How old are pheasent chicks before they can go outside?

[Bruiserdog99]

Hello can you tell me when i can put my ringneck pheasants in an outdoor pen and when they are old enough to regulate there body temperature. My pheasants are 3 weeks old and the temperature outside is an average of 75 degrees. Thanks

 

[gamebirdsonly]

usually around 6 weeks old.

 

[Bruiserdog99]

Ok thanks

 

[pheasantfrenzie]

Yes I normally start to put them out around 6 weeks old but you have to watch your night time temps even tho it may be warm during the day they still don't have their full coats yet. I normally place a heating lamp where they can go to to get out of the weather and to stay under that until they feel they don't need to this way you don't loose them.

 

[Bruiserdog99]

Its getting close to summer and its gonna be as high as 110 out here in idaho the summers are hot and the winter are cold any recommendations for the heat? could i put them out a 5 weeks i put them in a pen in my garage right now and they each got .85 sq feet will this last them until the 5 or 6 weeks? Thanks

 

[pheasantfrenzie]

Like I said it doesn't matter what it is during the day you have to worry about them at night. It may be 110 during the summer but your night are no where near that and until they get their coats from chick feathers to adult they will still get cold. You should be lowering your heat where they are at by 5 degrees every week so around 6-7 weeks they may be alright depending on your NIGHT time temps.

 

[Bruiserdog99]

Ok i really appreciate it right now there in a pen in the garage still under the light at about 80 to 85 degrees constant and i am lowering the temperature 5 degrees a week and each bird is getting .85 square feet. there brooder was getting really tight so i built this pen just out of scrap before i put them in there outdoor pen. They seem much happier. will the square footage work until there 6 weeks? i also have it hooked up to an inline dimmer switch to regulate the temp better.

 

[pheasantfrenzie]

How many do you have in there. If they are to crowded they will start to kill each other by pecking on them and then it is very hard to stop once they see blood

 

[Bruiserdog99]

There are 17 each birds getting .85 square feet and havent had any aggresion problems.

 

[Fatherdowling]

How many do you have in there. If they are to crowded they will start to kill each other by pecking on them and then it is very hard to stop once they see blood

Most experts say, if you raise the males together from birth, aggression will not be an issue. I have 5 chukars in a brooder with a ring neck pheasant, and they are so sweet to each other. Mine are almost 2 weeks old, and they have begun to establish a pecking order.