flight pens

[Robo]

I have heard of this, but I thought it was a myth. Hmmm... this is something new to try.

 

[magoochie]

Quote:
I went and took pics today of the now empty pheasant coop/run for you to see our setup. It worked pretty well for us. Just make sure if you use netting on the top, it is not bigger than 1" mesh. They WILL get through it while learning to fly.

 

[SamG347]

Here's a picture I got off the Internet years ago....it would be easier to show in person..I might try and get a few pictures off my own chicks this spring as well.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
and what are you looking for? Can you describe it?

WENT SHOPPING FOR SOME PIX ON THE NET....

http://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/Images/Embryology/Photos/Quail_Pheasant/tank_Pheasant3.jpg
THIS SHOWS THE EYE PATCH OF A YOUNG MALE.

SORRY I HAVENT FOUND A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A HEN CHICK YET...

 

[JJMR794]

Oops Sorry Sam You Posted While I Was Pic Shopping....

 

[PrinceSandwich]

so the males have more defined lines around the eye and the females have fluff with no defined lines?

 

[SamG347]

The males have a more defined circle I guess you can say around th eye. Looks like a larger tear drop on some. Hens still have it but it doesnt go nearly as wide and is way smaller.

Melanistic hen chick...notice around the eye.

Blueback rooster chick...larger pattern around eye.

 

[JJMR794]

For Many It Takes Having A Batch Of Fuzzballs To Handle And Look At In Person To Really "get It". Once You Have A Brooder Full Of The Lil Demons.. Er Uh I Mean Darlings

You Can Start Snatching 2 Or 3 Up And Doing Actual Side By Side Comparisons... When You Do It This Way The Skill Comes Fast And Easy, And Much Like Riding A Bike You Never Forget.... But For The 1st Time Trying To Learn This Dont Get Discouraged If Pics On The Internet Dont Really Help You See The Difference, But It Is There And Readily Noticeable On 1-3 Day Olds, And Once You Do "get It" Then The Difference Is Readily Noticable In Pictures. I Believe Most Large Hatcheries Do Vent Sex Babies, But I Am Not Very Good With Vent Sexing Until They Are Considerably Older... And Of Course If Not Done Correctly Then You Can Harm The Baby, So This Is My Preferred Method And Works Very Well For Me. Like Sam I Have 100% Accuracy Here On The Farm. Remember After 3 Days Of Age The Signs Can Become "fuzzy" Or Confusing In Some Cases( Some Do, Some Dont...kinda Depends On The Bloodlines I Guess? ), Then Again It Will Clear Up At About 6-8 Weeks. When Doing Very Large Batches I Tend To Mark The Lads With A Lg Sharpie Marker Then Re-mark About Once A Week Or So As I Am Caring For Them So The Mark Doesnt Wear Off During "the Fuzzy Time". This Allows Me To Sell Sexed Chicks To My Local Clientel, As Well As Keep Sex Accurate Inventory Of My Hatches And The Chicks On Hand. This Method Is Used By Quite A Few Larger Scale Breeders As Well.


If I Can Remember (stress If) I Will Try To Get Side By Sides On Standard And Melanistic Chicks This Summer So I Can Post It For The Forum's Use. I Would Guess Most Guys Here Probably Know This Information But We Get Many Folks Who Are Not Familiar With Pheasants That Want To Hatch Them And Try Some Who Come Here Seeking This Knowledge So It Could Be Useful To Them

 

[PrinceSandwich]

I'm hoping to get some Pheasant chicks in a few years, and then I'll see if i can tell the difference then, maybe the breeder could show me first hand how to do it also. Thank you for the info and the pictures!

 

[beckyschicks]

magoochie-thanks for the personal account. That was exactly what I was looking for. I hope to have the same results you have with a couple sticking around. I wanted to raise grouse too, but oh well. I wonder if you can get a special permit for those? Something to look into. The pictures are great Thanks! Sam and JJ- thanks for the info on sexing. Hopefully I will be able to put it to good use come spring. I will probably be in contact come spring.
One thing the DH and I were talking about was building a couple smaller pens for them to be raised in until release and then just a bigger pen for the one's that are staying. Kinda like chicken tractors but bigger. Then I can move them around to were I want to release them without handling them. Has anyone ever tried this or heard of this? Just a thought. Ok Thanks again everyone!