I know this is lazy but can i tractor pheasant?

[tokies]

lately ive been tractor .. everything from the chickens,ducks to the quail.... so i wanted to get something else.. that could work in a tractor.. pigeons wont.. but maybe a pheasant or Partridge has anyone tried it. also what is the feed requirement do they eat native grasses.. what is the seed to forage ratio i can expect?

 

[sourland]

I would guess that tractors would be too small for game birds because of their flighty nature. Way back when I raised Ringnecks , I had relatively large flight pens that doubled as breeding pens in the spring. I got some melanistic birds and decided to breed them in a smaller pen. They shortly proceeded to scalp themselves by continually spooking and flying into the wire.

 

[tokies]

so it wouldnt work for either bird. that's to bed.. id love too keep Partridge that way... i like the different types.. but i guess at this point if it's a good idea someone else would be doing it. it's to bad.. tho a full enclosure.. would have been cool .. that moved .. but if they would hate to live that way no point. i dont want to get some then realize it isnt able to live in the style i need them to so i end up having ot do something totally different that takes more time

 

[Tony K T]

Not to mention that it makes is very easy for predators to reach in and grab them.Tractors aren't good for anything as far as I am concerned.While it does make it easy for the animal owner to move his/her birds to new grass.It is always in danger for your birds.I would suggest building them cages that will protect them,rather then make it easier for bird owner.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[dc3085]

The other thing I'd be concerned about, at least with partridges (I don't have much pheasant experience) is that bothering in them in general tends to stress them out pretty good. Chukars especially can just be a pain when you harass them at all. I try to move them only once from the brooder to my grow out pen, I'd be afraid if you're moving them during breeding season, of them not producing from the stress.

 

[tokies]

yea.. i can totally see that

ive found about two video's on it but i havent found much information other than that on keeping habits and buying which to buy.. im leading towards grouse or partridge

 

[tokies]

i havent had any issues with the tractor mostly because i keep birds back who know how to live that way.. .and put them out there pretty early. again it's training.. once you lock them into it.. most are fine with it. on a good tractor there is a hard box area they can go that can't be reached into.


altho that doesnt work for quail ive yet to figure out the quail i just use really small holes for them

 

[Tony K T]

It will work for chickens.Your talking about gamebirds,a whole different ball game.As for grouse or partridge,you better try partridge first as grouse can cost upwards of 400.00 a pair.I think you should build proper pens for them and give up on the "training".You will definetly lose quail,pheasants,partridge,and grouse using this method.It could be a very costly mistake losing valuable birds that shouldn't be jeopordised.All it takes is a cat or even a squirrell to walk by,spook them and all their s heads are torn up,if they don't break their necks.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[tokies]

i totally think your right which is depressing. but like i said before i found few places were people have done it.. or come close to what im talking about.... another example. i see what they are doing isnt moving the pen daily.. they move the pen rarely. like once or twice.. per week .. as much as i can see.. also pretty large.. as well for what they have in it.

i dont think it's workable for them from what i can tell.. which is depressing.

https://gallowayfarm.wordpress.com/category/pheasants/partridges/

 

[dc3085]

Just watch a chukar flush in total fear one time and you'll have a good idea why more people don't keep partridges in tractors, you'll probably also have a chukar for dinner. I don't doubt your ability to make it work out, but we'd also like to spare you any dead birds by sharing what we know about the way they behave. Tractors work out ok for tamer birds like chickens and coturnix but I personally wouldn't stress any of the wilder gamebirds out by moving them around. Partridges are finnicky and I'd imagine pheasants are as bad or worse. I'm sure there is a creative median you can find. Like maybe a sectional flight pen or something.