Eared Pheasants

[flyingmonkeypoop]

I was offered some eared pheasants from a friend who inhereted them from a neighbor. There are white and blue pairs for sale. Just wondering what everyones experience is with them and if there is anything I should know about them before even thinking about getting them.

 

[Tony K T]

All eared pheasants seem to be absolutely great birds.They love to dig,so make sure your perimeter of your pen has a wire apron around it.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

I have heard from a few folks that they are diggers. What about other things in the pen like logs, branches, leaf litter?

 

[Tony K T]

Yes,give all of those things to them.Some of them will even tame down enough to eat out of your hand.My brown eared male greets me at the door daily,but the hen,she's a basket case.The blues are calming down now that my male died.I just picked up a new male 3 weeks ago and I need to switch birds around so I can introduce new birds.The white eareds,are they sichuan or drouyni species?You don't have to worry yet,but they dig a deep hole and lay their eggs,and sometimes bury them.
Can I ask who is offering them to you?
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

I do believe they are the sczechuan white eared pheasants, they have the black in the wings. I talked to a friend in Nebraska today and he told me the blue eared are a better choice for me since I am a beginner with the eared pheasants (even though I've had all sorts of other pheasants). My friend John Bevens (sp?) is offering them to me. He is one of my taxidermy buddies who breeds the ringnecks and some goldens and amhersts just for backup birds. He got them from a neighbor that moved to town who got them from Dennis who is only a mile or so from Jeff. Since he just has the basic species he doesnt want to mess with the 'fancy' eared's, I think he said there are 2 pair of each. What kind of noises do they make, are they more chirps or what? What about in winter, what shelter do they need, more of an open ended or a small shed? What about supplemental feeds?

 

[Tony K T]

All eared pheasants are basically the same.I'd get both pair,you can always sell them off if there not what you are looking for.They are cold hardy birds,so winter temps will not phase them.I would give them a shelter if they choose to get out of the elements they can.As far as feed,gamebird grower/maintenence pellets.In Jan- April give them gamebird grower/maintenence mixed with layer pellets.In the colder winter months gaber grower/maintenence mixed with cracked corn.All times of the year fruit,veggies,peanuts,wild bird seed,insects etc.There noises are are unique,almost sounds like a dog.I had a site with bird calls.I'll see if I can find it.
What other species do you raise?
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[Tony K T]

Here is the link for bird calls,but there is none for blue eared.They do have a white eared calling.http://ibc.lynxeds.com/There are all kinds of bird calls on this site.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

Thanks, that helps alot. Right now I just have a lone amherst cock, as soon as I fix some fencing he will be getting a mate and also some neighbors in the form on silvers. In the past I have also had goldens, yellow golden, reeves, and ringneck types. For other exotics I have had bahama pintails, chiloe widgeons, and cackler geese. There is just something that keeps drawing me back to the pheasants though.