Pheasants and Chickens- can they live harmoniously?

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yep, been there done that too...Unfortunately that's why I am so picky about telling people about it too.
I have lost my fair share in the earlier days due to keeping them not together, but just close to each other, that's all it takes.
And no, it's not from poor up keep before anyone suggest that, it's just the nature of domestic fowl verses wild fowl.

 

[hvnsnt3388]

Does this apply to keeping peacocks away from chickens also?

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ME, BUT I AM NOT VERSED IN PEAFOWL, SO I CANT HELP YOU THERE.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Yes, turkeys too, peafowl are in the pheasant family anyway, just a big version of one.

 

[hvnsnt3388]

Well, I guess its time to get my husband started on the honey do's. I've had 2 peacocks in with my chickens since they were about 7 days old. I've been lucky, I guess but I don't think I'll push it any longer.

Honey, get your shovel and saw!

 

[hvnsnt3388]

Well, my next question.....I was prepared to purchase 2 juvenile cinnamon pheasants until I read thios thread.
My cxhickens have been free range during the day on the entire 12 acres but mostly contained to the backyard. How will that effect introducing pheasants to the property? From reading this thread, it doesn't sound like a good idea to even attempt to add the pheasants. I certainly could not decontaminate the entire acerage and nor would I be willing to coop the chickens 24 hours a day. They are happy chickens (besides, they keep the pastures clean (wink)!

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
MAKE YOUR PHEASANT AVIARY TOTALLY ENCLOSED WITH A SOLID WALL FROM THE GROUND UP TO ABOUT 2 1/2=3 FT (ROOFING METAL WORKS NICELY

) NOT ONLY DOES IT HELP PREVENT PHEASANT CONTAMINATION FROM YOUR FREE RANGE CHOOKS BUT ALSO PROVIDES THEM WITH NOCE PREDATOR PROTECTION AS WELL

 

[hvnsnt3388]

I think that would be do'able! Can I put my peacocks in with them or would they be considered contaminated since they've been unknowingly exposed to chicken crude via ignorant owner housing the peas with chickens?

 

[JJMR794]

They Really Dont Make Good Roommates

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

agree with both post there.
The peafowl can get along with certain pheasants. But due to the size difference, if the peacock wanted too, the pheasant would be gone (golden that is)
I did have a spare silver cock one year kill a 20+ pound merriam tom, never would have though that.
With all this non domestic stuff, it is really best to do 1 breeding group of 1 species per pen, if nothing else, for the safety of the birds.


Oh by the way, disease contamination from free ranged chickens over 12 acres isnt bad if you have had healthy chickens all the time. Now if you have had problems, I'd disinfect the crap out of the new pheasant pen ground.
But by free ranging, you dont have the same mess as you do in a penned environment, no heavy bio load of poop and stuff building up in one area, so you should be fine.
Just dont pen them together and put your new pheasant pen a good distance away from your chicken coops.