How can I let exotic pheasants wander freely without go away

[featherfolio]

I want to try letting some Silver Pheasants wander around my place and come back to their pens in the evenings. I used to do this with chickens but unfortunately don't have them to serve as models for the pheasants. I can clip a wing on each bird to keep them from flying but how can I have them stay around? The Silvers are fairly tame already but if I let them go I am worried that it will be the last time I see them. Any suggestions?

Forgive me about the images, I am just getting used to this site

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[Tony K T]

Good luck with that.I think as soon as you open the door the are going to leave.I don't like the idea of cutting a wing either.They need to be able to get away from predators,if they can't fly the are gonners.Plus they need to roost at night.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[evonne]

lol.. my dog dug the side of my pen open trying to get to some food i put in for my pheasants...
i had 2... i have 1 now... he came back the next afternoon...

this morning my son comes in "mom the pheasant is back" i said is that the other one, or is that Uno (the one who came back already)

we went back and checked.. it was uno.. he had gotten out again.. but he followed us back to his pen and went right in...

i dont't have the top enclosed in net yet... he's only been in this new pen for a few days.. this afternoon i watched him fly right out of it again... but he keeps coming back.... i'm hoping he decides he likes having a steady reliable food source and just stays close like my peacocks do... they free range between my house and my neighbors, and we both feed them...

good luck with yous if you decide to try it

 

[SamG347]

It could be possible. But my bet would be they would think the nearest woodlot/field is better than going back into that pen. They would also really stand out to any predators. Both from the sky and on the ground. I would keep any ornamental birds....well any gamebird for that matter with the exception of peafowl in some situations...in pens!

 

[JJMR794]

Here's A Lil Thought....

Most States Have Strict Laws Against Releasing Exotics --- Such As Silver Pheasants. And Ya Know..... Its The Darnest Thing..... I Have Yet To Find A Game Warden That Will Entertain Or Comprehend The Idea Of Free Ranging. Seems They All Think Of It In A Legal Term Similar To "willful And/or Wanton Release Of Exotics Speces" Which Is Usually Whats Printed On The Very Expensive Ticket They Hand You After They Have Watched You Destroy And Bury All The Animals In Question.


I Dunno, Just A Thought.....

 

[evonne]

lol.. good point on that one...
although they'd have to prove that the feasant is mine and not just a wild one anyway.. we had a mountain quail run through our yard a few weeks ago... and the neighbor says there's occasionally ringneck pheasants around....

my local Animal Control was taking his break parked on my street the other day.. i went out and asked him "did someone complain about my animals" he said nope.. you're fine... i get to talking to him.. he said 4.? livestock per acre was "the limit" and chickens counted in that... i'm like WHAT?? and he asked if the peacocks the original owner had were still around.... i said yeah... why are we allowed to have them but not roosters... as my rooster is crowing away in the yard... lol.... he siad yeah it's stupid.. the lady that used to live here had all kinds of birds too... said they wouldn't come out to "check" unless a neighbor complained.... as he laughs at the 6 empty acres to one side of me... my one neighbor who also has illegal roos, ans the 4 empty acres the other side of him.. lol...

i like the pheasants, but if something happens to this one, i think i'll wait until i'm better prepaired for them... i put this guy into a run that's 7'x16' and he still was wanting out...
lol... wonder what hubby would say if i attempted to net in the entire 1/2 acre arena for pheasants....

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

It's easy with silvers, despite what most may believe. I have 6 spare cocks free ranging right now. I did nothing special. Just had some spare boys, opened then gate and sent them on their marry little way. They were 6-9 months old at the time and well use to me feeding them, and are near fully colored now. I've seen lots of people that have done it with silvers. Wouldnt recommend it with any other types...
These never venture more than 100 yards or so from their old pens, and we have 130 acres here, 1/2 fields 1/2 forest way out in the country, they never go into it. If yours are as tame as you say, like mine were, go for it. These follow me around the yard while I'm feeding up, got to knock them out of the bucket from time to time!! LOL They'll jump right in it.
DO NOT clip their wings though. This will get them killed, by dog, fox, or what ever the flavor of the day my be.
I dont put them up at night either, though they will if I wanted to. We have a lot of live oaks around the pens, and they just fly up in them to roost at night.
Had a reeves male get out a few years back, he stuck around for about 6 months, goldens and such, never slow down, so the silvers would be the only one to try.
I love them running around the yard, something different....
Good luck

 

[bandbaustin]

a guy I deal with lets all his birds free range to some extent. However he spends hours every single day down at their pens. He leaves the doors opens and they wander in and out of their pens. He has goldens, silvers, swinhoes, amhersts. He also has peacocks. When he is done he just shoes them in to their pens. I was amazed the first time I saw it, I would be too nervous myself but it is quite a site in his backyard when they are out. He lives on an acre of land.

 

[evonne]

well my little lone pheasant Uno flew the coop again today... at about 1:30... i was out in the yard doin stuff and i see him come running towards me.. i said hi to him and just kept going about what i was oding.. he spent the afternoon following me around the yard.. and occasionally exploring... he gets along well with my LF free ranging chickens... the banties picked on him.... and he would periodically go back into his run to get some food... i think he's sticking around so i'm just gonna let him do his thing... he's got quite a little personality now that he's not acting like a spaz.. lol...