Looking at a photo of a pheasant, pictures from the past immediately come to mind, a rich land, a royal hunt, or a festive table with an abundance of food, in the center of which is a beautiful pheasant dish. Yes, it was like that before.
Pheasants existed exclusively for the upper classes.
Over time, everything has changed and today many people are engaged in raising pheasants. Moreover, the process is not complicated.
Perhaps it is worth considering the issue of home breeding of pheasants in more detail.
Varieties of pheasants
Before you start breeding pheasants at home, you should find out more about these birds and determine for yourself the most suitable option in terms of the lowest cost.
Common or steppe pheasant. Looks like a regular chicken. The head is of medium size, the neck is short, the body is dense with a long wedge-shaped tail. The bird is about 90 cm in length, of which almost 50 cm is the tail.
In our regions, pheasant is widespread from Primorye to Moldova, covering the territory of Ukraine. In total there are almost 30 subspecies. In the northern regions you can more often see the hunting breed. A specially bred hybrid for hunting.
Hunting pheasant. It has a green head with a rich metallic tint. The thoracic and cervical regions are purple in color. Body of red feathers with a golden sheen.
Slightly brown wings, tightly pressed into the body. The abdomen is brown with dark specks. The tail part is brownish-yellow, framed with purple along the three outer feathers.
The female pheasant is motley, gray-sand. The cervical region and head have noticeable transverse brown stripes. The belly is sandy in color with brown spots. The tail feathers are white with black edging.Young chicks are almost the same color, similar to the coloring of the pheasant.
Silver pheasant. The head of the male is decorated with a long black crest. The neck, chin and belly are black. The abdomen has a slightly bluish tint.
The remaining parts are covered with white feathers or slightly gray with dark lines across them. The tail part is snow-white.
Pheasant brown. The brownish feathers of this breed give off a metallic sheen along the back and wings. The lower part of the throat and belly are made of light brown feathers with a gray tint. Black head with anthracite tint.The females are unattractive in appearance. Light beige with a slight greenish tint and an abundance of small inclusions on the abdomen and tail. Professionals say: it is almost impossible to find two females with the same color.
The bird's tail is gray-white with a rich brown stripe at the edge of the feathers. Birds of different sexes have the same color, only the females are smaller and without spurs. The feathers on the sides of the head are raised up, which is why they are nicknamed “eared”.
Copper Pheasant. So called for the color of its feathers: brown with a copper or bronze sheen. At the edge they are framed with a dark edging and various spots. The skin around the eyes is featherless and red. The female has brown-red spotted feathers all over her body.
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Green or emerald pheasant. This beauty comes in a variety of colors. But there is a special difference: the emerald shimmer of the feather covering. This breed was developed by crossing two European and wild Japanese breeds.
It is mainly bred for its low-calorie meat and high weight of about 3 kg. Kept in the same conditions as an ordinary one.
Lifestyle and habitat
The pheasant has spread widely as a result of the active introduction of birds and successful adaptation. The settlement covers territories from the Iberian Peninsula to Japan. In the Caucasus, Turkey, China, Vietnam, Primorsky Krai, Europe, and North America, bird acclimatization and domestication have become commonplace.
The bird settles in areas heavily overgrown with vegetation - forests, undergrowth, grass meadows, and the edges of sown fields. Thorn bushes are especially attractive - birds feel protected among them. Tugai thickets and reed banks are favorite habitats for colorful birds.
In case of danger, they do not fly to the tops of trees, like other birds, but rather run into impassable thickets. A large animal will not climb into thorny bushes. A prerequisite for settlement is the proximity of a body of water, so birds can often be found near lakes, swampy areas, and in river valleys. Resistant to frost, pheasants easily tolerate winters if the snow cover does not exceed 18-20 cm. In mountainous areas, bird settlement is observed at an altitude of up to 2500 m above sea level.
Japanese pheasant female
The owner of bright plumage has to constantly hide in the thicket of thickets so as not to fall prey to predators. Some species hide in trees and rest among the foliage. They climb higher when they don’t find food on the ground in cold weather. On the branches they feed on preserved fruits.
Pheasants are cautious when they come to the ground. They do this quickly, in a rush, quickly change the angle of movement, and hide in the thickets. The running speed of pheasants, in comparison with other chicken-like representatives, is record-breaking. To accelerate, the bird instinctively extends its head and raises its tail.
