Pheasants for 4-H

[Chickenmaven]

Okay, pheasant experts, please help me out. DD is due to receive 10 baby pheasants in a few weeks. We will have them 'til fair, so they will be about 3 mo. old when we release them. I have been reading that they need "alot" of room. Our 4-H leader says, "Oh, just stick 'em in a cage." I have a 4x4 separation pen in my barn. It IS, however 6ft. tall. Is this big enough for 6-10 pheasants???? Should I plan on building them bigger accomodations out of the barn?

Or, should I tell the pheasant guy that we are not set up to do this?

 

[Mahonri]

Build them a "fly" outside of your barn.

I believe ticks on here has pics of his as an example.

 

[Tony K T]

The 4x4 will be good for a little while,but they will will need a larger enclosure soon.You will also need hiding places for the one who get picked on to get away from the bullies.Tree branches,brus piles and plywood leaned against the side of the pen will work.It's best to give them as much room as you can as ringnecks tend to be aggressive towards each other even as chicks.Your state probably requires you to have a permit to raise them,and another permit to release them.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

You will need a larger pen than 4 x 4 or you will be in for pecking problems. They need room just like chickens. For outside aviaries, just remember that, pheasants like to walk rather than fly but if they are frighten they take flight straight up, so I would use a soft netting at least 6' tall. Also, don't forget to check for any permits needed. Good luck with your project.

 

[Chickenmaven]

I could probably make a lean-to aviary on the side of a building. It would be 12 ft. long and 8 ft. high with one sloped side. Would that be adequate? Do they need a house in there? Would they prefer to sleep in a little dog house or should I make a high roost?
I appreciate any info you can give me. I have been trying to read up on pheasants & I am not finding much.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

The outside pen should be fine. Just make sure there is some shade available. Depending on the predators in your area, I won't leave any of my birds outside at night. I am over run with coons, foxes, coyotes, possums and cats. Pheasants do need to be housed in some type of building til at least they are 6 weeks old. If you feel your area is secure, then they could be outside, but I would supply some type of shelter and different heights of roosts.

 

[Teach97]

I think you are still crowding them. What is your hen to cock ratio? Look into getting them some blinders...it helps to reduce fighting. If yo don't get them plenty of flying time and exercise they will not make it in the wild...something to think about. Think about the branches and ground cover idea. Ringnecks are a ground nester not a percher...other types of pheasants are though.

 

[Donnadzitall]

Chickenmaven,
How old will the babies be when you get them? My babies were born and two days later fit through my normal chicken wire and visited other pens!! YIKES! I was lucky the other birds didn't think they were snack. (shaking head over here) Definitely a pen where they have room to fly a little bit if you plan on releasing them into the wild. They need to be able to develop those muscles. Covered is a must. Netting or roofed...either one will work. Tony is right about the hiding spots. Pheasants are one of the most cannibalistic birds out there..you may need to put blinders or peepers on them if it doesn't stop. One thing I have also found is that if the food goes empty at all...it only takes hours and they will start on each other. Pheasants are beautiful and if you spend time with them, they will eat peanuts out of your hand but just know they are pretty much wild no matter what. Good luck and have fun!! A great magazine to learn from is the "gamebird gazette" I believe they have a website too although no even as conclusive as this site here.
Donna

 

[ticks]

What kind of pheasants? Ringnecks I'm assuming, here is well written piece of literature if I do say so myself

It should help you
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=148121

 

[Chickenmaven]

This sounds hard. I am regretting signing onto this.

I am a CHICKEN farmer, after all.