Yesterday night we had a huge thunderstorm with lots of rain and wind, very loud and dramatic. Well I woke up in the morning, still raining, to find that my pheasant pen door had somehow blown open and all my 10 beloved ringneck pheasants were gone! Heartsick I ran around looking for them but I couldn't see or hear them anywhere. I had to get ready for work so I could only search for them for about 30 mins before I had feed and water everyone else and be gone. I had my hubby continue the search while I was gone but he didnt see or hear anything.
We only have a property of one and a third acres but my neighbor's properties have acres and acres of woods and accross the street there are acres and acres of corn feilds and more woods. I was sure I would never see them again. I mean they're pheasants, once they are gone they are gone right? Especially with that nasty storm I was sure they got soaked and chilled or drown or something.
Now since these birds were meant for a breeding project I just counted it as a terrible loss and went and bought a trio from my uncle as his birds came from the same hatch as mine.
Anyway, just thirty minutes ago, I looked out the window and saw a pheasant, peeping its little head off, walking around in my garden. I thought: "Oh No! PLEASE don't tell me that my new pheasants got out too!" I ran outside to see three, then four, then five little pheasants in my garden. "Oh my goodness! They came back!"
I yelled "Baby Pheasants! Little Baby Pheasants!" and my four friendliest hens came running and walked right into their pen (while the three new ones, who are not friendly at all, panicked and stuffed themselves into a corner). The rest, including my favorite, most beautiful rooster, were easily herded into the pen (except my one crazy hen who is still pacing the fenceline trying to get in). Out of 10 I believe I got 9 back (I'll have to count them) which, to me, is a miracle.
Shortly after they were safely in there pen I noticed a big gob of foamy mucusy stuff hanging from one of my roosters mouths, and he was doing alot of gasping open mouth breathing. One of my other roosters is also doing a bit of gasping and is ruffled up. I quickly put some Oxytetracycline HCI (which is all I have on hand) in their water and they are all drinking well and chowing down on feed.
What do you think they have wrong? Did they indeed get soaked and chilled and therefore sick? Or perhaps inhaled water in the downpour and got ill that way? Is it contageous? Should I be doing more or something else?
These are my first pheasants and even though I tried not to get too attached to them, I did, so any help or input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Mariah
We only have a property of one and a third acres but my neighbor's properties have acres and acres of woods and accross the street there are acres and acres of corn feilds and more woods. I was sure I would never see them again. I mean they're pheasants, once they are gone they are gone right? Especially with that nasty storm I was sure they got soaked and chilled or drown or something.
Now since these birds were meant for a breeding project I just counted it as a terrible loss and went and bought a trio from my uncle as his birds came from the same hatch as mine.
Anyway, just thirty minutes ago, I looked out the window and saw a pheasant, peeping its little head off, walking around in my garden. I thought: "Oh No! PLEASE don't tell me that my new pheasants got out too!" I ran outside to see three, then four, then five little pheasants in my garden. "Oh my goodness! They came back!"
I yelled "Baby Pheasants! Little Baby Pheasants!" and my four friendliest hens came running and walked right into their pen (while the three new ones, who are not friendly at all, panicked and stuffed themselves into a corner). The rest, including my favorite, most beautiful rooster, were easily herded into the pen (except my one crazy hen who is still pacing the fenceline trying to get in). Out of 10 I believe I got 9 back (I'll have to count them) which, to me, is a miracle.
Shortly after they were safely in there pen I noticed a big gob of foamy mucusy stuff hanging from one of my roosters mouths, and he was doing alot of gasping open mouth breathing. One of my other roosters is also doing a bit of gasping and is ruffled up. I quickly put some Oxytetracycline HCI (which is all I have on hand) in their water and they are all drinking well and chowing down on feed.
What do you think they have wrong? Did they indeed get soaked and chilled and therefore sick? Or perhaps inhaled water in the downpour and got ill that way? Is it contageous? Should I be doing more or something else?
These are my first pheasants and even though I tried not to get too attached to them, I did, so any help or input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Mariah
I will keep everyone updated on how they do.