The pheasant has many natural enemies. Among mammals, birds are hunted by foxes, lynxes, pumas, and wild dogs. Feathered predators, such as eagle owls and hawks, are also natural enemies of pheasants. In the first year of life, up to 80% of individuals become food for other forest inhabitants.
Particular danger comes from humans. The pheasant has long been an object of commercial and sport hunting. Specially trained dogs help by driving the game onto tree branches, and upon takeoff, hunters shoot the birds. Population numbers are significantly affected by climate. The natural decline of birds is inevitable in very snowy and frosty winters.
Pheasant populations are actively recovering. A significant role is played by domestic breeding of birds, keeping them in nurseries and in protected areas. In general, the population size does not cause concern.
Fireback Pheasant
Pheasants are gregarious birds that stay in large same-sex groups outside the breeding season. The active time for searching for food is morning and evening. Birds are quiet, their voice can only be heard in flight. This is a sharp, abrupt sound, heard from afar. Birds emit special signals during mating.
The common pheasant, migratory or not, is characterized by its region of habitat. A sedentary lifestyle is characteristic of most inhabitants of regions with an abundance of food. Migratory time over short distances begins after the chicks hatch. Then, in search of food, birds can be found in places unusual for them.
Handy devices
To properly keep pheasant birds you will need:
- an incubator, since the female does not always hatch the chicks; a nursery for growing chicks of about 20 sq. m.;
- several medium-sized enclosures for breeding couples, about 7 square meters. m., but if there are several females per male, then the area expands;
- a large enclosure designed for a certain number of pheasants.
- for one – 2 sq. m. This means that 50 birds require an aviary of about 100 square meters. m.
Royal
This is the largest pheasant, which is bred mainly for decorative purposes. The bird's homeland is the mountainous areas in northern and central China. In Europe, this breed is bred in hunting grounds; in Russia it can be seen in zoozones. The king pheasant is often called the pied pheasant or the Chinese pheasant.
Description. The plumage is yellow-brown and resembles scales. Each feather is surrounded by a dark border. There is a black border around the neck. There are light feathers on the crown. The female is more modestly colored - she has golden-yellow plumage, on which dark blotches are visible. The tail is white, luxurious, framed in brown, up to 2 m long. The chest and back of the head of males are orange or almond. The beak and paws are gray. The head is white, the “mask” is black.
Productivity. Average weight – 1.3 kg. There are 7-14 eggs in a clutch.
Other features. Prefers to move on the ground - wings are rarely used. They live up to 14 years. They are extremely timid. This bird is not only beautiful, it has tasty and tender meat.
Maintenance and care. They can withstand cold weather. They rarely get sick. But they don't like dampness. It is important that the enclosures are dry. It is necessary to build perches for them. Coniferous trees are used to make them. Pheasants need perches for observation - this is their favorite pastime. Sitting on perches, they often treat the skin of their paws, which is very delicate.
The population density of the enclosure is 1 individual per 1 sq. m. 75 g of mixed feed made from corn, wheat, yeast and fish and meat and bone meal are given per day. In the spring, pheasants are additionally fed with sunflower oil, berries and calcium - the birds will grow faster and their meat will be more tender.
Purchasing pheasants
When it comes to purchasing, it is better to give preference to nurseries or well-known breeders.
It is advisable to buy birds from different people to avoid inbreeding, as this will lower the immunity of future birds and make them infertile.
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First, buy 2-4 pairs of birds, and then, once you get involved in the process of keeping them, you can buy more.
Useful tips
It is important to remember that birds should be given cool water in the summer and warm water in the cold season.
Domestic pheasants remember the face, voice, and habits of their breadwinner. To avoid unnecessary stress and disturbance to the bird, pheasants should only be cared for by one person.
The occurrence of stressful situations as a result of loud sounds and unusual movements can have a detrimental effect on the immune system of birds.
When fencing an area for raising pheasants, you should proceed from the area requirements for optimal housing per individual - two square meters.
During the mating season, you should not walk all the males at the same time. The aggressiveness of males in the fight for a female often ends in death for the enemy.
