Pheasants for Hobby and Fun

Which Species

Beginning with the right species can lead to a life long love of raising Ornamental Birds, the wrong beginning species will lead to a dramatic end. Easy to keep and low cost birds such as Goldens and Amherst, would be my first choice. They achieve full adult plumage in their second year. Reeves color on their first year, but may need larger facilities to maintain there long tails. Reeves, Golden and Amherst breed and lay in the first season. Swinhoe are another good starter species, they only breed and color in their second year.

Cages and Pens

Size, privacy and shelter from the winter months along with keeping predators at bay are all important when considering where to build your cages. Amherst and Goldens are kept in 4’x8’ with a small shelter at the rear of the cage will do. For the most part a cage 6’x12’ would be the bare minimum. Most of my breeding pens are 8’x24’ which includes an 8’x8’ shelter at the rear. Your birds have to feel secure in their environment, not only to breed but to stay healthy. Give them plenty of places to hide you and from there pen mates. One of the most important things to keep in mind, is that not only are you trying to keep your birds in, you are trying to keep predators OUT. In my experience dogs can be the worst offenders. They can easily rip through thin chicken wire and also spook flighty birds into breaking their necks.

Feed and Health

Feeding my birds consists of a good quality 18% poultry layer ration, with sunflower seeds and rabbit pellets mixed in. Corn is good feed in winter only. This helps them build up there fat reserves. Do not over feed them on corn, and do not feed them corn in spring or summer. A fat male will be to lazy to breed, and a hen may go egg bound. Also feed are fruits and lettuce and peanuts. Feeding just grains is not advisable. Sufficient vitamins may not be contained in this diet and their long term health will suffer. CLEAN water keeps a healthy bird. I can not stress this enough. I place clean water in each pen at least every other day. Also a clean and well kept environment is very important. Pheasants should not be kept with domestic poultry. A build up of feces, dust and mold will breed disease, and mice and other vermin.

Incubation and Brooding

There are several Incubation methods used by various breeders the are:

1. Using broody hens for the entire incubation and brooding period.
2. Using broody hens for the most of the incubation and moving the eggs three days prior to hatching time and brooding by hand.
3. Incubator used the entire time and hand brooding to chicks.

My favorite method is #2. If using method 1 or 2 chicks should be left in the incubator for at least 12 hours after hatching, then placed in a brooder with a constant source of 95degrees F. The heat should be decreased weekly by 5 degrees F, until room temperature. Chicks should be fed a high protein 28% turkey starter.