We just acquired a yearling male red golden pheasant who is rather high strung and nervous, obviously he’s a pheasant and hasn’t been around people much. We have coturnix quail, which by comparison are super chill (but the species has been domesticated for centuries and ours are all home hatched and used to people). I know he’ll never be ‘tame,’ but can we get him to the point where he won’t freak out whenever we walk by or not have a fit during necessary handling (npip testing, clip toenails, minor injury, pen moves…), I know he won’t ever like it but will he chillax a bit with time, attention and treats? I did find him a lady friend and I hope when we bring her home that helps too, poor guy has been hanging out with a neutered quail for company. The quail loves it, he’s away from the breeding males who think he’s just another hen, not sure what the pheasant thinks, no aggression on his part at least. Any ideas are appreciated!