Colorado beetles are a favorite delicacy of pheasants. By rationally using poultry against harmful insects, the farmer will not need to use pesticides.
Bird food
Pheasant chicks at home are first fed finely chopped boiled eggs with the addition of mealyworms and finely chopped greens.
They are fed after 2 hours. The remaining food is thrown away immediately. At night, feed twice, under light conditions for 30-40 minutes. You can add special feed to the diet.
After a week, you should add boiled millet porridge with chopped herbs.
It is worth adding crushed corn, millet, and mixed feed with useful substances to the diet of young animals. Clover and dandelion will do as greenery.
Adults are given chicken feed, a mixture of sunflower seeds, corn and millet. The consumption of snails is recommended.
The pheasant will be happy to eat even the Colorado potato beetle. And be sure to include cake in the menu.
In winter, add fish oil, ascorbic acid, and sugar to the food to maintain immunity.
Diamond
This is one of the most beautiful birds in the world. The second name of the diamond pheasant is Lady Amhrest, received in honor of the wife of the Governor General, who sent the bird to London from India. From there, the diamond pheasant spread throughout Europe.
Description. The pheasant was called Diamond for a reason; its plumage shimmers like a precious stone. On the head there are wide white feathers, similar to an old wig. The chest is olive or emerald, turning into a white belly. The crop has a combination of white and black feathers. On the back there is blue-black plumage. The bird's tail is especially luxurious. Females look traditionally modest - brownish-motley plumage, bluish skin around the eyes.
Productivity. The average weight of a male is 0.9-1.3 kg. Female – 0.8 kg. There are 7-10 or more eggs in a clutch. The female is capable of laying up to 30 eggs per season.
Other features. Birds have high adaptive abilities. They can get along with other types of birds - chickens, pigeons, etc. They have a calm, peaceful disposition, are not shy, and easily make contact with people. Diamond pheasant meat is dietary, very tender and pleasant to the taste. Eggs are high in protein.
Maintenance and care. The bird, despite its exotic appearance, tolerates cold well and is not demanding on living conditions. It is easy to breed in private backyards. They are housed in spacious enclosures in families, but one male – two females. The enclosure should be divided into zones for pairs. To help birds gain weight faster, they are given fish oil. The rest of the diet is similar to chicken. Eats greens, grains, worms, vegetables and fruits. Bred for hunting and decorative purposes.
Product sales market
Pheasant eggs, in addition to those left for the reproduction of other individuals, will naturally be sold. They are more useful than chicken, non-allergenic and recommended as a dietary product.
The pricing policy is quite high, which will bring good profits.
The meat of domestic pheasants is considered a delicacy and is in great demand in the restaurant business, which is why contracts for the supply of carcasses should be concluded in advance.
The cost of carcasses is high, which means profit is guaranteed.
When growing steppe or emerald breeds, it is possible to sell them for hunting grounds.
Pheasants get used to freedom quickly, within 4-6 days.
Pheasant hunting is a pleasure only for wealthy people, which is why the cost of the birds sold is too high and amounts to several tens of dollars.
Temperament
As you understand, domestic pheasants are raised in a herd. In the same herd, adult pheasants very often show a little aggression towards others, and therefore pull out the feathers of their neighbors.
If you raise pheasants for decorative purposes, appearance will play a major role in determining the price, and therefore it is important to preserve all the feathers of the bird. To do this, you need to contact a specialist and order plastic glasses for your pheasants from him. They won't let them pull each other's feathers.
Photos of pheasants
Himalayan
The Himalayan or Nepalese pheasant lives in the mountains of Southwestern China, Indochina, and the Himalayas. Another name for the Himalayan pheasant is black lofura. There are several subspecies, of which the purple-black, white-crested and white-backed varieties are most often kept in captivity. White pheasants appeared in Europe in the 18th century.
Description. The color of the plumage is black, with a purple-metallic tint. At the bottom of the back there is a wide white border along the edges of the plumage. The head is decorated with a long black crest. The paws are dark gray in color and have spurs. The beak is light green. The plumage of the female is olive-brown with a light brown border.
Productivity. The weight of a male is 1.3-2 kg, a female is about 1 kg. The number of eggs per season is from 15 pieces. Laying size is 6-8 light cream or reddish-yellow eggs.
