Golden Pheasant appeared in backyard

[NanaRye]

I live in a residential area but my yard backs up to a large wooded area. I have bird feeders with many regulars. A couple of weeks ago a Golden Pheasant showed up in my backyard. He seems to be coming to eat the bird seed dropped on the ground. I have left him fresh water and started going out to give him my bird blend with shelled sunflower, peanuts, millet, etc. he has started coming around faithfully every morning and evening looking for me to come and feed him. What is the best food I should give him? Will he be OK living in the woods? I have know idea where he came from. Does he need to have a mate? Does he need some sort of shelter? He seems to roost in the trees at night. Thanks for any advise!

 

[Tony K T]

Somebody must have lost him.They need gamebird feed as any pheasants species does.They rarely use any type of shelter.They are on the food chain so he may be eaten at some point,especially if he roost in a tree where raccoons wander.I'm sure he would love a mate,but their breeding season is over.They begin their breeding courtship in late Jan early Feb.and the egg laying follows around late March.Are you planning on catching him and raise him with a mate?Of course he/they will need a covered pen as they will fly out.A 10x10 is a good size pen for up to a quad of goldens.Perches are need also,don't put them so high that something can reach down from the top of their pen and grab them.If you use a solid roof like metal or wood the perch can be set higher as long as they can fly to it with no problem.
I feed gamebird and turkey grower /finisher for my birds in pellets.All they other thing you have been feeding are good treats,but when feeding peanuts make sure they are unsalted.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[NanaRye]

Thanks for the great information. I'll be going out today in search of gamebird food! Unfortunately I won't be able to build him a pen. My neighborhood won't allow it. My yard back up to several acres of wooded property which is where he appeared. I've been wondering if I could put something up back there- May have to search for the owners and see if they would allow me to do that.

 

[pheasantfrenzie]

You can go to home depot or lowes ands buy the large kennel runs and you could put a top on that. They shouldn't say anything about that since too many people place their dogs in their.
Hope you catch him.

 

[jeffro7008]

Where do you live...?

 

[NanaRye]

In Florida. The area he is in is wooded and very shady. I have very little back yard but we back up to about 7 acres of woodland. There is a horse fence that separates the property and he flies over it to come in our yard for food and water.

 

[jeffro7008]

Oh ok I live in Florida too.. and raise Red goldens myself...