Pheasants for meat?

[cottontail farm]

A couple of weeks ago I impulse bought 3 ringneck chicks at the local feedstore while getting some (chicken) chicks. The idea being to raise them for the freezer. Does anyone do this? I was wondering at what age you butcher? Also is it possible to clip their wings so they can range in the huge uncovered pen with my chickens and geese? I want them to enjoy the ants, bugs and sushine.

 

[007Sean]

You can butcher them at 12 to 14 weeks. Wing clipping is generally done at a younger age. Just be careful and watch for excessive bleeding. Use 'Wound Stop' or corn starch if you don't have any wound stop for the wounds.
Another alternative to wing clipping is to cut the primary wing feathers with a pair of scissors. At their age you may be able to pull the primaries out without too much bleeding. Just a few of the different routes you can go concerning wing clipping.

 

[cottontail farm]

Thanks for responding! That's good to know about the number of weeks. The plan is to put them in the freezer but I have a bad habit of growing soft on pretty birds so they might just end up staying
About the wing clipping, I meant the cutting of the primary feathers. With my chickens this seems to work about half the time. Thought it was worth a shot anyway.

 

[007Sean]

Just take a pair of scissors and cut the primary feathers like you do with your chickens.