starter for chicks and maintainer for adults" They are very secretive about nesting and you'll need a nesting box (similar to rabbits) and if one gets out out of the cage about the only way to catch them is with a shotgun.

Here in Missouri if you want ring neck you definitely need a permit for them. Like Brad I do raise quail which I feel have a better feed to meat conversion. But I would say for you to go for it, my brother just loves his and some of the breeds are beautiful.

Good Luck

Jim

-- Jim Tanner (tanner_jim@hotmail.com), May 15, 2000.


Thanks for all the suggestions. After reading them I do think I'll be building another coop for them. They are still quite skittish, but are eating well & seem to be doing great. I was hoping that they would lay & hatch their own, but if not I may have to try a broody bantam or just eat them all and start over with another type of bird! My mother belongs to a retriever club & they use pigeons to train their dogs so that may be a better choice next time around. As far as permits go, I have no idea if one is required. I am in Colorado, anyone know the answer? The feed store was just selling them off like they do chicks, so I never thought about it. But to be honest, unless someone raises a fuss I don't think it'll matter much!

-- Elle (hotging@aol.com), May 15, 2000.

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