Other features. Many females incubate and hatch chicks on their own. It is not recommended to live with other bird species, as this breed is aggressive, especially during the breeding season. It is characterized by timidity.
Maintenance and care. In captivity, they are fed a grain mixture of millet, wheat, corn and other seeds. Provide chopped vegetables and fruits. This bird requires a lot of shelters - they are made from logs, slate, stones, and bushes. The bird is hardy and can withstand extreme temperatures. Tropical subspecies need to build poultry houses for the winter.
Horned
Horned pheasants, or Tragopans, are divided into five subspecies, and they all have common characteristics - females and males are not similar.
Description. Males are quite large. They have a bright color and cone-shaped processes near the eyes. The color is dominated by red and brown shades. The throat is covered in growths called “earrings.” Females are dull, brown, without “horns” and “earrings”. The legs are short, and males have spurs.
Productivity. Males weigh 1.6-2.1 kg, females - 1.3-1.5 kg. The female lays 3-6 eggs for incubation.
Other features. Males are aggressive and fight with each other.
Maintenance and care. Adapts well to captivity. In his diet he prefers berries, fruits, greens and wheat.
Types of tragopans:
- Black-headed or Western Tragopan. The male has a black “cap” on his head and a crest with a red end. The cheeks are featherless and bright red. The male weighs 1.8-2 kg, the female – 1.4 kg.
- Brown-bellied. It is also called Cabot's tragopan. There is also a black “cap”, and the crest is orange. The weight of a male is 1.2-1.4 kg, of a female – up to 0.9 kg.
- Greybellied. The second name is Blyth's tragopan. The largest representative of Tragopans. The weight of a male is 2.1 kg, of a female – up to 1.5 kg. The head of males is decorated with an orange crest with a black stripe.
- Ocellated. The second name is Temminck's tragopan. One of the most beautiful types of pheasants. The head of males is decorated with a black and orange crest and blue “horns”. On the throat there are blue-turquoise outgrowths similar to lapels. The face without feathers is blue. The weight of a male is 1.2-1.4 kg, of a female – up to 1.0 kg.
- Tragopanus the satyr. The second name is Indian. The weight of a male is 1.5-2 kg, of a female – up to 1.2 kg. On the head there is a black crest with dark red spots.
Black-headed Tragopan
Brown-bellied tragopan (Tragopan caboti)
Grey-bellied Tragopan (Tragopan blythii)
Ocellated Tragopan
Site selection
A pheasant farm cannot be located in any place you like. The territory must meet certain requirements:
- The site must have a slope not exceeding 30°, allowing for the drainage of melt and rainwater.
- The slope of the site should be facing south, which will allow the enclosures to be illuminated throughout the day.
- To ensure uniform illumination of enclosures, it is necessary to remove vegetation that can shade them - trees and shrubs. It is permissible to locate isolated trees that do not provide dense shade.
- If it is necessary to protect the enclosures from the winds, tree and shrub vegetation must be planted around the perimeter of the farm so that it does not cast a shadow on the enclosures.
- The soil on the territory of the pheasant farm should easily pass and drain water, ideally it should be sandy or sandy loam. If the soils are heavy, a drainage system should be installed in them to collect and drain water towards the lower side of the site.
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Natural enemies
Natural enemies of common pheasants are jackals, foxes, cougars, lynxes, wild dogs, as well as some species of birds of prey such as owls and hawks.
Important! Under natural conditions, almost 80% of individuals die in the first year of life.
In modern conditions, the greatest threat to pheasants is humans. The valuable, nutritious meat of these birds is the reason for hunting for them. Man often uses hunting dogs in catching pheasants, which are very easy and fast for these birds. Having discovered a pheasant, the dog drives it into a tree and at the moment when the bird takes off, the hunter fires a shot.
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Peacock
This is not a specific species, but a whole group of subspecies, united by a common feature - they all look like a peacock with their feather pattern and bushy tail. Peacock pheasants are also called mirror or mountain pheasants. This type of pheasant is poorly distributed in our country; it is mainly grown by Indian farmers. The purpose of cultivation is decorative.
Description. There is a “peacock” pattern on the back, wings and tail. The tail has 16 feathers responsible for flight control. The plumage is silver, there are feathers with a pearl tint.
