missing feathers? new to pheasants

[moodyd13]

I am new to pheasants and just got 4 cocks and 1 hen about a week and a half ago. They are not full grown and one cock is bigger than the others. They are missing feathers on their lower back. It is all pink. You can see where it is growing back but why is this happening and how long does it take? Are they pecking at eachother? I have them in a 500 sq ft pen with 11 quail.

 

[Ntsees]

Feathers will take some time to fully grow. Missing feathers do mean there has been some pecking around. Although I've never raised pheasants, I've seen that many people put a cover on pheasants that somewhat blocks there view (forgot what its called) and it's supposed to reduce the feather picking and what not. 4 cocks to 1 hen? It should be the other way around. By your description, the cocks are probably distinguishable from the hen and that means you're probably going to get lots of fighting soon.

 

[moodyd13]

So I can't have a lot of cocks? I am planning on getting more hens in a month. Are you talking about blinders? Will that work and can they still eat with them on?

 

[pheasantfrenzie]

They are called Peepers or Blinders. Yes you should only have 1 male to 3-4 females because they will continue to fight for the female.

 

[moodyd13]

Can I not just put blinders on the males?

 

[pheasantfrenzie]

Yes they can still eat normally. If you just put it on the males the females will pick at him and he will be defensless. If you put it on one you will have to do them all.
Patty

 

[moodyd13]

Should I go for the clip ons? Or the ones with a metal ring?
And I have my quail in with the pheasants and the pheasants haven't killed any quail or showed any kind of pecking

 

[pheasantfrenzie]

That is your choice. I personally like the pinless because they are much easier to place on them but I have not used the other ones. I kinda think its more humane using the pinless if you can consider putting a peeper on humane but sometimes you have to do it or take the risk of loosing your birds and only having one bird