Hatching ring neck pheasent eggs ?

[whitecra]

A friend at chuch has been trying to hatch pheasent eggs all summer. Last week she did get some to hatch but only one has lived. She said that she had to help them hatch because they wouldn't hatch on their own. Ok she has given mr 18 eggs to see if I can get them to hatch. My question is what is different in hatching them and hatching chicken eggs. I know they are forming because I have candled them. They have been in the bator for a week now. When time comes for them to hatch do I need to help them out? After they hatch what is the best thing to feed them. Any help would be great. Thanks.
Chris

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
Hi chris, you may have better luck with answers on this if you go to the "incubation and hatching" part.

However, for food just normal game bird feed (nonmedicated im pretty sure).

 

[ticks]

Incubation
It takes 24-25 days for the eggs to hatch. Certain gamebird enthusiasts think it is best to use a still air incubator or broody hens. The humidity should be 65% for the first 21 days. It should be 90% from day 21 to hatch. Eggs sould be turned on a regular schedule. It would be best if you had a turner in your incubator.

Hatching
It can take a while for the chick to hatch so just let it be until it is hatched, If the humidity is either too low or too high the chick will have a hard time getting out or not be able to get out. Let the bird hatch itself don't help it. Once the bird is out of the egg, it is best not to touch it or play with it. Let it dry off in the incubator. When the chicks have dried move to the brooder box.

Post-Hatch
1. Heat. they like to be kept like chickens in about 90-95 degrees farenheit. make sure the chicks are not too hot; it could result in cannibalism. Also make sure they are not to cold. The could start piling.

2. Space. Pheasant need a lot of space when they are young. If they are too crowded it could cause cannibalism. they need to .25 sq. feet for the first 2 weeks, 3-6 weeks .75 sq. feet per bird. Outdoor grow pens should give them about 15-20 sq.ft per bird.

3. Water can be given in chick waterers. Make sure there are marbles in the waterers to make it shallow so the birds won't drown. Vitamins called terramycin can be put in the water if they are sick.

4. Litter should be paper towels for the first week. After the first week they can be but on straw or pine shavings. Never use cedar, as it could kill the birds.

5. food. Pheasant need a higher protein food. It could be a gamebird starter or just a higher percent protein. for my pheasant I use a 24%. some people use 28% I think 28% is better off for turkeys.

6. Draft shields. draft shields are a circle that are put in the brooder to prevent piling in the corners. The draft shield should be a circle that is 2 feet in diameter for every 25 birds.

7. At three weeks old they can range outside in a chicken wire pen during sunny days. Make sure the pen is covered so predators like hawks, coyotes, foxes, etc. can not get in, and so the Pheasant can't fly out.

8. Red heat light. The birds get very aggresive if the have a bright light shining on them so it is a good idea to have a red 250 watt heat lamp.

9. Turning off the light on sunny days will help a few things. 1.) It will help prevent any fighting going on. 2.) Help the pheasant get used to the idea of no heat. 3.) Save you money on your electicity bill.

10. Going into the flight pen. At 6 weeks of age the Pheasant can go into the flight pen. Just make sure there is the proper cover needed.

Cannibalsim
Canniblism is very common in gamebirds like pheasant. If it is not caught in it's early stages it could be very bad later on. A good way to prevent cannibalism is to have enough space ofr them, have just the right tempature, and have a red heat lamp. My Pheasant started to become cannibalistic between 5-7 weeks. I stopped once we put them outside into the flight pen.

Flight Pens
Flight pens are key to the pheasants survival in the wild. Flight pens should be made out of a mesh type of netting called flight netting. The pen should be big enough to give each pheasant 20-30 square feet of space. It should have enough cover (brush, shelters, tree branches, rocks, etc.) to protect it from the weather or predators that might get into the pen

Hope this helps. This info can be found on my website. under Pheasant chick care.

 

[whitecra]

Thanks this helps a lot. I just hope I can get them to hatch for her. So I have a still bator. Do you mean they need more humidty then chicken eggs to start? I am doing them like I do chicken eggs.
Chris

 

[ticks]

They are more delicate than chicken eggs, and require more care. Just follow the instructions, aand they should hatch.

 

[whitecra]

Thank you.
Chris

 

[ticks]

No problem.