Pheasants-- what are they like?

[Iluvmypeeps]

Pheasant owners, I need your opinions!

I'm buying a HUGE coop/hutch/cage today, and I'm thinking about which birds to keep in there. I'm considering pheasants (likely to be ringneck or possibly golden), and I want to know a few things from your personal experience.


- Are they friendly, when raised from a chick with lots of attention? Or are they aggressive?

- Do they require a lot of free-ranging time?

- Are the males noisy like roosters, so much so that they would annoy the neighbors?


If you could please share your opinions, it'd be much appreciated.

 

[texascowboy1979]

Hi, Pheasants are a blast... Depending on the breed, most are scared of people, but will soon let you be near them... not on them. They dont require much space. I have a trio in a 10 X 10 X 8. they get pleanty of feed, water, and protection from the weather. Each breeder does his own thing or trys different layouts, its all really gonna fall on how much space you have for them. They do make noise, but not like a rooster... and not as often. What breeds are you interested in? There are several Common ones, but look into ornamentals... they are just magnificante.

GOod luck. post pics soon.


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[Charliet]

i have mine in 8x9x8 pens and thy do fine they can become tame i have a couple that eat right out of my hand but it takes alot of time a pataients to get them like that and just like with any thing you can get induvidual birds that are just plain old gruppy and will attack you and /or pen mates just starting out you should try ringnecks ,goldens, amhersts, silver they are the easy one to keep and raise and moroften than not the last 3 will tame right down if given lots of love and treats especally peanuts, ringneck moroften are wild and spooky
good luck

 

[Iluvmypeeps]

Thank you both for the feedback!

Just curious, are they friendly when raised from a young chick with lots of attention? Or do they grow up to be fearful anyway?

Also, the breeds I'm mostly considering are the golden pheasants and ringneck pheasants. Do any of you know how I can offer them the most balanced diet possible?

 

[J3172]

If noise is a issue I wouldn't get red goldens, or lady amherest as they are quit all year long until spring, then my males call loud back and fourth all day long. My ringneck rooster would also cackle all year round and that's also kinda loud. If were you I'd go with a elliot's as my males are always quit and never make any noise.

 

[Charliet]

yep those three are noisy if you raised them from chicks you would have a good chance they would be friendly but if your looking for a tame bird i would not reccomend elliot they are quiet like as been said but they have a tendence to be wlid any one of the long tail pheasant are mor likly to be wild, i think silver or swinehoe are good choices both i think are pretty silver makes a low humms but when excited they make alouder humm that sound kinda like a duck that is the best way i know how to descibe it swineoe make the same low humms and a louder sqill but neither are loud enough to bother neighbors and your more likly to find someone selling silver and swinehoe chicks but it is up to you

 

[thatchickenlady]

For getting started, I would say Goldens and Amherst would be good. They are gorgeous but are not that expensive. Easy to keep and care for. They do great on game bird or turkey feed and mixed grains. Very hearty and do well in most any climate. How close are you to neighbors?

 

[Iluvmypeeps]

Quote:
Thank you so much, that's exactly what I was asking (what to feed them, and how easy their upkeep is).

In answer to your question; neighbors are just a privacy fence and a few feet away from me.

I expect some of those goofy gurgling and clicking sounds (which I'm perfectly okay with), but I don't want to hear obnoxious crowing and squawking at five in the morning. The last roosters I had were pretty noisy, and probably really annoying to the neighbors.

 

[J3172]

That's true elliot's are not very tame, but then again most pheasants aren't at best you might get a red golden to eat out of your hand.

 

[Charliet]

yeah most arent but if you spend time with them most will tame down but as some one once told be "they are wild animals" the also love fruitas treats and peanuts