Productivity. Males weigh 1.6-2.0 kg, females - 1.3-1.4 kg. The female lays up to 45 eggs per season, the young - up to 20 eggs. Eggs are tasty and healthy. In oviposition there are up to 15 eggs.
Other features. They are friendly and quickly get used to people.
Maintenance and care. They are prone to diseases, so it is recommended to add antibiotics to the food. Withstands frosts down to minus 35 degrees. Adapts well in captivity.
Argus
The homeland of the Greater Argus is the Malay Islands. You can find this rare bird in special nurseries and from amateur poultry farmers who sell breeding birds.
Description. The color of the plumage resembles that of a peacock. The bird is large, but not as bright as most pheasants. It has grey-green mottled plumage, a red neck and a blue head. But during mating, the male spreads his tail, on which there are oval golden “eyes”. For this, the bird received its name - Argus, given to it in honor of the deity with many eyes. Paws are red. No spurs. It can reach 2 m in length, of which the tail is 1.5 m.
Productivity. Average weight – 1.4-1.6 kg. There are 6-10 eggs in a clutch. They lay up to 20 eggs per season.
Other features. Females lay enough eggs, but are not always ready to hatch them. Argus meat has a unique taste.
Maintenance and care. They adapt well to life in an enclosure. They are friendly and get used to their owner. The young are fed minced meat, carrots, worms, etc.
Lofurs
Lofura pheasants are a whole genus in the pheasant family. All birds of this genus have a common feature - male lofurs have a reddish back. The homeland of these birds is southern and central Asia. Many species live in isolation - on islands. Types of lofurs - Siamese, Bulwer, Sumatran, black and others.
Description. The color of the lower back varies from orange-red shades to dark copper, such as Edwards' lofura. All male lofurs have spurs. On the face there are unusually large cavernous bodies, colored red or blue. Thus, in the Bulwer's lofur, the cavernous bodies are so enlarged that during mating they reach the ground.
Females of all lofurs have more modest plumage - brownish shades. The color of males is dominated by dark blue and black colors; many lofurs have tufts on their heads. The tail is usually white or yellow.
Productivity. Weight – 1.1-1.6 kg. There are 4-6 eggs in a clutch. The Sumatran lafur has 2 eggs in a clutch.
Other features. Lofurs are usually polygamous. Only the Sumatran lofura is a monogamous species. Females are capable of incubating chicks.
Maintenance and care. All except the Sumatran lofur nest on the ground. The eggs are hatched by the parents and the offspring themselves are raised.
Keeping at home
The first condition for keeping pheasants is sufficient space. For birds, an aviary or poultry house is suitable, in which there will be at least 2 m2 of area for each individual. A standard pheasant family consists of one male and a maximum of 10 females. Based on the number of individuals, the area required for the birds is calculated.
Since pheasants are not afraid of frost and cold, they can be kept in open enclosures all year round - in an area fenced with a fine mesh. At the same time, the bird loves dryness and does not tolerate precipitation well, so shelters made of waterproof materials (slate, film, etc.) should be provided in the open enclosure.
For the winter, the enclosure is lined with straw.
Pheasants are also kept in closed poultry houses, but the birds still need a fenced area for walking.
Inventory
The following types of poultry servicing equipment are considered:
Feeders
Each age has its own type of feeder.
| Bird age, days | Feeder type |
| 1-3 | Baking tray – sheet measuring 30 x 40 cm with sides of 2 cm |
| 3-25 | Grooved: 92 x 110 x 706 mm (H x W x D) |
| Round hopper with a capacity of 2-5 liters with feeding front dividers | |
| Trough for minerals and gravel | |
| 25-90 | Trough on legs: 240 x 1450 mm (W x D) with feeding front dividers, with height adjustment depending on the age of the pheasants |
| Hopper round or rectangular with a capacity of 5-10 liters with feeding front dividers | |
| Trough for minerals and gravel | |
| over 90 | Bunkers of different types: rectangular, round, capacity 10-30 liters |
| Troughs for minerals and gravel |
Drinking bowls
For young birds, vacuum drinkers of various sizes are used - 1, 2, 5, 10 liters. At the age of 3-4 weeks, pheasant chicks begin to be accustomed to automatic nipple or cup drinkers of different sizes. Nipple drinkers are used to water adult birds.
