Red Golden Pheasant Pen

[Ash1089]

Hi everyone! I have a pair of red golden pheasants that i am getting from a friend in a couple weeks. She says that they are a year and three weeks old. (the male is starting to show some red on his breast and some gold on his head) She keeps hers inside (it looks like a large chicken coop) and she says they breed better that way. However, from what I have read, red golden pheasants are happier in an outside pen. My question is.... if I have something like a 9' by 9' pen (for just one pair) and keep them outside year round (the coldest it had gotten this year is about 2 degrees) and give them something to get in (like a box or a shelter) would that be ok? Also, I have read a lot about giving them places to hide like trees or tall grasses. Would something like pampas grass work?

If it would be better to keep them housed inside, I can do that too. But a lot of pictures that I see on this site are outside.

Any help for a newbie?

Thank you in advance,
Ash

 

[ranit]

Mine are outside year round. They have houses they can get in but rarely go in them. They seem to prefer sitting on the roost outside even in really cold weather.

 

[De Wet]

agree they roosting all year outside it will help if you shelter the pen in cold months

 

[Ash1089]

Thank you for the quick replies! Would a just a roost work? Or do they need something to hide in the bottom? I also read about a layer of sand should be in the in around the fence. Everyone has different ideas about them, but thank you for letting me know that they can stay outside!

 

[deserthotwings]

Pheasants, all pheasants are typically wild birds and prefer being outside much more than inside. Red Goldens are native to Tibet in the mountains and can withstand really cold temperatures. I raise my birds here in southern Arizona and we frequently have highs in the summer reaching 115-120, so the heat don't have much effect on them either. They do need shelter both in summer and winter to get out of the sun and out of wind, rain and snow. Your pen sounds plenty large enough and as much cover as you can get to grow inside would be great. They love to hide and conceal themselves. Pampas grass would work as well as any thing you can get to grow in your pen that is not toxic to the birds. I have citrus trees planted in mine and the birds love to roost on the branches, day and night. Hope this helps you a little. Lot of Great Folks on this site that can get you started well in the pheasant business. Good luck Amigo.