Can a hurt Phesant be with 9 hens?

[angela56124]

My family has hunting dogs and we took them out for a run one Sunday( so no bird hunting was that day) and we found a male phesant with a gunshot wound. On his wing the feathers at the end, some were gone and some were there, just twisted around. Right at the top of his leg there was another wound. He looked tired and he coudn't fly and could barely hop, so instead of him suffering untill a fox got him. We took him home...he was bleeding for that day, so when we got home we definetly wren't putting him in with the chickens, since he was bleeding.So we have had him for about 2 months in a cage for one of the dogs(big cage) and we have a sheet draped over it so he can feel like he is hiding, but we take it off too. He has been eating the Chicken feed and some seeds,and he has a bed of pine shaving. He isn't bleeding any more but still can't walk, he never has the hurt leg down, he keeps it tucked up and hops on the other foot. The feathers never grew back either. We want to put HIM in with the HENS, ( 9 hens , no roosters) So will there be little Chick- Phesant eggs, will he try to breed with the hens? Will the chickens peck him to death becase he is new or wounded? Please HELP I really don't want Phezie (my brother named him)to die, but no breeding either because we are going to let him back on this piece of land with tall grasses.PLEASE

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

If you've had him for 2 months now, he's as good as he'll ever get, the feathers will come back with his next molt. As for putting him in with the others, just watch him closly the first day, if there's going to be any fighting, it will usually happen near instantly. If his leg is crippled, chances are he'll never be able to breed. And seeing how they are a ground bird, he'll probley never survive if released back into the wild, as you said, the foxes will get him pretty quick if he cant run well.

 

[angela56124]

Thank you!

 

[Bunnylady]

Quote:
Pheasants and chickens are totally different species; I don't think there is even a remote chance of breeding between the two. On the other hand, I think your fears for his safety with the chickens is more than justified. My chickens are such savages, they would pick at anything that couldn't get away from them. I imagine your hens are probably just as bad as mine.

I'm afraid I have to agree with BBB. If this bird is less than 100% fit and sound, his chances in the wild are near zero. Mother Nature is not kind to those that are crippled. The wing feathers will probably grow back fine, if the feathers were the only thing damaged. The leg may be another matter. I don't know if being in a larger pen would encourage him to try to use that leg again; it may be too damaged to ever work right. Unless he gets full use of that leg, the only way he will survive will be if he is someplace where preditors can't get him, and meals are easy to find.

 

[chseeads]

Quote:
They actually can.....it's rare and probably not much of anything to worry about in this instance tho.....but it is possible.

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/NDG/Pheas/RingN/BRKRingNHybrids.html

 

[95yj]

i'm surprised nobodies jumping up and down shouting disease yet, especialy since its a wild bird. if i understood the question correctly.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
The original post says they have already had him for 2 months, so any risk of that is long since done and over with, otherwise, yes, that would have been the first thing I would have said. But after 2 months, if it was sick they'd have known by now....

 

[JJMR794]

Aubrey I Think You Missed It..... The Pheasant Has Been Seperated From The Chickens. By Placing Him In Direct Contact With Them He'll Be Exposed To Coryza/ Mycoplasma/ And Various Other Illnesses That Will Kill Him If They Occur. Diseases That The Chickens May Well Carry And Not Be The Least Bit Ill From( Therefore Showing No Signs Of It). And That Is Always A Concern When Housing Gamebirds With Domesticated Poultry.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

That's true, but He's probably only been one stall over, which would really be exposed to it anyway, That's solely speculation, but usually the case. By 2 months, they have shared germs one way or the other.. my concern would have been a sick Pheasant giving something to my chickens, not the other way around as the pheasant is just a rescue deal... Now if you were buying high dollar pheasants, Lord yes separate them, and by that I mean keep them 100 feet or better separated.
As I said, just in another pen, side by side, isnt separated when it comes to illness.

 

[JJMR794]

Wait! I Missed Something Here.....


Aubrey Do They Make Low Dollar Pheasants? Cause I Think I Picked The Wrong Money Bracket!