I was reading up on pheasants and if you plan to release them.....
WHEN SHOULD I RELEASE?
We think between eight weeks of age is the best age to liberate young pheasants. They are fully feathered, have not imprinted too deeply to human care and can also easily be sexed at this age (if you wish to know how many hens versus cock birds you have). Birds released with critical feathers missing, especially the back and head feathers, will not get past the first hard rain, particularly if it is a cold rain. This one problem dooms more release projects than any other single thing. Those birds must be full feathered upon release. Common sense dictates the release sites should have nearby natural water and feed sources. Also release when there is a reasonable chance for good weather for the first 48 hours or so. You should have began supplementing small grains into their diets at about four weeks old, such as oats, cracked corn, and weed seed (if you can get it) so the birds can easily identify with these important foods upon release. Be aware too that insects in their diet at this age is critical for protein. You might want to consider putting feed out for the birds being released, but remember one thing--they are going to have a hard enough time adjusting to freedom, finding feed and water and avoiding predators, without you providing an ambush spot. If you do put feed out, scatter it, don't provide an ambush area for fox, owls, etc.
Another consideration might be to hold your birds until spring (mid to late March) depending on the weather, then release them full grown, just before the natural breeding season begins. If you decide to do that, the outside runway pen you have been using will probably be too small to provide enough square footage per bird for them to develop properly. A flight pen will be required and a mature pheasant requires approximately 15-18 square feet per bird (with good cover), anything less promotes feather pulling.
Here's a link to the rest of the article....
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=198121
