Hardy Pheasants

[lee miller1]

Hey!
I just have one question which type of pheasant is the best for release? I have been looking at stocking a property for the birds to naturally reproduce. There wouldn’t be any hunting allowed on the property. I have been looking at McFarlane and have been trying to figure out what breeds would be best.

Thanks!
Lee miller

 

[Tony K T]

Ringnecks and you better be carefull,the government don't like people releasing birds into the wild.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[007Sean]

Ringnecks and you better be carefull,the government don't like people releasing birds into the wild.
In N.H.,Tony.

X2

 

[hillbillyreefer]

Ring necks are about the hardiest of the pheasants. They are also extremely aggressive which makes housing and rearing them much more difficult and space consuming. If you purchase chicks ask for them to have peepers on before delivery, or if they are too young have them send peepers and pins for you to put on.

McFarlane has excellent birds. We import them all the way into Western Canada. They are very good to deal with and have excellent information on their site on raising birds to point of release or breeding.

Here is a picture of 1500 Roosters in the makeshift load out pen. They were all caught, beak guards removed crated and gone in just over an hour. Total mayhem, lol.

Check your local regulations for rules on releasing birds, I’ve heard of areas that restrict releases in order to help minimize disease risk in wild populations. Some places require permits to prove the birds were purchased rather than wild trapped. McFalanes will most likely know the rules for your area.

Enjoy, but do a lot of research first, these are not beginner birds. The only similarity with chickens is that they have feathers, and are delicious, lol!

 

[lee miller1]

Thank you so much for the info! I live in Utah and they have a permit which allows the release of pheasants on a set plot of land. We do have some wild pheasants but I would love to see more! I live in a farming community which many small farms. Lots of the farms practice irrigation so that means ditch banks and lots of fence lines. Hopefully I can get a population started!
Thanks again

 

[lee miller1]

Also another question. Out of MacFarlane birds would Manchurian/Ringneck Cross, melanistic mutant, or regular ringneck do the best at reproducing in the wild?

 

[Tony K T]

Wow what a nice looking flock of birds,no feathers missing,all have nice long tails too.Someone has some good breeding stock there.
In N.H.,Tony.

Ring necks are about the hardiest of the pheasants. They are also extremely aggressive which makes housing and rearing them much more difficult and space consuming. If you purchase chicks ask for them to have peepers on before delivery, or if they are too young have them send peepers and pins for you to put on.

McFarlane has excellent birds. We import them all the way into Western Canada. They are very good to deal with and have excellent information on their site on raising birds to point of release or breeding.

Here is a picture of 1500 Roosters in the makeshift load out pen. They were all caught, beak guards removed crated and gone in just over an hour. Total mayhem, lol. View attachment 1207947

Check your local regulations for rules on releasing birds, I’ve heard of areas that restrict releases in order to help minimize disease risk in wild populations. Some places require permits to prove the birds were purchased rather than wild trapped. McFalanes will most likely know the rules for your area.

Enjoy, but do a lot of research first, these are not beginner birds. The only similarity with chickens is that they have feathers, and are delicious, lol!

 

[hillbillyreefer]

Wow what a nice looking flock of birds,no feathers missing,all have nice long tails too.Someone has some good breeding stock there.
In N.H.,Tony.

Those are from McFarlanes I wish I could accomplish what they do! They were excellent birds?

 

[hillbillyreefer]

Also another question. Out of MacFarlane birds would Manchurian/Ringneck Cross, melanistic mutant, or regular ringneck do the best at reproducing in the wild?

I have no experience with anything except the standard ringneck. I’d like to get ahold of a few melanistics, just for something different, a conversation piece, I wouldn’t release any.

 

[lee miller1]

Ok thank you so much!